Illinois Disabled Woman's 'Greyhound Bus Nightmare' - article & video report | Aug 2012

(WSIL tv) -- A Greyhound bus ride to Southern Illinois turned into a nightmare for one disabled woman.

Now she's calling on the company to make some changes.

"I'm in tears, crying because I'm scared, I don't know what's going on , I don't know if I'm on the right bus," said Carly Cochran.

The 29-year-old said her entire trip from Marietta, Ga., to Marion, Ill., was nothing short of a awful. Cochran suffers from macular dystrophy, a genetic eye disorder that causes vision loss. Her guide dog, Shirley, is a big help, but Cochran needed additional help from Greyhound on her trip.

Cochran said the bus driver was supposed to help her on and off the bus, load her luggage, and give her extra time for bathroom breaks with her dog. But once the trip started, none of those things happened.

"They didn't take me into the gas station to get a drink or go to the bathroom or let me feed (Shirley) and give her water, "said Cochran.

The worst part came in Nasvhlle, Tenn., when Cochran had a bus transfer she couldn't find. She called the friend she was visiting, Lisa Miller, in a panic.

"I'm here in Galatia, Ill., thinking, she's gonna get stuck in Nashville, how am I gonna get to her?" said Miller.

Cochran can see blurry outlines of people, but not faces or features, which makes fending for herself in a strange place frightening.

Greyhound representatives declined our request for an on-camera interview, but told News 3 that Cochran needed to communicate with the driver about her needs. The spokesperson went on to say the issue has been resolved. But Cochran said that's news to her.

"I have not booked my route back home because I'm afraid what's gonna happen," she said.

Now Cochran and Miller are waiting for Greyhound to make things right.

"I want somebody at Greyhound to actually take a bus ride, with a blind fold and actually go through their own system and see how people are taken care of," said Miller.

Cochran said she received a partial refund from Greyhound for the trouble, but she insists money isn't the issue. She says she just wants to ensure that other people with disabilities won't have to go through what she did.

By Kristin Crowley - News 3
By Randy Livingston
Story Created: Aug 10, 2012 at 5:12 PM CDT
Story Updated: Aug 10, 2012 at 6:31 PM CDT

http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Disabled-Woman-Angry-at-Greyhound-Bu-165785576.html