Public transportation from a different perspective

By Cristina Fernández Pereda 

How would a blind person know which track he is at in a metro station? How could he find out if the coming train is from the Blue or the Orange line? What if a person’s wheelchair won’t fit in the elevator?

These and many other obstacles were mentioned Wednesday at a forum on accessible transportation options for people with disabilities. Disabled travelers met earlier in the morning with metro officials to use the transportation system and show them “what works right and what needs to be improved,” said Metro Board Chair Elizabeth Hewett.

“I had never learned so much in such a short period of time,” Hewett said after traveling with Alan Vandendriesche and the golden retriever that guides him everywhere. “Things that are helpful for us, like the pillions with the station names, are an obstacle for them,” she said about barriers for blind people in the metro system.

“Everyday I wish I had the opportunity to talk to decision makers, and today it was a dream come true,” Vandendriesche said. He pointed out the lack of audibility of some announcements at stations or trains, and blind people’s dependence on them: “Sometimes I get distracted and have no idea where I’m going, so I rely on that audio.”

“Today’s experience was an eye-opening one. We have identified some barriers that we have to overcome: we have to make the system more accessible than it is and make the trips a lot easier,” John Catoe, Metro Authorities general manager, said.

Catoe accompanied Djuna Parmley to the Metro Authorities headquarters in Judiciary Square, where the forum took place. Parmley pointed out difficulties she encounters with her wheelchair, such as the tight space that there is between the bus stop sign and the actual stop, or drivers’ familiarity with the system to tie down the chair.

“When taking the metro, it would also be very useful to let the driver know in someway that you are traveling, because you are going to need more time to get on and off,” Parmley said.

Travelers with disabilities and metro authorities agreed on travelers’ independence as a major concern. “When something weighs me down, that’s not a good thing,” Debbie Brown said about the obstacles she finds with her wheelchair, such as access to elevators and the distance from these to the main exit or entrance.

“It is an objective for all of us to make travelers as independent as possible,” said Christian Kent, Assistant General Manager of the Department of Access Services.

Board member Catherine Hudgin traveled with Robert DeMichelis, who is brain injured. They agreed on the ability to memorize the itinerary and the familiarity with the environment as two factors that would make the trip easier for people with disabilities.

“Elevator exits are not always where the main exit is, which causes immediate disorientation,” for travelers who got directions to get to a bus stop, for example, DeMichelis explained.

The Department of Access Services has developed programs for people with disabilities, such as training to become familiar with the transportation system or private transportation when a disabled person needs to go to a specific place.

On Wednesday, Chet Avery required transportation to attend the forum and was accompanied by William Eulle, member of the board of directors. However, the car was 45 minutes late and the driver didn’t know hot to get to his destination.

“If William hadn’t been there with me, I would’ve been waiting alone. And if we hadn’t given the driver the directions, we wouldn’t be here,” Avery said, suggesting a better use of GPS systems to avoid delays.

“It seems that most of the suggestions that we’ve heard here today don’t involve a tremendous budget commitment. A great deal of it involves training, such as the louder announcements. We have a lot to do, and today’s initiative is just the starting point,” Hewett said.