Transport for LondonTransport for London Independent Disability Advisory Group
The group is an important step forward in TfL's long-term commitment to achieving equality for disabled people and will play a key role in ensuring it complies with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
TfL has made considerable progress in making London more accessible to transport users, with a range of schemes for people who experience transport barriers.
The work of IDAG will ensure TfL continues to make progress in this vitally important area.
IDAG is made up of nine people, appointed for the extensive expertise and knowledge they bring to the role - as well as their direct experience of disability.
None of them work for TfL or the Greater London Authority (GLA), to ensure independence.
Reg McLaughlin, Chair, Independent Disability Advisory Group, said: 'IDAG's goal is that disabled and deaf Londoners, as well as visitors to London, are able to travel around the streets, and the public transport system on equal terms with other people, so that they can have the same independence and choice to live, work in and enjoy the city.'
IDAG members
Ann Bates - IDAG lead on Disability and London Rail
Ann is a former further education lecturer who became interested in how the rail industry was preparing for the Disability Discrimination Act when studying for a social studies degree.
She is the Deputy Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and is Chair of its Rail Group. She also sits on its Maritime and Aviation Working Groups and has given evidence to the Transport and Joint Select Committees.
Ann is a non-executive director of an acute NHS hospital trust and balances a growing family with a working life using a wheelchair.
Philip Bray - IDAG lead on Disability and External Communications
Philip has worked in marketing and PR in the arts and voluntary sectors for more than 20 years. Among his many roles, he has worked as General Manager of Nitro (formerly Black Theatre Co-operative) and as Business Development Director of Shape, a charity which involves disabled people in the arts.
Since January 2005, he has worked as a consultant on a wide range of projects focusing on equality, diversity and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.
Philip organised the first sign-language-interpreted performances by English National Opera and the Royal Opera, and produced the first ever performance of The Vagina Monologues with an all-disabled cast.
Olav Ernstzen - IDAG lead on Door-to-Door Transport
Olav qualified as a drama teacher, going into theatre management in the West End and the regions.
In 1994 he was registered blind. In 1996 he was invited to join a Bar Council Committee looking at IT and the law and was subsequently invited to join the Bar Council Disability Committee, of which he is still a member.
Olav has been chair of the Camden & Islington Low Vision Services Group, which aims to improve access to services in the boroughs. He is currently a member of the group which guided the creation of Islington Council's Disability Equality Scheme. Olav still practises as a barrister.
Reg McLaughlin - IDAG Chair and lead on Disability and Employment
Reg has been working in disability roles for more than 30 years. He was the Project Manager of Hammersmith & Fulham Action on Disability's First Chance Project, working to ensure that all disabled people had access to educational and recreational activities.
As Chief Executive of the Greater London Action on Disability, Reg joined with key partners to set up the Disabled Londoners' Transport Forum.
Until May 2006, Reg was the elected Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion in Hammersmith and Fulham, working with TfL, the GLA and local authorities to further the disability agenda.
Pamela Moffatt - IDAG lead on Door-to-Door Transport
Pamela has wide experience of transport in and around London and sees poor transport for disabled and older people as a major barrier to their leading full and rewarding lives.
From being a regular bus user, Pamela now mainly uses door-to-door transport. She has been involved in Dial-a-Ride since its inception in 1980 and has chaired a borough Dial-a-Ride and local area panels.
In Haringey she started 'Stroke clubs' and is involved in many committees locally and chairs Haringey's Mobility Forum. She has chaired London Mobility Advisory Panel and is now Vice Chair. Pamela was active on the accessibility group of what is now London Travel Watch (formerly LTUC).
Kathrine Gillespie Sells - IDAG lead on Disability and Stakeholder Engagement
Kathrine has worked as joint Head of Training at the London Boroughs Disability Resource Team, training disabled people to develop and deliver disability equality training on a self-employed basis.
She was a founding member and chairperson of Regard, which addresses homophobia within the disability movement. She has also worked as a consultant in disability equality for many agencies.
Kathrine was an executive member of the British Council of Disabled People and an active member of many pressure groups, including the Campaign for Accessible Transport and Rights not Charity.
Kathrine is a qualified psychotherapist specialising in person-centred counselling within disability and lesbian and gay communities. She is Director of Policy Development and Training at Nightingale Healthcare.
Athena Stevens - IDAG lead on Disability and London Underground
Athena recently finished a course in acting at RADA and is now working as a freelance writer, actor and director. Her experience over the past few years has included working with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Anthea has more than 20 years' experience in advocating for disability rights. She has worked on campaigns involving small business accessibility, the Sunflower Foundation of Budapest, Hungary, fair housing, educational mainstreaming and in-school accessibility, as well as writing grant applications and fund raising for adaptive sports in her area.
In 1998 she was named Female Athlete of the Year by the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association.
Zara Todd - IDAG lead on Disability and Surface Transport Issues
For the past seven years, Zara has been influencing transport policy and testing its practical effects as a wheelchair user. As well as being a mystery shopper on London's buses and taxis, she has been involved in consultations on transport accessibility and is a member of an access group working for Network Rail.
She has been heavily involved in the struggle for disability equality for the past decade, working with numerous disability organisations including Whizz-Kidz and Scope. While at Lancaster University, she was instrumental in improving the physical and social environment for students with disabilities, in her capacity as disabled students' officer.
Richard West - IDAG lead on Disability and Access to Information
Richard has been a member of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee since 1999 and will be for another four years.
He has been helping TfL for more than eight years to create maps and information for disabled people, and people with learning disabilities. He came up with the idea of the bus Spider Maps, which are now used all over London.
Richard is advising other transport groups for people with learning disabilities all over the country. He is also part of the Air and Rail Group advising the UK Government.
