[NFB-NM] FW: Transportation for Vaccine Appointments for Persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Wed Apr 21 00:47:14 UTC 2021

Best wishes,

Tonia Trapp, secretary
National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico

From: Trapp, Greg, CFB <Greg.Trapp at state.nm.us> 
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 1:36 PM
To: 'nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com' <nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com>
Subject: Transportation for Vaccine Appointments for Persons who are Blind
or Visually Impaired

Transportation for Vaccine Appointments for Persons who are Blind or
Visually Impaired

The New Mexico Commission for the Blind is working to provide qualifying
visually impaired persons with transportation to vaccine appointments
through GoGo Enterprises, which uses Uber ride sharing drivers. Known
commonly as GoGoGrandparent, they serve adults of any age, and a smart phone
is not required. This transportation is being provided to visually impaired
persons who cannot obtain or afford their own transportation. If you are
determined eligible, you will be able to call GoGoGrandparent to request a
free ride to your vaccine appointment. You are responsible to arrange for
your vaccine appointment. To qualify for assistance with transportation, you
must have a visual impairment that prevents you from driving, and you must
otherwise be unable to obtain vaccine transportation.

There is a shortage of Uber drivers, so you should schedule your pickup time
with that fact in mind. We recommend that you schedule your pickup time with
at least a 30 minute cushion. 

Who Should Apply for Transportation Assistance Using GoGoGrandparent?

Persons who might decline to be vaccinated due to the cost of using Uber to
get to a vaccine event.  
Persons who do not have a friend, family member, or other person to drive
them to a vaccine event.

Who Should Not Apply for Transportation Assistance Using GoGoGrandparent?

Persons who have a friend, family member, or other person to drive them to a
vaccine event.
Persons who already use ride sharing and who can comfortably afford to use
Uber or Lyft. 
Persons in Albuquerque who would be comfortable taking Sun Van to an
Albuquerque vaccine event.

Safety

GoGoGrandparent uses Uber drivers. Uber has adopted their "Door-to-Door
Safety Standard," and require both passengers and drivers to wear masks.
Drivers are also screened, and GoGoGrandparent removes drivers who receive
negative feedback.

Tipping

The Commission is providing a tip of $15 for each Uber ride. You are free to
add to this tip, and are encouraged to do so if you have a drive through
vaccine appointment that takes unusually long. 

Disclaimers

GoGoGrandparent covers much of New Mexico, but when you call it is possible
that you may be told you live in an area without coverage. If that happens,
please call the UNM Office of Community Health. They are contracted with the
Department of Health to reach out to people with disabilities to arrange
transportation and support. The UNM Office of Community Health can be
reached at 505-379-0274.

It is possible that Uber driver shortages may result in a driver being
unavailable at the time of your ride. It is also possible that the driver
may have difficulty finding your location. Even though a tip is provided, it
is possible that the driver may not want to wait should there be a very long
delay.  The Commission will not be responsible for any problems that may
arise with your ride experience. 

How to Apply

You may call 575-414-8378 to apply for transportation assistance through
GoGoGrandparent. If you are determined eligible, your name and information
will be provided to GoGo Enterprises. You will then be authorized to call
GoGoGrandparent to schedule a ride to your vaccine event. Again, you are
responsible to schedule your vaccine event.

You can register for the vaccine at www.vaccinenm.org
<http://www.vaccinenm.org> . If you are unable to register online, you may
contact the Aging and Disability Resource Center, which is part of Aging and
Long Term Services. They can be reached at 800-432-2080.

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