Our vision for accessible transportation in the Alamo Area is to insure that all seniors and people with disabilities have safe, least restrictive and barrier free access to affordable transportation to meet personal needs
Vision Statement,
Alamo Area Accessible Transportation Coalition Initiative (AAATCI)
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Greetings!
Welcome to the April edition of the Alamo Area Accessible Transportation & Mobility Newsletter, a forum to inform our community about accessible transportation and discuss opportunities for improvements. This month's topics: We encourage your feedback and contributions each month!
Sincerely,
Isa
Isa Fernández, MPA
Mobility Specialist
Bexar Area Agency on Aging
Alamo Area Council of Governments
(210) 362-5227 isafernandez@aacog.com |
2012 Alamo Area Regional Transportation
Coordination Plan
The Alamo Region has been active since 2006 in engaging regional transportation stakeholders in planning and coordination activities. The 2012 Alamo Area Regional Public Transportation Coordination Plan was developed for Planning Region 18 by the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). The plan covers:
- Legislation and history of coordination goals
- Geographic and demographic characteristics
- Regional assessment of transportation providers
- Transit user needs survey results
- Unmet needs review
- List of urban, rural, and coordinated regional tasks to include in a plan implementation
For more details and to read plan, click here. |
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Member Profile
Mobility and independence are basic and necessary human rights, yet people with disabilities have little choice but to depend on family, friends, and the increasingly limited healthcare system when daily activities of life such as walking, getting into a car, bathing, sleeping, and eating become insurmountable chores. When the convergence of a disability and limited economic resources creates a dependent, isolated circumstance, Project MEND (Medical Equipment Network for those with Disabilities) responds by helping individuals and families obtain the medical equipment and assistive devices needed to adjust and recover from life altering experiences.
Project MEND provides low-income persons with disabilities with refurbished, donated medical equipment and assistive technologies that will enhance their independence, self-sufficiency and mobility. Through this service, previously owned medical equipment (electric hospital beds; wheelchairs; power chairs; bedside commodes; walkers; etc.) donated by the greater community is refurbished, repaired, and sanitized in order to provide them to those that need it.
By addressing the needs of medically vulnerable individuals in the community, Project MEND effectively reduces the gap in service to low-income persons with disabilities. Clients served do not have the means to obtain the critical medical equipment any other way.
Outcomes of the Project MEND programs include recovered mobility and independence, increased ability of individuals to care for themselves or to actively assist in their care, improved self-esteem and cost savings to the community. Refurbished equipment is ½ the cost of new, keeps bulky items out of landfills, and extends the useful life of costly equipment. You can assist Project MEND help others by donating your used medical equipment or referring someone that needs assistance.
For more information, please call (210) 223-6363 or visit
http://www.projectmend.org/ |
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Alamo Area Accessible Transportation Coalition Initiative (AAATCI) Subcommittee Update
Five subcommittees formed by Alamo Area Accessible Transportation Coalition Initiative (AAATCI) members are moving forward with plans to improve and promote public transportation accessibility for older adults and people with disabilities in the Alamo Region.
The AAATCI subcommittees have met this quarter to determine goals and create a action plan and will report project updates and milestones at the upcoming quarterly meeting. Some "first step" highlights from the subcommittees:
1. ADA Sidewalk/Infrastructure Subcommittee -- researching accessible infrastructure needs, best practices to draw from, and ideologies to support improvements, such as Complete Streets, Aging in Place, and Universal Design.
2. Dialysis Transportation Study Subcommittee --studying transportation patterns of dialysis patients in order to promote holistic, patient-centered transportation efficiencies.
3. Urban-Rural Link Subcommittee -- seeks coordination among urban and rural transit providers in order to fill transportation gaps that exist between urban and rural areas.
4. Sensitivity Training Subcommittee -- creating a database of sensitivity/etiquette best practices that will be available online and which will inform forthcoming "train the trainer" campaigns.
