[Nfb-or] Fwd: [oregon-l] Tri-Met Invitation Needs your immediateattention
T. Joseph Carter
carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Tue Apr 14 06:49:30 UTC 2009
Haben,
I wonder if the cost of paying for their use of paratransit is less
than the cost of getting them travel skills sufficient to not need
it? I can't imagine someone's done the research.
Joseph
On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 10:00:37PM -0700, Haben Girma wrote:
>
> Good question. While the NFB has shown that blind people can have such
> developed travel skills that some of them even work as O&M instructors,
> the fact remains that many blind Americans, and blind non-Americans, do
> not have such advanced travel skills. So, even though some blind people
> don't have mobility impairments, they would rely on paratransit
> services. They may not have received the training, developed it on their
> own, or simply choose not to use cane travel skills. It's really
> important to remember the heterogeneity of the blind community.
>
> Haben
>
> Mike Freeman wrote:
>> With the exception of the blind who are also mobility impaired, why
>> should the blind worry about lift access any more than should other
>> citizens?
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill" <cassonw at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFB of Oregon mailing list" <nfb-or at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 5:10 PM
>> Subject: [Nfb-or] Fwd: [oregon-l] Tri-Met Invitation Needs your
>> immediateattention
>>
>>
>> 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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>>
>>
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