Kicked off bus over 'noisy' deaf daughter
A MUM-OF-FOUR says she suffered "public humiliation" when she was thrown off a bus because the driver would not believe her daughter was deaf.
Paula Yates was asked to leave the Trent Barton Rainbow One bus after a row began because Emily Ayling, who was born severely deaf, was making too much noise.
The 24-year-old, of Eastwood, said the driver accused her of lying when she said it was hard to stop Emily screaming because the one-year-old could not hear.
Miss Yates, who was travelling on the bus with her sister, mother and Emily, said: "She was calling me a liar, saying she didn't believe my daughter was deaf and I was making it up."
Miss Yates claims the driver shouted down the bus, "can you shut that child up?", before saying the family had to leave. Miss Yates said the driver then said she could stay before asking her to leave again when she said she was going to report her. The family got off at the Gateway Hotel and caught a bus behind.
Miss Yates said the incident had made her reluctant to take her daughter out shopping.
She said: "It was public humiliation. It's been hard for me to come to terms with Emily being deaf. It's hard because people do look at her because she makes noises. It's set me right back. I feel so hurt and upset."
When she reported the incident at Victoria Centre bus station, she heard others had complained.
She said: "People said it was disgusting the way she dealt with me. I think it's really lovely that someone did that. I want to thank them. If she'd had a quiet word with me, it would have been one thing, but everybody could hear."
Emily's three older sisters have no hearing problems but Miss Yates' partner, who is working in Bristol, has relatives who are deaf. She admits swearing at the driver in anger but denies threatening her. One passenger contacted the company in support of Miss Yates while another said they thought the driver had done the right thing.
A spokesman for Trent Barton said: "This seems to be an event that has been blown out of proportion. We believe the customer has acknowledged she went too far in her comments."
sarah.firth@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
60 Comments
View all
by c, notts
Friday, December 11 2009, 8:50PM
“I heard through grapevine that Miss Yates has had another foul mouth rant at a different Trent driver because there was no room for her on the bus with her buggy. He told her that she would have to wait for the next bus but this was not good enough for Miss Yates, she was swearing because there were people seated in the buggy area and expected them to be moved for her. They've paid their fare and have every right to be seated there, if she had been let on it would have taken the driver over his maximum standing load but i'm sure she'll be spreading the word that she's being victimised by the company and all who work for them. Oooh free Zig-Zag, don't mind if i do!!!!”
by Claire E, a friend of Paula's.
Thursday, December 10 2009, 3:44PM
“I'd love to know how you can justify my being ''illiterate'', being one of Paula's supporters and all. I can't see anything which remotely resembles bad english in my posts! Oh, hang on a second, I did spell disability wrong in my original comment. My sincere apologies!”
by dick shonairy, notts
Wednesday, December 09 2009, 10:03PM
“Maybe the mother was going to spelling and grammar lessons on the bus! If she wernt she dam well shud av bin :os. Take the rest of your illiterate supporters with you next time.”
by Claire E, a friend of Paula's
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 11:01PM
“''Also she should get some new friends, prefferebly ones who can speak english and type on web sites in a legible manor.
May I ask you Claire, do you like chips? Do you wear a grey track suit? and given the choice would you drive a subaru imprezza?''
Okay. For a start I believe my post was not only legible but actually quite eloquent. I would be very surprised if you have a higher education or higher diploma in English Language than me.
Secondly, I love chips but don't eat them much as I'm currently training for a charity walk from Lands End to John O'Groats. I don't believe I own a grey tracksuit but I do have some trackies for running, yes. Lastly, I don't drive at present but my Husband drives us in a Volkswagon Passat.
(By the way, Rod, I have absolutely no idea what bearing this all has on Paula's situation, but I will be forever glad to prove my non-chavette attire/attitude/vehicle ownership.)”
by skay lou, ripley
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 5:45PM
“I was on the bus and i did see what was happening and again THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BABY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
it WAS THE MOTHERS actions that made the driver kick them off and i do know how it feels to have a disability im dis-lec-sik (i dont know if that is how you spell it). I have never let is stop me.
But again i said this has nothing to do with the baby it was the mother actsions, the driver said "calm down i'm taking you" so she was going to take the mother to nottingham.
If she had just calmed down she would have got to nottingham.
The driver must of said that 3 or 4 time to the mother.
Oh and i dont know if you know missy but that driver weres a hearing aid in her right ear so i dont think she is or was ever preujdice!
and thanks for saying some of the same susan.b and rod”