Natasha Asghar MS met with Guide Dogs Cymru in Merthyr Tydfil recently to talk about some of the challenges facing visually impaired people.
The South East Wales politician was also introduced to trainee guide dog Sarah and got a glimpse of the pooch in action at the town’s bus station.
A group of visually impaired people told Natasha how they avoid using the bus station due to a wide range of challenges and spoke of some of the issues they face.
The lack of tactile paving, tannoy announcements, clear signage and colour contrast were just a few of the problems putting people off.
Speaking after the visit, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“I would just like to say a huge thank you to Guide Dogs for the extremely informative meeting and to everyone who highlighted their very important concerns.
“Merthyr bus station is without a doubt an important facility for the community, however it’s abundantly clear small, yet effective, changes could be made to make life so much easier for visually impaired people.
“Simple things like tannoy announcements, bigger and clearer signage and tactile paving being laid would make the world of difference to visually impaired people and give them the confidence they need to use public transport.
“I will be raising these pressing issues with Merthyr Tydfil Council and the Welsh Government because if we get it right for disabled people, we get it right for everyone.”
____________________________________________
Angen gwelliannau i orsaf fysiau ar gyfer pobl â nam, ar eu golwg, meddai AS ar ôl ymweliad Guide Dogs Cymru
Cyfarfu Natasha Asghar AS â Guide Dogs Cymru ym Merthyr Tudful yn ddiweddar i siarad am rai o'r heriau sy'n wynebu pobl â nam ar eu golwg.
Cafodd y gwleidydd dros Dde Ddwyrain Cymru hefyd ei chyflwyno i Sarah, y ci tywys dan hyfforddiant, a chafodd weld y ci bach ar waith yng ngorsaf fysiau'r dref.
Dywedodd grŵp o bobl â nam ar eu golwg wrth Natasha sut maen nhw'n osgoi defnyddio'r orsaf fysiau oherwydd heriau amrywiol a buont yn sôn am rai o'r problemau sy’n eu hwynebu.
Roedd diffyg palmentydd botymog, cyhoeddiadau uwch-seinydd, arwyddion clir a chyferbyniad lliw yn ddim ond rhai o’r problemau a oedd yn wynebu pobl.
Yn siarad ar ôl yr ymweliad, dywedodd Natasha Asghar AS:
“Hoffwn ddiolch o galon i Guide Dogs am y cyfarfod hynod addysgiadol ac i bawb a amlygodd eu pryderon pwysig iawn.
"Heb os, mae gorsaf fysiau Merthyr yn gyfleuster pwysig i'r gymuned, ond mae'n gwbl amlwg y gallai newidiadau bach, ond eto effeithiol, wneud bywyd cymaint yn haws i bobl â nam ar eu golwg.
"Byddai pethau syml fel cyhoeddiadau uwch-seinydd, arwyddion mwy a chliriach a gosod palmentydd botymog yn gwneud y byd o wahaniaeth i bobl â nam ar eu golwg ac yn rhoi'r hyder sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus.
"Fe fydda i'n codi'r materion hyn, sydd angen rhoi sylw iddynt ar fyrder, gyda Chyngor Merthyr Tudful a Llywodraeth Cymru, gan y byddai cael hyn yn iawn i bobl anabl yn cael pethau’n iawn i bawb."
