December 2006 vol. 10
Providing the Resources and Tools for the Independent Traveler
Did You Know
1.
Just another reminder that TriMet and
C- Tran busses will be moving off of
the bus mall starting January 14
th
. For
specific route changes, go to
http://trimet.org/buschanges/index.htm
for TriMet changes and
http://c-
tran.com/Forms/Transit_mall_survey2.
html
for C-Tran changes. If you or
anyone you know needs any additional
assistance feel free to give us a call at
503.528.1743
2.
A RideWise community partner is
hiring. Goodwill Industries is hiring for
a Case Manager in their Vocational
Services Department. If interested
please email your resume in Word
format to
humres@gicw.org
.
3.
Ride Connection recently held its
Annual Luncheon and it was a great
success. Ride Connection would like to
thank all of those individuals and
organizations that contributed to make
this a wonderful event.
4.
School Program Update - The
RideWise program supports over 68
school staff in the Tri-county area who
assist 400+ students regularly with
skills needed to travel independently.
For more information, feel free to give
us a call.
This newsletter is available in alternative
format by calling 503.528.1721
Q &A with Christina
Q. Christina, I work for one of the
Developmental Disability brokers, I have a
client who works Monday through Friday
8am-5pm. She wants to learn to use public
transportation to explore Portland but she
can only practice on the weekends. Can you
do this?
Q. I am a teacher in Tigard and there is a
student that needs to be at her job by 7:10
am. School staff can not do it because she
would need to leave her house at 6:30am.
Can you help out?
A. The answer to both of these questions is,
YES. We conduct the travel training at the time
and day of the week that the individual will be
traveling. We do this for many reasons,
including the bus schedules varies from
weekdays to weekends and the environment on
the bus is different during the week versus the
weekend. Also if there are any gaps in service,
we can fill in those gaps. For example, if
school staff can not travel train a student
because it is before or after school, we can do
provide the training.
Have a question for our travel trainers?
Contact us and we may feature your
question in our next monthly newsletter
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RideWise is a collaborative effort between TriMet and RideConnection to promote independent travel for older
adults and people living with disabilities by providing access to information, training, and support.
Tip of the Month
In the following months we will discuss
working with individuals who have varying
ability levels and conditions. This month will
focus on people first language and the
importance of putting the PERSON before
the disability. This information is to provide
individuals with background knowledge and
information regarding varying ability levels
and medical conditions associated with a
disability that can affect travel. In no way
should these guidelines be used to label or
diagnosis an individual.
“People with disability labels constitute our
nation's largest minority group. It is
simultaneously the most inclusive and the most
diverse: both genders, all ages, all religions, all
socioeconomic levels, every ethnicity, and any
sexual orientation are represented. Yet people
who have been labeled are all different from
one another-and the only thing these
individuals truly have in common with one
another is dealing with societal
misunderstanding, prejudice, and
discrimination. Furthermore, this largest
minority group is the only one which any
person can become part of, at any time! Some
join at birth. Others join in the split second of
an accident, through illness, or by the aging
process. Words are powerful. Old and
inaccurate descriptors, and the inappropriate
use of these descriptors, perpetuate negative
stereotypes and reinforce an incredibly
powerful attitudinal barrier. And this invisible,
but potent, attitudinal barrier is the greatest
obstacle facing individuals who have been
labeled. …
… What constitutes a disability depends on
who you ask and what services a person
receives. First and foremost, a disability label
is a medical diagnosis, which becomes a
sociopolitical passport to services or legal
status. Beyond that, the definition is up for
grabs!”
This is an excerpt of an article by Kathie
Snow. To view the entire article visit
www.disabilityisnatural.com
.
This Month’s Success Story
This month’s success story is about a young
man who has just gotten his first job. He is
non-verbal, rarely gets angry but does become
fearful on occasion. He is diagnosed with
Autism. He wanted to learn to use public
transportation to achieve another step towards
independence. Though a little nervous, he and
his family were committed to him learning to
be an independent traveler. He used landmarks
to navigate his surroundings. Working through
safe MAX crossings, safe social interaction,
making accommodations on how to deal with
emergency situations and what to do if he
became lost. He gradually learned and our
travel trainer gradually faded back. The day
came that it was time for his solo run. Our
travel trainer watched from the back of the
train as he successfully accomplished each step
towards independence on his own.
He has taken a big step towards independence
with a little help from RideWise.
Contact Us
To Enroll or ask a question: 503.528.1743
To Volunteer: 503.528.1748
Do you have any suggestions for an
upcoming newsletter?
ridewisenews@rideconnection.org
An electronic version of the newsletter is also
available just email us.