The People's Money (2024-2025)
Play your part: Your Money, Your Community, Your Vote!
- Do you have specific Neighborhood(s) in mind?
- Which group(s) does your idea focus on? Select as many as apply.
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Older AdultsPeople with DisabilitiesVeterans
- Describe the challenge you want to address:
- People with disabilities often present with a lack of access to opportunities to better paying jobs, technology, support services and resources that can assist them in meeting their needs, living an independent and meaningful life. . This is due to the lack of access to information and knowledge about policies that enables people with disabilities to receive supportive services and accommodations, leading to poor mental health including depression. This is multiplied by the additional challenges associated with the nature of there unique condition such as reliance on others for assistance in navigating the city, reading due to visual impairment, sign language for the deaf, accessible ramps for people with motor impairments and more. One example of this is the ADA policy regarding accessible transportation which requires that cities provide transportation services like Access A Ride under paratransit. Paratransit services like access A Ride offer the disabled better access to transportation, but can sometimes present with restrictions like limited operation hours due to inclement weather, etc. Oftentimes, drivers ask the disabled person to pay the fair even though there is a clear policy suggesting that a person with a documented disability or medical condition as certified by a medical professional, is entitled under the ADA to ride free on the MTA busses or subway trains up to 4 trips per day with the use of the Access A Ride ID card. However, there is a total lack of knowledge of existent policies concerning reduced fairs for disabled citizens, veterans, and seniors, and there should be more resources to educate MTA employees on the policies regarding the treatment of disabled customers because everyone deserves to ride in peace with dignity and respect. I am totally blind and often encounter this problem which inspires me to advocate for those with disabilities facing similar challenges.
- What is the solution to the challenge?
- The solution to this ongoing challenge is complex. To start, Education for MTA employees on the different policies concerning the ADA should be mandatory. There should be either in-person or virtual training on how to better interact with people with disabilities who ride on public transportation, starting with education about the reduced fair policy as stipulated under Access A Ride which states that members who have an AAR ID card can ride free. This can also apply to the companion who assists the person with a disability or condition. A more practical solution includes updating the ID cards with a QR code displaying the policy directives for drivers to scan and learn more information. https://new.mta.info/accessibility/access-a-ride/newsletter-and-announcements/access-a-ride-metrocard-faqs#:~:text=First%2C%20remember%2C%20you%20can%20ride,between%20two%20local%20bus%20routes. Each updated AAR card should display the QR code with the link to the AAR FAQs and policy information. If payment per trip is needed, the updated ID card should have important keywords like “PCA” or “Needs guide” and a contactless chip to allow riders to scan their card at any subway station. Not all disabled customers have access to an Iphone to use the Omnipay services currently found in each subway station. This poses additional difficulties for visually impaired people like myself due to inaccessibility. With the updated AAR card, people with certified disabilities or conditions who currently use the services have the option to either use paratransit or the MTA according to their needs.
- Please provide your Zip Code
- 07083
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