Transportation is a major obstacle for people with disabilities, with more than 500,000 never leaving their homes simply because they lack a way to get around, according to a new report.
The reasons vary, but the report out this week from The American Association of People with Disabilities and The Leadership Conference Education Fund found extensive problems for those living in both urban and rural locales when it comes to getting from point A to point B.
The problems persist even as the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public transportation systems to be accessible.
Specifically, the advocacy groups say that many taxis and public transit systems — especially older ones — remain inaccessible. In addition, they say that paratransit services are frequently inadequate and suffer from poor oversight. Meanwhile, those living in rural areas often have no access to public transportation at all.
As a result, some 31 percent of people with disabilities report having insufficient transportation compared to 13 percent of the general population, according to the report.
And the consequences are far-reaching.
“Because of inadequate funding and enforcement, countless people with disabilities can’t reliably vote, work, attend medical appointments or enjoy full independence,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference Education Fund.
What’s more, the report indicates that lack of transportation keeps people out of the workforce and unable to contribute as taxpayers and consumers.
The groups behind the report are calling for better funding, enhanced coordination of transportation programs for people with disabilities and greater ADA enforcement.
A lot of the jobs I want to apply for require me to have a driver licenses and I at this time I’m not allowed to drive. I have a degree in social work and working on my masters. I don’t want to down grade my skills and to work at a place that I know won’t make me happy and will waste all the hard work I’ve put into school for so long. What am I to do then? My rehabilitation counselor is frustrated with me and just want to push me out in the job force so that I can’t get off her caseload already. The just don’t understand. Just before they can get us to work it doesn’t mean it will result in sustainability in the long run. It would cause them more money if their clients keeps jumping from job to job either because they are unhappy, it doesn’t fit their existing skills or they will eventually get fired because the disabled are always the first to be let go from the company.
I recently tried to use medical transportation for a private event for my son. They wanted to charge $395 which is an outrageous price for someone relying on social security disability!
Count us in on as rural area which has NO public transportation available near our house. The limited public transportation available in the nearest small town only operates for half of the day within the confines of the village. Yes, there is a taxi cab you can call,but the cost is out of reach for most people with a disability. It is a real problem, for sure.
I am able to drive as a person with Asperger’s Syndrome & Cerebral Palsy. Since there is no public transit here in Salem, New Hampshire where i live, I get around using my own 2008 Ford Ranger Pickup Truck adapted with “hand controls”. But, it is expensive to keep & maintain a vehicle, especially when gasoline is ~ $4.00/gallon (rounded-up to the nearest dollar). Later on this year, I need to replace my tires, a very large expense for a person like me living on Social Security.
ARGH!!!!!
I think 31 percent is a conservative number. I work with people with developmental disabilities and transportation is always a major issue. I would bet that the actual percentage is much much higher!
I use to be able to drive until I fell asleep at the wheel in October 2011. Luckily it was at a stop light. I am autistic with hypothyroidism.
In a way, I am fortunate. I live in an area that has public transportation, both by bus and by train. However, the only one of these forms of transportation that is reliable is the train. That is problematic because I live about a mile from the train station, and I cannot use the train to get around my city. I can push myself in my wheelchair the full distance to the station, but it takes a great deal of time. Instead, I generally use the bus to get around. The buses in our area are routinely late, and each one only has two wheelchair-accessible spots. Also, the ramps or lifts to get a wheelchair onto the buses are not always functional. Often, it takes all day to do just a couple errands that would take someone with a license and a vehicle perhaps an hour or two to do.
Also, the bus system in our area has a paratransit system. However, I have not used in since 2003 because it is always late, if it arrives at all. Also, the price is simply outrageous, even more so because of the lack of service.
We had this happen to a client of mine who was switching schools. The kids are disabled and had to wait 8 school days until they got the transportation straightened out. They never go Home Bound Services for the 8 days of which the school had to provide Compensation when they returned to school.
There is no transportation system where I live so I can’t go out and get a job, I can’t go shopping and I have 2 kids and I can’t go to their school or take them out anywhere. It makes me feel like a bad mom eventhough I know it’s not my fault. I tried to get a petition going to try to get 1 here but people were more concerned about it raising taxes or just didn’t care. I’m a human being too and deserve to live and god life too and getting a transportation system would help!
I live in Vt. and despite years of work on the transportation system here its extremely problematic. When a 40% rise in need was noted they decided to meet it with cuts in hours of service. And they call us disabled!!! The organization that serve’s the para-transit need in this area was given the contract not because their bid was lower but because the transit authority stated “We’re used to working with them!” The ADA committee formed by them is less then useless because it has not teeth, anything we “SUGGEST” is just that a suggestion, not having any power for change. I am a quad and find it insulting when the organizations I helped form to meet the para-transit need is failing to serve the population it was setup too. The problem is the able bodied population taking the money and not allowing the people the system is supposed to serve have any control. Same old, same old!!!
I live in Savannah, GA where the paratransit buses are used instead to transport colledge students without any disabilities. These ADA buses were purchased for paratransit, but now have bike racks on the front of them. Since when can a transit company purchase paratransit buses through a grant, then use them for something else? The disabled are the ones suffering here.