VTA rules a challenge VTA rules a challenge (May 07, 2004)

Blind paratransit riders fear new process to qualify

By Corey Pride

More than six months after its certification process was changed, applying to use the Santa Clara County paratransit system remains a mystery to some disabled people.

Mountain View resident Kenneth Frasse, 43, is blind and relies on the door-to-door service to get around town. While he is impressed with the quality of the county's paratransit services, he is also uncertain and anxious about his upcoming recertification.

"I'm not sure what the recertification process is," Frasse said. "And when you're blind, you're usually on a fixed income and can't be taking taxis around." The Valley Transit Authority, which runs the Santa Clara County paratransit system, changed its certification process in July of 2003, and some blind people are confused about the process of applying or reapplying to use the service. In fact, applications for recertification are down 50 percent in the first nine months of the fiscal year.

But Brandi Hall, a VTA spokesperson, said the change in the certification procedure should not prevent too many people from remaining eligible for paratransit.

"I don't think it's too hard of a process where a lot of people are going to suddenly not be eligible," Hall said.

Before last year's change, paratransit riders were able to send in an application stating they were disabled and, in most cases, they would subsequently be signed up for the service. The current process involves 1) calling Outreach, a nonprofit paratransit broker under contract with VTA and asking for a brochure to be mailed; 2) taking a postcard out of the brochure and mailing it back to request an application; 3) delivering the application to a doctor to fill out; 4) turning the application in to VTA; 5) waiting to be contacted so an appointment for an in-person interview can be made; and 6) attending the interview and waiting for a decision on certification.

Pamela Row, a legally blind Mountain View resident, is worried about her upcoming recertification. She knows people who have been denied.

"I know two people in electric wheelchairs, and they were phased out because they can ride the bus. One woman was 90 years old," Row said. "That's ludicrous, to be 90 years old or in your 80s, having to wait in the heat and stuff for a bus."

VTA's paratransit eligibility requirements say that "service is provided to persons whose temporary or permanent disabilities prevent their independent use of bus or light rail."

Dawn Wilcox, president of the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind, said one reason some visually impaired people are not submitting applications for certification is because they aren't in a format conducive for use by the blind.

"The brochure is glossy and in small print. If you're mailing to totally blind people or old people, they may not see the brochure," said Wilcox, who is partially blind. "Anything glossy I can't see. I throw it away. It means nothing to me."

Wilcox said she would prefer VTA to send the brochure in cassette form, Braille or through e-mail in 18-point type. Row said she would simply like a call saying the brochure is in the mail.

Hall said the brochure was made with marketing the VTA in mind and changes may be made to it in the future.

"It's a process and all processes have some things that need to be worked out," she said.

Wilcox said going to see the doctor to get the card filled out will unfairly cost disabled people money because some health plans require a co-payment for an appointment.

The cost to use paratransit is $3 one-way, $6 round-trip and may increase in the future, causing concerns by some disabled people.

VTA issued a statement to the Voice saying in part: "VTA has had to increase all fares (in the past) including bus, light rail and paratransit. Although unfortunate, the economic situation is creating this challenge."

For more information on how to apply or reapply for certification, contact VTA at (408) 952-4249.

E-mail Corey Pride at intern@mv-voice.com

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