Emily F. Keller: Journalist

Gotham Gazette Story Features Transit Issues

    Gotham Gazette has published a lengthy online story about transportation accessibility challenges in New York City called "Much of Transit System Remains 'Out of Service' for the Disabled."

    Journalist Jillian Jones provides an overview of historical and current issues within the transit system, including the limited number of accessible taxis, lawsuits against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and elevator outages. She interviews Jim Weisman of the United Spinal Association, Deirdre Parker of the MTA and Edith Prentiss of Disabled in Action and provides links to public investigations and reports.

    Click here to read the article.

New York State Candidates Examined for Work on Disability Issues

    On November 2, voters will go to the polls to pick a new governor, attorney general, comptroller and Congress members.

    Senate
    Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is running to keep his seat against Republican Jay Townsend, Colia Clark of the Green Party and social activist Randy Credico.
    Schumer fought for funding for an independent living center and an employment service for people with disabilities. The United Spinal Association gave him a certificate of appreciation last year for helping to secure the Community First Choice (CFC) Option and the Community Living Assistance and Supports (CLASS) Act.
    Townsend opposes the health care reform measures that Schumer supported. He, Clark and Credico have no apparent record on disabilities.

Comparing New Jersey Candidates’ Disability Records

    On November 2, voters will go to the polls to choose their representatives in the House of Representatives and State Senate.

    State Senate
    The State Senate candidates for the fifth district of Camden are Donald Norcross and Harry Trout.
Norcross, a Democrat, co-sponsored a bill enabling the state Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to start a fund for donations and grants to pay for the purchase and maintenance of an accessible community vehicle that would provide outreach services to disabled veterans.

City Council Holds Hearing on Access-A-Ride Cuts

    The New York City Council examined impacts of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) cuts to Access-A-Ride at a hearing October 7.   

    The Council’s committees on aging and disabilities questioned Joseph Smith, senior vice president of New York City Transit (NYCT) Buses and Steve Lopiano, acting vice president of paratransit about service changes.

    Forty percent of Access-A-Ride (AAR) customers have already experienced service changes and the MTA plans to expand the changes throughout the system next year.    

    Smith said the MTA used the summer to test the changes, making 5,240 feeder service trips and telling AAR customers to use the bus system on their own for 2,777 trips in which they were deemed able to travel the distance to and from the bus stops they needed. There were 35 complaints.

    Click here to read the full article on Transportation Access.

MTA Cancels Access-A-Ride Contracts

    Hundreds of drivers and other employees for two Access-A-Ride contracting companies will lose their jobs by the end of the year due to sudden contract cancellations by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

    Atlantic Paratrans of NYC Inc. had just signed a ten-year contract with the MTA to provide services for Access-A-Ride last spring, and the MTA unexpectedly discontinued that deal on October 1, said Carolyn Daly, who represents the company.

    “We feel strongly that they did not negotiate in good faith with us,” said Daly, president of Brink Public Affairs LLC. She said the company is considering legal action against the MTA.

    Fifty-two drivers for Atlantic Paratrans were laid off in the first week of October, and layoffs will continue weekly through the end of the year. More than 600 union employees will lose their jobs due to the change, including 451 drivers. The company will also dismiss cleaners, dispatchers, mechanics and safety and security personnel. Drivers say they have no severance package.

    Click here to read the full story on Transportation Access.

U.S. Airways Refuses to Fly Wheelchair User

    Johnnie Tuitel, a motivational speaker and author who uses a wheelchair, was refused a flight on US Airways on the way to an event celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

    The incident occurred September 23 at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, where he was leaving for a trip to a conference on self advocacy. 

    Tuitel, who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan said an airline employee told him he was “too disabled to fly without someone with him.” Tuitel has cerebral palsy.  A flight attendant had helped him transfer to a chair specially fitted for flight prior to an employee telling him to leave the plane.

    Tuitel, 47, was on his way to Kansas City, Missouri to speak at the 2010 National Self Advocacy Conference. The theme for this year’s event was “Jazz It Up: Celebrating 20 Years of Self Advocates Being Empowered” in commemoration of the 20 year anniversary of the ADA. Tuitel missed the event.

    Click here to read the full story on Transportation Access.

City Council Holds Hearing on Access-A-Ride Cuts

    The New York City Council examined impacts of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) cuts to Access-A-Ride at a hearing October 7.   

    The Council’s committees on aging and disabilities questioned Joseph Smith, senior vice president of New York City Transit (NYCT) Buses and Steve Lopiano, acting vice president of paratransit about service changes.

    Forty percent of Access-A-Ride (AAR) customers have already experienced service changes and the MTA plans to expand the changes throughout the system next year.    

MTA Cancels Access-A-Ride Contracts

    Hundreds of drivers and other employees for two Access-A-Ride contracting companies will lose their jobs by the end of the year due to sudden contract cancellations by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

    Atlantic Paratrans of NYC Inc. had just signed a ten-year contract with the MTA to provide services for Access-A-Ride last spring, and the MTA unexpectedly discontinued that deal on October 1, said Carolyn Daly, who represents the company.

    “We feel strongly that they did not negotiate in good faith with us,” said Daly, president of Brink Public Affairs LLC. She said the company is considering legal action against the MTA.

U.S. Airways Refuses to Fly Wheelchair User

    Johnnie Tuitel, a motivational speaker and author who uses a wheelchair, was refused a flight on US Airways on the way to an event celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

    The incident occurred September 23 at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida, where he was leaving for a trip to a conference on self advocacy. 

    Tuitel, who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan said an airline employee told him he was “too disabled to fly without someone with him.” Tuitel has cerebral palsy.  A flight attendant had helped him transfer to a chair specially fitted for flight prior to an employee telling him to leave the plane.

    Tuitel, 47, was on his way to Kansas City, Missouri to speak at the 2010 National Self Advocacy Conference. The theme for this year’s event was “Jazz It Up: Celebrating 20 Years of Self Advocates Being Empowered” in commemoration of the 20 year anniversary of the ADA. Tuitel missed the event.