[blindlaw] Blindness and Mobility Transit Services

[E.J. Zufelt]

Good morning,

Perhaps I am a high-maintenance blind person.  However, I really don't 
understand how blindness is not an impairment to mobility.  Granted, I have 
only been completely blind for approximately four years.

I know that I'm preaching to the choir here, but can someone explain to me 
how I am supposed to get to say a computer store that I have never been to 
before using the standard municipal transit system?  Perhaps the bus driver 
will get off the bus with me at the nearest stop to the store and walk me to 
the front door?

Thanks,
Everett



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <AZNOR99 at aol.com>
To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Blindness and Mobility Transit Services


> Hi Everett,
>
> In the Chicago area, we have a similar service.  However, blindness,  on 
> its
> own, is not a sufficient impairment to mobility to qualify a user.   Their
> rationale is similar to that held by your agency.  The theory is that
> individuals who are blind are not restricted from using other means of 
> public
> transportation.  Also, the service is limited in the number it can serve, 
> so it only
> accepts those who really need it.
>
> Good luck,
> Ronza
>
>
> In a message dated 5/9/2008 2:27:06 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
> everett at zufelt.ca writes:
>
> Good  morning,
>
> It recently came to my attention that the city I live in,  Fredericton, 
> NB,
> Canada, offers a "Dial-a-Bus" service for "mobility impaired"  passengers. 
> The
> service is supposed to be available to "...any person  with a disability 
> that
> prevents them from using, with a high degree of comfort  and dignity, 
> fixed
> route transit services in the City of Fredericton".  (Dial-a-Bus Policy
> Statement).
>
> I recently spoke with the Executive  Director of the not-for-profit
> organization that administers the application  process of the program for 
> the city.  I
> was told that "blindness, on its  own, is not a mobility impairment".
> I then spoke with the City Transit  Manager and City Administrator who 
> both
> told me that the service is not  offered to the blind, because the blind 
> can
> learn how to get from one location  to another with a cane or dog.
>
> I am curious if anyone on list lives in  a city with a similar service,
> offered as an alternative to the municipal  transit service, and if you 
> are aware
> if blindness is considered an eligible  disability.
>
> To prevent any negative feedback before it is given, I do  not believe 
> that I
> would need to use the "dial-a-bus" service for all of my  transit needs.
> There are locations that I can get to easily either  walking or using the
> standard transit system, in combination with my dog  guide.  It is the 
> locations that
> I visit infrequently, that are dangerous  to walk to, or that are 
> incredibly
> difficult to get to using a dog guide for  which I believe this service 
> should
> be assisting me.
>
> Thank you for any  feedback you can  provide,
> Everett
>
>
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