More on the wheelchair issue.  This particular email is in response to
another email on the list but, I haven't recieved permission to post it here
yet.

Beth the OT

email address: [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: Laura Vogtle [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 9:25 AM
To: Technology SIS Listserv
Subject: [tech-sis] RE: Crash Testing and power chairs


Daniel,

   I really appreciate your response - it did put the many faces on the safe
transportation issue into perspective.  This question is only going to get
bigger because, thank goodness, persons with disabilities are getting out
into society.  I would add two more pieces to this discussion- one is the
policy side.  I recently joined the policy committee for the Alabama State
Transportation Coalition and it has been eye-opening experience.  The need
for transportation to serve low-income, minorities, the elderly and the
disabled, is overwhelming.  The red tape to get money just to fund the
service is endless.  Those saintly folks who are part of agencies trying to
get transportation services going deserve a medal for wading through the
miasma.  The issue of safety for wheelchairs quite frankly has never come up
in my limited time on this committee, and not because I didn't intend to
bring it up either.  Just trying to organize and get information to all the
players, and sort out all of the laws, funding sources, options and
restrictions, takes enormous time.  Safety for wheelchairs, quite honestly,
is not a front burner issue.
    Second is safety in transportation systems outside of school systems.
The question of who takes care of the safety on school system buses is
magnified thousandfold when you look at private and public transportation
systems for adults.  I have been involved in the evaluation of city and
county transportation systems for the disabled here in Birmingham, and the
safety concerns are myriad.  The problems on school buses get multiplies
when you consider transportation needs adults have for work, shopping,
medical appointments and the like.  The problem is indeed pervasive.  The
solutions will not come easily and will only come if consumers, vendors,
families, and government work together.  Certainly not an easy task but a
very important one.  It is great to see this discussion on the listserv -
just talking about it brings the issue to all of our attention, a good
starting place for action.


Laura K. Vogtle, PhD, OTR/L, ATP
900 19th Street South
Department of Occupational Therapy
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL  35294-2030
Phone:  (205) 934-3568
FAX:  (205) 975-7787
email:  [log in to unmask]