[Nfb-or] Fwd: [oregon-l] Tri-Met Invitation Needs your immediate attention
T. Joseph Carter
carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Tue Apr 14 06:48:16 UTC 2009
I don't have an opinion really.
Many blind people use paratransit. Some need to, others do not and
should learn to use the fixed route system. Some use it for
convenience--the poor fools. Others use it out of necessity. It's
not really a blindness issue in my mind.
If they do try to recertify people and kick existing users off the
service, a few of those who should not be using the service will be
forced to stop. If I have some concern, it's that there are some who
could use fixed route buses with training they didn't get, and so
they are using LIFT to compensate for a lack of travel skills.
I do have some concern that a few in that last category may be
deprived of LIFT services without being given the training they need
to use fixed-route services. That would be a travesty.
But LIFT changing eligibility criteria for new riders, that I have
little opinion of.
On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 05:10:01PM -0700, Bill wrote:
>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
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