5. Grant Research Subcommittee -- coordinating members and invited partners are working together to apply for the Veteran's Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) grant.
The next quarterly meeting will be on Thursday, April 19th from 9-11a.m.at AACOG, 3rd floor classroom. For more information or to become a subcommittee member, please contact Isa Fernández, MPA (210) 362-5227 or isafernandez@aacog.com. |
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Alamo Regional Transportation Steering Committee Recognizes Rogelio L. Muñoz
Left to right, Scott Ericksen, Bexar County-San Antonio Metropolitan Planning Organization Public Involvement Coordinator; Rogelio L. Muñoz, former Alamo Regional Transit Regional Mobility Coordinator; Dr. Martha Spinks, Bexar Area Agency on Aging Director; Mary Keeler, ARTSC Chair and American Medical Response Social Worker.
The Alamo Regional Transportation Steering Committee (ARTSC) recognized Rogelio L. Muñoz, former Regional Mobility Coordinator with the Alamo Area Council Of Governments (AACOG) Department of Alamo Regional Transit (ART) for his dedicated role in coordinating transportation in the Alamo Region. Roy served the region from 2010 to March 2012. He has accepted a position as and Special Projects Manager with the City of San Antonio Economic Development Department.
Join us in thanking Roy for his diligent work with AACOG/ART regional transportation coordination and wishing him the best on his new venture! Roy may be reached at rogelio.munoz@sanantonio.gov.
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Report: Keeping Baby Boomers Mobile:
Preserving the Mobility and Safety
of Older Americans
TRIP, a national nonprofit transportation research group, the American Association of State Highways, and AAASHTO, a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing the 50 states, released the report "Keeping Baby Boomers Mobile: Preserving the Mobility and Safety of Older Americans."
The report examines issues for older drivers and presents recommendations for improving the transportation system so that as the population ages, the safety and mobility needs of the community at large are proactively met. This means:
- Being aware of older driver demographic projections
- Understanding the mobility and quality of life concerns for older drivers
- Being proactive about improvements to roadway hazards that affect us all
Read the entire report here to learn more about how the local, state, and national transportation system will have to adjust in order to accommodate this growing segment of our population, and how by doing so, drivers of all ages will benefit.
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World Health Organization Age-Friendly
Cities Checklist
A product of 33 cities in 22 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC) was established to create a sharing of experience between cities and communities across the globe. The Age-Friendly Checklist is meant for a city's self-assessment to chart progress on current efforts, such as AAATCI. The areas reviewed by the checklist are outdoor spaces and buildings, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, community and health services, and transportation.
Below, select transportation measures that promote age-friendliness:
- Public transportation costs are consistent, clearly displayed and affordable.
- Service is reliable and frequent, including availability at night, on weekends, and during holidays.
- All city areas and services are accessible by public transport.
- Vehicles are clean, well-maintained, accessible, not overcrowded and have priority seating that is respected.
- Specialized transportation is available for disabled people.
- Transport stops and stations are conveniently located, accessible, safe, clean, well-lit and well-marked, with adequate seating and shelter.
- Drivers stop at designated stops and beside the curb to facilitate boarding and wait for passengers to be seated before driving off.
- Traffic signs and intersections visible and well-placed.
- Complete and accessible information is provided to users about routes, schedules and special needs facilities.
- A voluntary transport service is available where public transportation is too limited.
To review the complete list of Age-Friendly features and for more information, visit: http://www.who.int/ageing/age_friendly_cities_network/en/index.html
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Permission to reproduce or reprint: Please feel free to forward this newsletter. However, if you wish to use any information marked "original" please contact
the owner of that information, or Isa Fernandez.
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AAATCI members include representatives from:
ADA Advocates
Social workers
Urban and transportation planners
Transportation engineers
Transit users
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Contact Us: to submit "Profile of the Month" stories, current events, article suggestions, data to share, best practices and/or with any comments or questions: isafernandez@aacog.com or call (210)-362-5227.
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