Monroe County Council of the Blind

The following was submitted by a MCCB member. The views and opinions are those solely of the author and do not reflect those of The Monroe County Council of the Blind.

early Monday morning, I called Diakon. To you who are not familiar, this is a service that provides assistance to people who are  seniors or to folk who are disabled. Some of the available services are  ;help around the house, both in or out, also they provide transportation with in a fifty mile radius. I was told that the transportation was not for all of Monroe County, but for people who live in the West End. Myself , as well as a few of our members, regularly utilize them for their transportation needs. For me they were great!, because I could use them for many of my travel needs.

On Monday Morning I called Diakon to leave a message, asking for a ride to the MCCB meeting  on Friday March 13th, at 10:00am. I got a call from the area coordinator on  Tuesday evening about 9:30pm. My conversation started with the usual niceties, then quickly moved to the issue. The woman first asked me if I had my date wrong for the Friday meeting. I said that our meetings are always on the second Friday of each month. She mentioned that a member whom,I will not name was going to get a ride tomorrow to a meeting in Stroudsburg. Not knowing how this related to me, I said that I was sure that the meeting I was to go to was on Friday.  She got to her point. She said that the new policy was to provide transport to people who are sixty years old or older.
She added, if I can find a person who was sixty to go with , I could go to the meeting or to other places . What!?, I thought.   she repeated her comment.
I said No! that I would not travel in this manner. A travel With Stipulations, to me this sounds crazy.  I told her that I was Visually impaired  , and in my forties, I can not help it that I am not Sixty.
I thanked her for providing some transportation  need in the past, but, as for me,   this will end any need for their services, well that is,  until I am old enough.

I, after hanging up the phone, I could only think of you guys out their who have experienced a similar conversation .  I began to think of my other options. Where I live, in the West End, I rather enjoyed using the MTA fixed route bus in order to get into Stroudsburg, or surrounding areas.  the fixed route has changed it’s schedule and pick up and drop off places.  This means for me  getting to the bus stop is more difficult . When I think of these two opportunities changing, I feel that this is simply another  blow to not only my, but our, independence.  I do not know as of yet how I will get to the meeting, but I will not give up.  My wife offered to drive me to the meeting, but this means that she would have to take off from work to bring me. I do not want her to  do that .  I will get there but I want to do it with some portion of independence.
I guess this will be a long walk,but I will get there!
-  Michael Bryant

Filed under: Member Editorial, Transportation