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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>The Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and Disability Rights Ohio are currently working together to deal with issues that blind passengers are having with COTA, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, both with their fixed route and Project Mainstream paratransit service. We have been investigating customer complaints processed by COTA over the past three years, and reporting to DRO known issues that are ongoing, and it has been determined that significant problems with the provided service does exist, causing transportation concerns for the blind in the Columbus area. We are now looking at next steps to attempt to fix the problem, and hopefully require COTA to improve their service. What we need from you is your testimony to document concerns that you may have and problems that you have experienced with COTA. We are especially interested in times that COTA has been untimely or given improper service with Project Mainstream, or have passed you by without identifying themselves or announced stops on the fixed routes. It is very important that we hear as much as possible from you to document the problems that exist. Please do not think that it will not do any good, because it will. The NFB and the DRO are determined to help improve the situation, and we need to show how bad the problem actually is. So, if you have experienced any problems with COTA, please contact Dave Perry at Disability Rights Ohio either by email at <a href="mailto:dperry@disabilityrightsohio.org">dperry@disabilityrightsohio.org</a>, or by phone at 614-264-2846 Ext. 186 via voice mail. We know how frustrating transportation problems can be, and we are willing and able to do what we can to help, so please give us your statements, and help us to become a partt of the solution. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Annette Lutz<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Capital Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>