In
February, I went to CARTA offices (our city's public transportation)
to get a Tel-e-ride ID. It's for a van that can give me and my
powerchair, (P/C) a ride anywhere in the area for a low cost. They're
sending me the book that goes with it in the mail. Traffic was just
crazy, it always is now. Any time of day, it's like rush hour.
At
CARTA I parked right in front and just had to cross the driveway
where buses drive up and drop customers. There's a door in the side
of the office, next to what looked like an air hose, laying uncoiled
on the ramp. I walked around it using my walker to the door. A young
man held the door for me, there was an older woman standing by the
door, I thought she wanted to come out so I said “go ahead” (come
on out) but she said “just go ahead”, so I did. She was waiting
for someone. The woman at the main desk, with pretty purple earrings
asked, “Are you here for the ID”?
“Yes”.
“OK,
just walk down to that black chair and have a seat, someone will help
you”.
So
I walk about ten steps and sit down. It's in front of a white screen
and a woman asks my name, looks through a paper file. I've already
done the mail in application. That took about three weeks. Then their
camera was inoperable for about three weeks. The lady asks for my ID.
She looked at it. “Thank you.” She went to another desk and got a
small red camera. She got real close up and I smiled, she took it.
She moved around slowly so all this took long enough for me to look
around at everything in between talking to her. She came back with my
ID and said “We got a little smile”. Wished I'd said it was the
muscular dystrophy that affects my face muscles so only the right
half of my lips smile. The left just kinda stays neutral. I notice my
eyes are really slanting down at the outside too. And even though I
put what looked like a decent amount of blush on, my face looks so
pale in the pic. Man I need some sun! I opted for the least
explanation, and thanked her. As I stood up I asked about the
disabled fare and she said, “we don't do that here”.
“OK,
I'll ask where. Thank you!” I walked back to the main desk. She was
on the phone so I looked at bus pamphlets waiting for her to finish,
but she didn't so I asked another woman sitting at another desk about
the disability fare. She looked like she didn't know what I was
talking about or if she should even talk to me cause she looked back
at the receptionist and the receptionist said, “you'll have to get
that at One Stop on Rivers Avenue.”
“OK,
thanks”. Something I've thought of is why can't you apply at the
main Carta office? How about including it in the process of getting
accepted for Tel-e-ride? I turn to go out the door but couldn't push
the door hard enough with my walker to get it more than a few inches
open then it closes back. It's a heavy door and no automatic door
opener. I look out the glass in the door and there's the bus
unloading passengers but they all go another direction. An employee
goes on the bus and comes off and she and another woman see me
standing at the door but didn't realize I needed it open. So I
finally turned around and asked the receptionist, “ could you help
me open the door” and she came around. She asked me to step back a
little so she could get a good push and opened it for me. I said
“thank you” and took a few steps and realized the bus was parked
in front of the ramp. I asked an employee if she knew how long it
would be parked there and she said “Hm”? I pointed to the ramp,
she said, “as soon as I can get someone to come move it” and she
went to call someone. She went on and off the bus and in and out the
door and a driver came and went on and drove off. By this
time my legs were so shaky from standing there and I saw the ramp and
was afraid I would fall. With intense concentration and holding
the rollerator handles like 100 lb weights with the brakes on, I made
it. I realize it's not safe to walk like that but my other choice was
going back in the door I needed help with or waiting for someone to
come along and hold my arm.
I
could have made an appointment to have them pick me up and bring me,
but I would've had to wheel my P/C about a mile and a half to their
pick up limit. I'm glad to finally have my ID though and hope to use
it soon. I'm going to have to figure out this transportation thing.
My
local disability independent living center, is supportive of my goal
to work and have transportation. They're great counselors who
understand all the hurdles disabled people go through to get out of
our homes and access our community. They tell me they have a P/C
carrier that would fit my vehicle but at the present time, I have an
engine problem that I'm not sure of and no money in my SSI income to
find out. I wonder if there are any mechanics who could diagnose it
free? I hate asking. I finished my degree and need experience, but I
also need my P/C.
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