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Friday, April 17, 2009

The ripple effect of mass transit cuts on people with disabilities

Arizona.

Connecticut.

Twin Cities

St. Louis

Wichita

Boston

Albany, Reno, Niles Michigan.

And now Utah.

Just some of the places where rides for the disabled are being cut and further cuts are being wrestled with, eliminating the only source of transportation for many to work, the doctor, church, the grocery store and to get out of their homes. In some places, fare hikes are in effect eliminating the use of services by those on fixed incomes already grappling with the prices of food and medication.

At the Utah Transit Authority, people with disabilities cried as they spoke about the effect of cutting their only means of transportation. Many have been there before and know what it's like to not have a way to get anywhere.

"Please don't keep us prisoners in our homes," Patricia Williams, a disabled 40-year Reno resident said at a recent hearing. "Let us get out and see our family. Let us go to the grocery store.

The mass transit cuts also affect those who work with people with disabilities, who receive low wages and rely on bus routes. In St. Louis, about half of a care center's kitchen and housekeeping staff have no other way to get to work. Aides caring for those in their homes also can't get to some places, cutting off individuals who need services.

The ripple effect of mass transit cuts, including paratransit cuts and fare hikes, affects those least able to find alternatives, at the lowest income levels. There isn't any wiggle room in their household budget, nor do they have access to other forms of transportation. Many live alone and receive no rides or financial help from families. And, in some cases, even if a friend or family member could give a ride, their car can't hold a heavy wheelchair.

As the number of cities cutting these vital services increases, more people are left without transportation, without care, without a way to get health care and food. Some will be forced into nursing homes, unable to sustain themselves in the community, costing the government far more in the end for their daily care. Others will live as virtual prisoners in their homes. Many will lose jobs or have to stop volunteer work. Even more cut off, they will have fewer chances to get rides from anyone in the community.

Yes, they cried at that hearing in Utah. And how many are crying behind closed doors?

6 comments:

FridaWrites said...

Yes, this is genuinely awful. Not to mention illegal--they should be equipping all buses with ramps or keep paratransit services if they can't. I doubt most people realize the impact.

Ruth said...

Frida- Sadly the impact will be felt by those who lack other resources which would assist them in speaking up for themselves.

william Peace said...

Para transit service never work well. The MTA New York City para transit is notoriously bad. Horror stories abound. In fact I think para transit is cost efficient if it is run so badly people avoid using it. This is proof positive those with the least power tend to be the first one's hurt by cutbacks.

Ruth said...

You make an excellent point. Para transit also needs an overhaul. It's true that para transit service has many horror stories and the para transit rules and regulations really need a revision.

Full Tilt said...

Ableism rears its ugly head once more, and again, we fail to create communities in which everyone is valued...

Here, the paratransit is nasty, the bus system ridiculous and the mentality to keep persons with disabilities home-bound thrives.

Wheelie, since you are a lawyer, is there anything individuals and groups can do vis a vis laws designed to give us access in the public domain???

Ruth said...

Full Tilt-
On a personal level, I filed complaints with bus companies where I live when drivers weren't trained on how to use lifts and strap my chair down properly. My feeling was that since buses have regular schedules, I didn't want to ride around on a para transit service that offered no time table for arrivals. Yet when I tried to use regular buses, I ran into all kinds of problems. It was as if segregation was built into the system- inevitably upon boarding a bus I was asked if I knew about the para transit service.

At some point, we need to admit that the mobility of people with disabilities in this country is sadly lacking and address it. It's not just that we have sub par transportation alternatives, but we also have people who can't get wheelchairs they need or guide dogs.

I was just up at the disability expo with a friend whose insurance has denied her a wheelchair although she has used one for over 20 years. She now needs some type of assist with pushing and those wheels cost upwards of 6 to 8 grand. A power chair as we know costs even more. She's always worked, been insured and has had to buy wheelchairs from - guess where - ebay despite paying large insurance premiums. Outrageous.

There's something really wrong with the way our current society looks the other way when the powers that be, whether it's an insurer or a bus company, dictate if we can even get around.