HAYLEY Andrews is a fighter.

Struck down by a rare immune disorder when she was 24 years old, Hayley has refused to let the wheelchair she must now rely on to hold her back.

The 32-year-old is chairman of ADAPT, a group that works to achieve fair treatment of disabled people on public transport.

Hayley, from Kidderminster, said disabled bus services in the county were limited.

"There are disabled bus routes run by First bus company - a couple of buses run permanently - but only in the city.

"There is a hospital bus route, which runs every couple of hours between the Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch hospitals, but it's not disabled-friendly. One person had to be lifted out of his wheelchair by the public and helped to his seat - the driver didn't help."

She believes it comes down to training and information.

"There's insufficient disability awareness training, across all sectors - shops, restaurants, cinemas, work - workers only receive training, for example, when the company takes disabled people on."

She said taxis were a good example of disabled people being discriminated against, because it cost more.

"With black cabs, drivers receive disability awareness training. It's working in Worcester City but as soon as you leave the main city area it's a different kettle of fish.

"In rural areas drivers have to pay for their own training which means the prices go up.

Even something as "simple" as a pelican crossing can cause problems.

"The facilities are fantastic, but sometimes it's quite a long way between them."

She said parks could also be a problem.

"Parks tend to be geared for non-disabled people. You get all muck and grass on your wheels and there are big kerbs in most parks.

"Saying that, Gheluvelt Park, in Barbourne, is good and so is Cripplegate, in St John's.

"It's the more rural ones, which comes back to money and how it's being spent."

Hayley feels organisations require just a bit of pre-planning to get it right.

"When I go out, I have to pre-plan - Can I get in a building? What transport can I use? Do I need someone to take me? Will there be anyone there to meet me?

"We can't just get up and do what we want to do. Even with restaurants, we have to ring and let them know we're coming."

Hayley's philosophy with public places is "three strikes and they're out"!

"The first time they get it wrong, I can accept. The second time, I give them a bit of an ear bashing, and the third time, I don't go back - or recommend it to anyone!

"They're missing out on business - pubs, clubs, restaurants, cinemas, shops - when all it takes is a bit of thought and pre-planning."

She said cinemas were a good example of new-build versus old-build, with Worcester's new Warner Village Cinema deemed "OK" - "the staff try to help you as much as possible and there's good access" - and the older Odeon cinema, in Foregate Street, which she said was not as good.

But new is not always better, with Kidderminster College - where Hayley is studying sign language - labelled "diabolical" by Hayley.

"It's only a year old but there's poor access. Ramps are provided but they just about give you enough room to turn. It's the same with lifts - they're so tiny!

"The classes are dotted all over the place and some rooms are too small."

Overall, however, it is people that make the difference.

"You only need one good person at each place to help you and you keep going back.

"It's about attitudes, training and listening to what disabled people have got to say.

"We've got it on past experience."