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Welcome to the September 2014 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 of interest:
- AAATCI Member & Author Larry Johnson Presents at the TWIG
- AAATCI Welcomes Leroy D. Alloway
- VIA Board Gets Two New Trustees
- Veteran Administration Healthcare Questions
- Federal Communications Commission Adopts New Rules
- VIA Holds Public Hearings on Proposed Route Changes
- New TCRP Report: Improving Public Transit Options for Older Adults
- New Senate Bills Address Economic Access for People with Disabilities
- Halloween For Heroes Fundraiser to Benefit San Antonio Coalition for Veterans
We encourage your feedback and contributions each month! Please forward any information you would like to share. |
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Spend An Hour with AAATCI Member & Author Larry Johnson at the TWIG
Sunday, September 21, 2014, 4:00 p.m.
306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 106
San Antonio, Texas 78215
Larry will deliver his presentation with warmth and humor, and will challenge, encourage and inspire you to "believe in yourself", "follow your dreams" and face life with optimism, perserverance and a sense of humor.
There will be a few untold stories about his life, and open time for questions and answers, as well as a book autographing opportunity.
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AAATCI Welcomes New Member
from
AAMPO
Leroy D. Alloway was recently appointed to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization as the Planning and Public Involvement Program Manager. Leroy formerly held positions at the City of San Antonio, City Council District 8 and the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority (ARMA).
Please join us in welcoming him and his vast experience to our AAATCI Committee. |
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VIA Board Gets Two New Trustees
On September 18, 2014, former District 2 City Council candidate Lester Bryant and computer programming consultant Carl "Tex" Morgan were unanimously voted by City Council to fill two unexpired terms on the VIA Metropolitan Transit Board.
The men will replace Gerald Lee and Lou Miller, who both stepped down this summer. Their two-year terms were set to expire in December, which means Bryant, 56, and Morgan, 34, will have to seek reappointment at the end of the year. |
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Veterans: Have a health question? Search here!
Do you have a question about VA health care? Or do you want to know which VA office to go for information on a particicular topic?
Your search starts here! |
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FCC Adopts New Rules Regarding Text Messaging
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules requiring text messaging providers to allow users to send a text to 911 to get help during an emergency.
The rules ensure that all wireless carriers and text application providers are prepared to support text-to-911 by the end of 2014. Text-to-911 can provide a lifesaving alternative in a number of different situations, such as where a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or has a speech disability is unable to make a voice call; where voice networks are congested, or where a 911 voice call could endanger the caller.
Text-to-911 is a complement to, not a substitute for, existing voice-based 911 service, so consumers should make a voice call to contact 911 during an emergency when possible; consumers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled should use relay services or other existing methods to contact 911 if text-to-911 is unavailable.
For more information, please visit their website at: www.fcc.gov. |
VIA Metropolitan Transit will hold two public hearings to receive comments from citizens regarding proposed route changes scheduled to take effect on January 5, 2015. The hearings will be held on the following dates:
Wednesday, October 1
6:00 p.m.
VIA Administration Board Room
800 West Myrtle Street
Monday, October 6
6:00 p.m.
Wedgwood Senior Apartments
6701 Blanco Road
READ MORE |
New TCRP Report: Improving Public Transit Options for Older Adults
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) 168: Travel Training for Older Adults, Part II: Research Report and Case Studies presents a roadmap for designing a travel training program to meet the mobility needs of older persons.
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New Senate Bills Address Economic Access for People with Disabilities
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa recently introduced bills in the U.S. Senate to promote economic independence for people with disabilities. The bills address access to housing, transportation, and exercise and called upon the U.S. Access Board to develop new accessibility guidelines and standards in each of these areas. They are based on findings from an investigation by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee into economic and employment issues faced by people with disabilities.
"To address the economic barriers Americans with disabilities still face, I am introducing three new bills as part of an 'Access for All' agenda to help them achieve the economic success necessary to be independent and lead full and fulfilling lives in their communities," stated Harkin who chairs the HELP Committee. "Today's report makes clear that even as more people with disabilities seek to enter the workforce, there are still too many barriers preventing them from becoming economically independent. When these Americans are not part of the workforce, they are much more likely to be stuck in poverty with no way of getting ahead."
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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 Elena Hernandez.
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AAATCI members include representatives from:
ADA Access Texas
Transit Users
Transportation Engineers
Urban and Transportation Planners
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Contact Us: to submit "Spotlight" stories, current events, article suggestions, data to share, best practices and/or with any comments or questions: ehernandez@aacog.com or call (210)-362-5274. |
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