You’d think people in 2018 would be a bit more sensitive to the needs and requirements of people less able than them.

And for the most part, I think that they are; I’ll occasionally see a blind person on the Tube and there will always be someone helping them off the platform, giving up their seat, or just generally making their journey a bit easier.

It’s the least we can do.

But this next story leaves a pretty bad taste in the mouth, as one blind girl was treated appallingly on a recent bus journey.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Megan Taylor was on her first bus journey with her disability assistance dog Rowley when a passenger came over to her shouting ‘why is there a f****** dog on the bus? Get it off”.


But when Megan tried to “politely explain” it was an assistance dog she claims the woman called her a liar. The woman’s reason? Because “guide dogs are yellow Labradors and your dog is black”.

I mean where do you start with that level of ignorance?

Megan, from Merseyside, told the paper:

“I tried to explain to her that guide and assistance dogs can been any colour and don’t have to be Labradors, although Rowley is. She told me I was wrong. ️ “I decided at this point there was nothing I could say to educate this woman and that it wasn’t worth my time. “I instead chose to ignore her while she continued to talk nonsense.”


Megan suffers from ‘episodic blindness’, something she’s been living with ever since she suffered a serious head injury at the age of 15.

It has left her with a whole list of medical problems including hearing loss, impaired balance, frequent fainting attacks and vertigo.

She added:

“I suffered multiple fractures to my skull in the incident which left me with multiple disabilities and medical conditions including hearing loss, impaired balance, frequent fainting attacks, vertigo, and episodic blindness. “I can temporarily lose my sight without warning at any time, which is truly terrifying. “Even when I can see I become so dizzy and disoriented when walking that I bump into obstacles and trip over things.”


Rowley is Megan’s second assistance dog – her first dog Ruby was forced into retirement after being attacked – and helps her with many daily tasks.

The two-year-old helps Megan retrieve dropped items, empty the washing machine, get undressed and untie her shoes and even phone for help when she loses consciousness.

Speaking about the impact of her assistance dogs, Megan said:

“They enable me to be independent, they give me confidence, and they keep me safe. They’re my everything. “People should know assistance dogs come in many shapes and sizes and are trained to support people with a range of disabilities. “They aren’t just for the blind. “Just like a wheelchair, walking stick, or pair of glasses, they are important and vital auxiliary aids and as such are legally permitted to accompany their disabled owner in all public places.”


However, this isn’t the first time Megan has experienced something like this when trying to get about, which has led to her feeling anxious about using public transport.

She said:

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a stress free trip on public transport, that’s why I’m so nervous when using it now. “Even after I have shown people my medical alert card and pointed to my Assistance Dog I have been laughed at and told no. “On other occasions I have been spat at, stepped over, pushed out of the way and accused of being ‘another drunk youth’ when losing consciousness due to my heart condition and neurological disorder.


Honestly, how can some people be so mean to someone? It blows my mind.

I genuinely don’t know how she manages to stay positive but Megan says she doesn’t let it get to her:

“I try to stay positive and not let incidents such as what happened get me down because I am not ashamed of my disability. “Despite having so many negative experiences, I know that these people are the minority. “Most people are good and kind.”

People, can we all agree to be a bit nicer to one another?

Especially to people like Megan.


Please and thank you.

Images via Liverpool Echo