As a physically disabled American, I am deeply offended by the disability bias apparent in the Chicago Tribune editorial “Threats of a CTA doomsday . . . “
The Chicago Transit Authority public transportation system was constructed on the basis of non-disabled special needs. The CTA as well as city, state and federal government agencies are accountable for allowing the creation of a public transportation system that excludes disabled persons, and are thus responsible for the expense of rectifying this social injustice. The editorial’s emphasis on the millions of dollars used to create accessible bus and train stations and the cost of providing paratransit door-to-door service reflects disability bias.
The editorial also indicates that there has been infrequent use of these amenities but omitted the potential factors that might prevent disabled people from getting to the accessible bus and train stations, such as, no curb-cuts or inaccessible curb-cuts (i.e., broken, too steep), sidewalks that are broken or slanted, or bus stops/train stations too far away from one’s home or destination.
Disabled people are confronted with inaccessibility on a daily basis; it prevents disabled people from equal opportunity and full participation in society.
Significantly the editorial seems to imply that the paratransit door-to-door service is a special luxury reserved for disabled people. It states, “Why should anyone use [accessible buses/trains], if there is a van available to pick you up at your door and take you anywhere in the city, for any reason, for $1.75?”
Paratransit riders must schedule their rides early in the morning the day before one plans to ride. Sometimes one cannot arrange a ride either due to busy phone lines or the allotted daily quota of paratransit rides is filled. The paratransit service is usually late, so when scheduling rides one must allow extra time besides the time it may take to reach one’s destination; also one must allow time for the possibility that other passengers might be picked up or dropped off.
