[Nfb-or] Fwd: [oregon-l] Tri-Met Invitation Needs your immediate attention

Tue Apr 14 00:10:01 UTC 2009

I received this on a ACB list and am interested in what it means and if the
NFB of oregon has a position or if any of you have an opinion.
Bill, VP
Oregon Association of Blind Students
503-768-8982
cassonw at gmail.com

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gregg Welch <tallcoolgregg at msn.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Subject: [oregon-l] Tri-Met Invitation Needs your immediate attention
To: Kat <lady-potter at comcast.net>, "John A. Fleming" <
blueskies.acb at gmail.com>, Darian Slayton Fleming <darehart56 at hotmail.com>,
"Patricia Kepler\"" <patricia at ilr.org>, acbo2009convention at yahoo.com, Jack
Thorpe <mcgruff1958 at comcast.net>, pstokes at hevanet.com, hdelaunay at quest.net,
omninet at comcast.net, Kristin <kbretana at gmail.com>, Daniel Ezell <
dbezell at verizon.net>, doguser4 at msn.com, randy.hauth at comcast.net,
laris71843 at mypacks.net, Cheree Heppe <cheree at dogsc4me.com>, James McCree <
jamccree at comcast.net>, jpmccree at comcast.net, Lew Middleton <
lewmiddleton at yahoo.com>, irimex at comcast.net, ronandwilly at hotmail.com,
cynarie at hotmail.com, awilliams at nhweb.org, Ms COLLEEN UTTER <
c.utter62 at verizon.net>, Todd Ray <toddaray at verizon.net>, Sean Ray <
seanlray at verizon.net>, Elizabeth Pescuzzi <empbow at hotmail.com>, "Mary L.
Reid Holmes" <mlreidh at q.com>, cherislack at yahoo.com, Michael Mulvey <
michaelmulvey at earthlink.net>, gpatrick at visionnw.com, MrsDaCoop at aol.com,
ac7dz at juno.com, oregon-l at acb.org
Cc: Gregg Welch <tallcoolgregg at msn.com>, "Jon M. Egan" <
jegan at eganlegalteam.com>

I am considering going to all forms of the media about this so called
invitation sent out to Lift customers that I have attached to this e-mail.
 When you read it as a Lift customer it gives you the flowery message that
the workshop is not really significant and practically puts you to sleep.
 The blind and disabled community and caretakers and relatives will read
this so called invitation more than likely  will not see the significance of
how their lack of knowledge and concern about these changes, will lower the
importance of how these system changes will impact the disabled.  Read the
attached invitation below and see if you see anything about ; Quote; Current
Lift Users, Unquote.  You won't find it, because they don't want current
users to resist or get concerned.  If I'm wrong, they need to issue a
declarative policy that indicates that all current Lift Users will be exempt
from these changes.   That won't happen and Tri-Met needs in my opinion to
be taken to task for this flowery letter that cleverly omits statements
about how all of these positive changes may not be positive for current
customers.  I'm sure that some of the guests at this workshop are speaking
as a result of consultation with public relations firms and probably wrote
the attached invitation letter of positivity to the maximum. If you get
kicked off the Lift Program because you read this so called invitation from
Tri-Met and shoved it aside as unimportant, that attitude would be created
by the wording of this attached Tri-Met Lift invitation and could cost your
life.  They want to reduce Lift ridership and flower up a letter to users of
the program and set up this workshop so each one of you will have a limited
exposure to information that is vitally important and opinions of disent by
more informed users or advocates to keep resistance down and reduce the
contraversy.

Please read the invitation and e-mail me with your disagreement or agreement
with my observations.

Tri-Met April 28 2009 Workshop

Greg, I have attached the files in a Word format.  They are minus a few
photos and the TriMet logo but they contain all of the text.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  Thanks,

Kathy Miller, Manager, Administrative Services, TriMet ATP, (503)802-8209,
millerk at trimet.org

Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 1:32 PM, Subject: TriMet LIFT Eligibility
Process Improvements Workshop, block quote end

You are invited to the TriMet LIFT Eligibility Workshop:  Tuesday, April 28,
2009, 1-4 p.m.  Doubletree Hotel at Lloyd Center 1000 NE Multnomah Street,
Broadway Room Portland, OR 97232  Learn about TriMet's improvements to the
LIFT eligibility determination process beginning 2010

·       Learn what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says about
eligibility for paratransit services

·       Hear from TriMet staff about improvements to the certification
process

·       Learn how other cities around the country conduct eligibility
determinations for paratransit services

·       Find out about the new TriMet Transit Mobility Center

·       Get information about the benefits of travel training and hear from
RideWise graduates

·       Share your opinions and experiences and provide your comments
directly to TriMet staff

Attendees will include the Committee on Accessible Transportation (CAT).
 Please RSVP on the enclosed postcard by Friday, April 17.  Plan your trip
at trimet.org or call 503-238-RIDE.  Event parking is available at the
Doubletree garage for $3.  For more information please contact the TriMet
Accessible Transportation Program (ATP) office at 503-962-8200 or TTY
503-962-8058.  Persons needing sign language interpretation or other
communication aids should contact TriMet ATP at least 48 hours in advance of
the workshop.  TriMet LIFT Eligibility Workshop Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 1-4
p.m.  AGENDA

1-1:15 p.m.       Welcome and Opening Remarks: Fred Hansen, TriMet General
Manager, Jan Campbell, Chair, TriMet CAT

1:15-1:25 p.m.          Introductions

                         Agenda Review

                         Goals for the Workshop: Connie Soper,
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates

1:25-2 p.m.       The Americans with Disabilities Act and   Paratransit
Eligibility; an Overview of National                                  Trends
and Experiences:  Karen Hoesch, ACCESS, Pittsburgh, PA

                               Richard Weiner, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting
Associates

2-2:30 p.m.: TriMet's New LIFT Eligibility Determination:

Process and the Transit Mobility Center:

                               Kathy Miller, TriMet:

2:30-2:45 p.m.           Break

2:45-3:30 p.m.       Conversation Tables

                                     An opportunity to discuss any or all
points in the Presentations with workshop facilitators

3:30-3:55 p.m.      RideWise Role in LIFT Eligibility and Presentation by
RideWise Graduates

                                     Julie Wilcke, Ride Connection

3:55-4:05 p.m.      Next Steps and Opportunities for Comment

Connie Soper, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates

Please reply now, so I know whether I have your backing on criticizing
Tri-Met's strategy to lower concerns of the disabled about continued Lift
Program participation.

Gregg Welch, Multnomah Chapter President of the American Council of the
Blind of Oregon