[Ohio-talk] Fw: Just wanmt you to know about this

[Dr. Smith]

I just wanted you all to see this one and especially my friends in Cincinnati!

JW

Dr. J. Webster Smith
President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
P.O.BOX 458 Athens, Ohio, 45701-0458
Phone Number - 740-592-6326 
"Changing What it Means to be Blind"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jeanne Ranker 
To: jwsmithnfb at verizon.net 
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:21 PM
Subject: Just wanmt you to know about this


Hello,

I live in Cincinnati Ohio and rely on (Public transpiration) (METRO)under  SORTA .  There is a program for people with disabilities to obtain a card that allows us to receive a discount on bus fare.  When I went this week to renew my card I was appalled at what I experienced/  Not sure if you have any org in Cincinnati or have the time or desire to pursue this, but I feel so strongly about it I wanted to sent my letter to your organization.  I am not an activist, have never been one, but really feel that the Fare Deal Program needs a wake up call.

Thank you,
Jeanne 


To:  Executive Staff, Metro
602 Main Street, Suite 1100
Cincinnati, OH 45202



From:  Jeanne Ranker

3655 Paxton Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45208



Date:  March 23, 2009





Re: Fare Deal Card Renewal Situation



Dear Madame or Sir:



I had an appointment to renew my Fare Deal card at the downtown location today.  When I arrived, there were several others who were also either applying or renewing their cards.  Most of these clients were elderly, and had obvious visual difficulties.  I myself am Legally Blind, and if I could see that the people were struggling to read the forms, the staff surely could see it too.



There was one elderly woman in particular who said to the women behind the counter, “Oh my, I hope I won’t have to read, I can’t see it.”  “You will!” the employee responded, with complete disregard for this woman’s discomfort.  Expecting something like this I had filled my form out ahead of time, using a magnifying glass.



When someone mentions to an employee that they will have difficulty reading a form, in my opinion, A LARGE PRINT FORM should be offered as an alternative.  Had a large print form been offered, to the visually impaired, I would quite likely be writing a completely different letter today.  I am not aware of the availability of Braille forms, and I do not read Braille, many people with visual disabilities do not.



An office that deals with people with disabilities should be prepared to accommodate the Partially Sighted.  I am not an expert in ADA law.  I am an expert in the frustrations that Legally Blind/Partially Sighted people encounter on a regular basis.  Here is what I need from you:



·         I need Large Print Form and 

·         I would like forms available online that could be filled out using a computer.

·         I would like the bus to come to a complete stop at their scheduled stops, because I do not use a white cane and cannot read the bus number until the bus is in front of me.

·         I would like all bus to announce the route number when the doors open.

·         I would like the bus stops to be announced, so I know when I am close to my destination.

·         I would like this to happen all the time, every day.



I look forward to your reaction to my concerns.  I will continue to ride the Metro, where I generally find the coach operators to be courteous and accommodating.



Regards,





Jeanne Ranker  



Cc: SORTA Board of Trustees 

Melody Sawyer Richardson, Chair

William L. Mallory, Sr., Vice Chairman

Robert W. Buechner 
Minette Cooper

Margaret C. Gutsell 

Stephan Louis

Sean Rugless

James Tarbell



Executive Staff


Marilyn G. Shazor
Chief Executive Officer
mshazor at go-metro.com



H. Theodore Bergh
Chief Financial Officer
tbergh at go-metro.com



William J. Desmond
Director, Legal Affairs/Risk Management
wdesmond at go-metro.com



Sallie L. Hilvers
Chief Administrative Officer
shilvers at go-metro.com



Mary Beth Moning
Chief Operations Officer
mmoning at go-metro.com