I am greatly distressed to discover that the Handi-Transit service in the
City of Greater Sudbury is currently denying access to many of
our residents who have cognitive disabilities or mental health
issues. I am making a solemn commitment to fight for the rights
of all persons with physical or mental disabilities that make it
impossible for them to use regular transit busses/ Further, I
will be asking my fellow Councillors to support me in demanding
a change to the City policy that will end the discrimination
that is being felt by so many of our mentally challenged
citizens.
Recent changes in policy have been implemented which has forced all
clients of Handi-Transit to complete an application form and
prove beyond any doubt in front of an Eligibility Assessment
Advisor that they are unable to ride conventional public transit
buses. Persons with physical or cognitive disabilities who are
deemed to be able to use the regular transit service will be
removed from the full-time Handi-Transit list.
City Staff claim that the eligibility requirements are the same as they
have always been for many years. They claim that Handi-Transit
is dedicated to citizens who cannot access conventional
transportation because of a “physical” disability. However, it
appears as if individuals with autism, Alzheimer’s and other
forms of debilitating mental disabilities are being denied
access to the service. There have even been examples of adults
who are functioning at the level of a three-year old being
denied access to the service and this has many residents up in
arms. So much so that they have begun to create a petition to be
sent to the City Councillors.
Some of the residents have been informed that they can appeal the
decision, but that a formal appeal process has not yet been
developed. What is frustrating is that some individuals who have
been using Handi-Transit for years have had to go through the
Assessment process and are now being told that they can no
longer utilize the services.
I will be asking for the full support of City Councillors to direct the
Manager of Handi-Transit services to come up with a policy that
will stop discriminating against individuals on the basis of
their type of disability. It doesn’t matter whether a person has
a physical or mental disability. If that person is not able to
use public transit buses without the potential of putting
him/herself or others in danger, then the person should qualify
for Handi-Transit Service.
If this means that the City of Greater Sudbury is going to have to invest
in more Handi-Transit vehicles, then so be it! We have a
responsibility to those among us who are most vulnerable and
most in need of our services. Mentally challenged individuals
require the same services as physically challenged individual
and it is time for the Ctiy to change any policy that gives the
appearance of discrimination/
For more information go to
www.robertkirwan.ca
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