|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
ceived travel training, he'd learned how to go to and from his favorite grocery store, the bank, and to a camera shop. He shared with me that he'd taken over a thousand old pictures, scanned and labeled them, and put them on disk for his relatives.
Then, one day while walking to the bus stop two blocks from his home, I mentioned that if he had not told me that he'd had a stroke, I would never have suspected. He replied that, "I should have known him before his health began failing." I agreed. This gentleman completed his training learning how to get to his church, and he announced that he was in fact a retired ordained minister of 35 years and would be doing the sermon the following Sunday! Like so many others who receive travel training, this person's ability to travel independently was greatly increased and his quality of life enhanced.
One reward of being a travel trainer is the regular recognition by my clients of the positive impact that travel training offers to them. They reiterate its value in enabling them to take charge of their daily activity, and the opportunity it provides for them to expand their lives.
I have little time to follow up with my trained clients, but fortunately, they update me on changes in their lives. This usually involves another route to
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
be learned as they change jobs, perform another volunteer duty, participate in a new sports activity, visit a new friend, attend a different school, shop at a new store, or plan to move to another place to live. Of course, all must be near a transit line!
Some of my clients are ADA-conditionally certified, while a few are fully ADA eligible. These riders often participate in group trips with those who are conditionally certified. Still others, who are not ADA eligible, may be new to the area, have recently given up driving, or simply want to learn how our public transportation system works.
At Intercity Transit, there are many people involved in sustaining, promoting, and helping to make the Travel Training program successful. In particular, however, as I observe my clients experiencing the safe and secure atmosphere of our buses, as they continue to board and greet the drivers day after day, I never cease to be impressed with the professionalism,
patience, friendliness, helpfulness and driving skills of our transit operators.
Today, our travel training program is one of a number of tools Intercity Transit uses to provide effective transportation services to the community. Although Dial-A-Lift, our ADA
continued on page 12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
committee's work and progress for future ATI newsletters. Your committees are planning the long -range community outreach, public relations, political, and educational activities of our association. The importance of your work cannot be understated.
In reviewing this message, I again am struck with my responsibility as your
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
President. But I am also aware of all that we can accomplish when we work together, assuring that persons with disabilities learn to travel safely and independently through the services of qualified personnel, and that seniors who need to use mass transit have the opportunity to learn to use their community's public transportation system. I
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ask your help in our endeavors to secure our profession's growth and recognition as an essential component of community living for persons with disabilities and seniors, and to inform the political entities and the general public of our experience and knowledge.
Sincerely, Peggy Groce
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
