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A young couple in wheelchairs have not been able to date freely due to the capital’s lack of wheelchair access – and now they hope a campaign will help fight for disability equality.

Seán O’Kelly, 23, and his girlfriend, Megan McGuckin, 21, have been dating for almost five-and-a-half years – but not once has Seán been able to fulfil a simple wish for most couples – to take his girlfriend on a “spontaneous date.”

Seán, from Dalkey, says there is a lack of disabled access on public transport, in restaurants and other venues and this has restricted the couple’s lifestyle.

Sean revealed: “If Megan and I want to go out for a date we have to get our parents to drive us from A to B.

“We have been going out a long time, but still, if I wanted to surprise Megan and take her somewhere, I can’t.”

Seán, who has spina bifida and fluid on the brain, said he and Megan - who has the same conditions - have been unable to take simple bus journeys together because he claims the average bus only has room for one wheelchair.

And the train, he says, presents similar problems. Recently Seán said he was “stranded” at Clontarf Dart Station after a train journey.

Seán boarded the train at Dalkey Dart Station but when it arrived at Clontarf, he could not get off because there was no railway worker to help – even though he had called ahead to say he would be on the train.

He revealed: “The driver had to help me off - but drivers don’t always want to do this. It’s happened before.

“Then when I finally got off the train, the lift wasn’t working so I couldn’t get off the platform.

“I was stranded. I couldn’t ask someone to help me. My wheelchair is heavy and there are a lot of steps up from the platform.”

Seán has set up the ‘A Day in My Wheels’ campaign, asking politicians and the public to spend one day in a wheelchair – to see how difficult it is to get round on public transport.

He explained: “It feels like, as disabled people, we are discriminated against. It makes me furious. I should be able to go on dates on my own with my girlfriend.

“I should be able to go to meet friends without a problem. Disabled people do not have equality in Ireland – we had the marriage referendum to improve equality – now it is time to offer disabled people equality too.

“It’s not right we should have to ring ahead to get the train or go to a restaurant.

“The campaign is to challenge politicians and the public to spend a day in a wheelchair and to use public transport.

“Then able-bodied people will see to what life is like in a wheelchair.”

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Such is the extent of the problems that Sean even has to phone ahead to restaurants to see that they have disabled access.

But he said that even though he phones to check premises out, they often still don’t fit the criteria for wheelchair access.

Seán says he has been “stuck” in restaurant toilet cubicles because they are too small for a wheelchair, and he has had to phone his friend on one occasion to help him get out.

He added: “And I’ve been using the dart for the last 10 years and I’ve noticed it gradually getting worse. The main problems are that the stations aren’t being manned so that disabled people can get on and off trains.

“And I can’t get on a bus with my girlfriend while quite often my friends have been refused access on the dart because buggies are on them or the lift is not working on the buses.

“I want to open people’s minds and eyes. Disabled people are are like a minority in this country. We are almost hiding in society and I want this to stop.”

Seán, who last year completed a higher education qualification in digital and social media marketing, said he has also been looking for a job since late last year.

He is now concerned disability could be preventing him from gaining employment.

Seán, who is Dublin branch youth officer for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalis Ireland, said: “People with disabilities find it virtually impossible to find a job because of access to public transport and buildings.

“I may be wrong but stigma, it’s virtually impossible and I’ve been looking since September last year.

“I want to work at Microsoft. I’ve been to work placements at the company and I loved it – I love computers, so hopefully something suitable turns up soon.”

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One big positive that has come out of his disability was meeting his girlfriend and the fact Seán feels the SBHI group is like a second “family” to him.

Independent Councillor for Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Deirdre Donnelly has called for better disability access on public transport.

She has met with Transport Minister Shane Ross and asked for assurances and she is awaiting a meeting with Department officials.

An Iarnród Éireann spokesman said: “We are committed to ensuring all customers can travel and that mobility and sensory impaired customers receive the assistance they require. We are sorry for any difficulty experienced in travelling with us as detailed by this customer.

“We will work to ensure assistance is available with or without notice, however some stations are unmanned at some times, and notice enables us to ensure that we can have a staff member in place to assist. Station manned hours are detailed on our website, as are details of any lift issues which can occur primarily due to vandalism.”

A Dublin Bus spokeswoman said that the company “is committed to providing an accessible service. It is our policy to ensure all our buses, information points and services are accessible.

Log on to the A Day in My Wheels Facebook page to support the campaign and follow the Twitter campaign @adayinmywheels.