Transportation Troubles

by Patty Quatieri

My name is Patty Quatieri, and I am a woman who has the developmental disability, cerebral palsy. I would like talk about public transportation.

Every morning I take 2 buses and 1 train to work.  My cerebral palsy can make using public transportation challenging. Also, because my disability is not obvious, I don't usually get the extra assistance that I need to make traveling by train or bus easier.

When I ride on the old buses that have steep stairs, I cannot lift up my leg. I once asked a driver to lower the bus, so that I could get on easier, and he refused to help me.

When I take trains to go to work, I have a hard time hearing the loud speaker saying my stop, like Park Street. I have a hearing problem, and it is it not fair that I have hearing loss. If all the trains and stations had screens with the stops showed on them, it would make this problem go away. 

Another problem is when the trains are crowded and people do not offer me a seat. I am in danger when I have to stand; I lose my balance and have to hold on tight. I think that when the buses and trains are crowded, it should not be that way because it is a safety hazard for people with disability.

People with disabilities should not have these problems with transportation. I think more accommodations should be in place to help people with disabilities, like more reserved seats and display screens, and that drivers should be trained on how to work with people with disabilities.