I can’t live without you --- Mr. Driver

With the assistance of The Eden Social Welfare Foundation (伊甸基金會) a group of mental illness sufferers have studied to become citizen journalists to find a way to connect with and show concern for society. Through various writings and recorded footage the group wish to capture the face of modern society, and though taking the initiative feel they have earned a place as ‘citizens of society’. 

Recently, the group interviewed a bus driver with over ten years of experience on the job and a working day of 14 hours each day - including rest time - but who is fully satisfied with his job. However, with a working day from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, and with only one day off per week – four days a month – as well as the fact that the decision of whether you get Saturday or Sunday off lies in the hands of the company, this job certainly conceals a great deal of hardship. Perhaps you imagined that driving the same route each day would be boring, but remaining enthusiastic after over a decade on the job is possible; "Although we drive the same road every day, the situations you meet each day are different, the vehicles and passengers you encounter are all different, so fortunately, I never get bored” said the driver.  So with over ten years in the driving profession, just what kind of impression does this bus driver have of people with a metal illness? The driver said: “Not every mental illness sufferer is the same, each with their own particular situation. Some are just fine and wouldn’t hurt anybody. However, others could be dangerous, and that’s not so good.”

Mental illness sufferers use disability cards so you hear three bleeps as the person swipes the card on boarding the buss. A lack of understanding from some drivers can cause doubt as to the validity of disabled-card users boarding the bus, especially when the person appears fit and able-bodied. This may cause drivers to demand proof of disability from the person. In 2007 there was the case of a young female student who used a disability card and was asked for proof of her disability. Unable to take the humiliation of such a demand she left in despair and a short time after took her own life by jumping from the roof of a building. On asked about his feelings on how to deal with such a situation, the driver responded by saying that he tries hard not to cross over anyone’s boundary and is sensitive to the difficulties faced by mental illness sufferers. He said that due to this he never asks those using a disability card to provide proof of their disability; for this reply it was clear that this driver has a great deal of respect for all mental illness sufferers.

PeoPo 公民新聞

I can’t live without you --- Mr. Driver (by CJ makechange)
URL: http://www.peopo.org/news/100644

(以下是中文對照)

照片

不能沒有你---公車司機 ( makechange )

在伊甸基金會協助下，一群精神障礙的朋友們，學習成為公民記者來關懷社會、理解社會。他們拿起筆「抒寫」、拿起攝影機「紀錄」，用影像及文字記錄現今社會上不同的面貌，藉著主動的行動重新取得「社會公民」的位置。

這群朋友們最近訪問了一位公車司機，他當司機已經有十年，每天平均工作含休息十四個小時，對於薪資待遇相當滿意。但這份工作藏有不為人知的辛苦，從早上六點到晚上八點是上班時間，一個禮拜休一天，月休四天，休禮拜六或禮拜天看的是公司怎麼排班。或許大家以為司機永遠駕駛同一條路線，枯燥乏味，但維持十年工作熱情不減並不困難，「每天雖然都是開同一條路啦！可是你每天出去的狀況都不同，街上會遇到什麼車什麼人物，然後乘客會遇到哪些人，每天都不同，所以還好，不會無聊。」

聊到司機先生開車十年的經驗裡對精神障礙者的印象，以及怎樣相處？司機表示：「其實也不見得每一個都一樣，每一個人都有他不同的狀況，有些是好好的，可是他不會去傷害人或是怎樣，所以還好。你是說有些疾病的會去傷害人，這樣就很不好，我的意思就是這樣。」

精神障礙者乘坐公車使用的也是愛心卡，刷卡時會響出三聲，然而有部份的公車司機因為不了解，認為好手好腳的人怎麼會刷出三聲的愛心卡，質疑要求出示證明文件。2007年曾有一條新聞報導，一名女大學生因為刷愛心卡被司機質疑要求出示文件，女大學生無法承受要求，覺得重建的自信受損，無法面對人生，事後竟跳樓自殺。司機對此也回應他的看法，他個人因為了解也敏銳到有這樣的人，所以不會刻意去踩對方的線，也不會特意要求拿出證件，代表他的尊重。

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