The Importance of Transportation Accessibility!

Hi Everyone,

I, Michael Lettman, would like to share how Accessibility is very important to be provided for transportation like Trains!

From my Perspective

I'm sure we all know at the front side of the bus that we need to give our seat to the elderly or someone with a disability since the 2 front row sides are specially made for them. I feel bad that not all Train Stations are accessible but I know the MTA are trying their best with helping increase accessibility for many Train Stations that really needs to be. Sometimes it takes a few years, a lot of funds, & a lot of construction to make a Train Station accessible with new elevators or any other useful accessible feature but the wait can be worth it once the work is officially completed.

I've attended a trip to Albany with a group called CID-NY (Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York) for speaking with a few senators about increasing Accessibility for NYCT Train Stations. I've shared what I've learned a little during that trip in this video, Please Enjoy!

Disability Awareness Day

AHRC TV News: While I was attending an MTA event known as Disability Awareness Day, I've learned a little about how the old MTA Buses were not that accessible but now all MTA Buses are accessible with most of them having ramps at the front. Attending that event lead to a video done by our AHRC TV News Crew about how accessible transportation is very important to us all, Please Enjoy!

I've said a few words of my own about Disability Awareness Day, Please Enjoy!

Accessible Station Lab

I've done some advocating for the Accessible Station Lab at Jay St-Metrotech train station. I've been learning about the features being tested to provide people to know their way around the station & showing great ways for accessibly. I like to share my advocating so you too can understand the unique accessibly of Jay St-Metrotech, Please Enjoy!

News 12 Brooklyn: Thanks to AHRC Self-Advocacy Advisor Matthew Estep, I was on News 12 Brooklyn saying a few words about the Accessible Staton Lab for accessibly advocating. Here's the link - http://brooklyn.news12.com/story/41577754/ahrc-praises-mta-pilot-project-bringing-accessibility-to-jay-streetmetrotech-station

"The Biggest Obstacle" by Jessica Murray and Gearóid Dolan

It was during the time when I attended that trip to Albany with CID-NY that I've met Jessica Murray from CUNY who was very kind to stay in contact with me. She once contacted me to ask if I'd like to be part of online training course (https://resources.ourmobility.org/course/view.php?id=5) but then her partner Gearóid Dolan filmed and edited the work to make a documentary. During the time while I was attending the AHRC Community Program, Jessica contacted me to be interviewed for the new documentary project. After I was being recorded on the train, I was at CUNY answering the interview questions below for that important documentary of transit accessibility.

Somewhere in the year of 2021 (during the Coronavirus Pandemic), Jessica Murray got back to me about the finished results of her documentary, it was premiered at the NYC Independent Film Festival and the Manhattan Film Festival. After its premiere, there were exciting results like people giving it many good ratings (even on IMDB), Jessica and Gearóid were interviewed by the Disability Rights New York Organization to discuss about their wonderful film, and said film got distribution on streaming platforms like Amazon (for rent - $2 or purchase- $5), or on Tubitv.com and Popsy.TV (free with ads).

Website: https://thebiggestobstacle.com/

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15084766/

These are questions below (by Jessica Murray) that Michael Lettman had answered from his perspective (a little differently in the film and this blog post).

Practical Issues (Transportation Modes, Navigation, Travel tips, Moblie Apps)

Which modes of transportation do you use most often? - I mostly like to use the subway since I enjoyed trains since I was little & I sometimes use the bus.

How did you first learn to use [subway, bus, etc]? - How old were you? - I'm afraid I don't remember when or how I first learn to use transportation but I do remember being travel trained to use both the subway & bus during my school years at P.S. 77 which lead to me being able to travel independently ever since.

What are the biggest obstacles you encounter? - Being near kinds of people that I cannot be around with for my own safety like cussing-type people or homeless strangers looking for money. Hearing any cussing or impatient feelings for a long time during a train ride.

How do you deal with those obstacles? - Just simply walk away from anyone I cannot be near. Had to get used to some of the cussing or impatient feelings heard during train rides even though it felt like my ears are suffering.

Are there any tips for using [subway or bus] that you've learned? - I mostly sit in the conductor car of the train for safety (in case, I need to go to the conductor for help). I don't go near train tracks whenever I wait for the train to come. I need to give my seat on bus or train to the elderly, pregnancy, or disabled.

When you have to make a non-routine trip, what tools do you use to plan & navigate your trip? - I mostly use Google Maps to research & memorize the directions of where I need to go. While in those areas, I've managed to have figured things out from my memorization to find my destinations & it's mostly helpful if they're near any train stations.

Which of the MTA apps, notifications, etc. do you use (if any)? - I'm afraid I don't use any MTA apps since I'm used to my memorization or seeing countdown clocks in stations.

Is there any information you wish was available to help you plan or navigate your trips? - To be honest, not really sure about a kind of information I would like to use to help me with my trips but I would like it if was for trains. Is there any other sort of preparation you do before making a trip to a new destination? - Making sure I have my contacts with me (on my phone) so I'll know what to do when I arrive to my destinations when I have to met up with someone or a group. Making sure I bring anything I need for my trips. Making sure I got my memorization ready so I'll be ready to track down my destinations.

Does weather ever change your travel planning? - Not much happens with my traveling by the weather. I think there were times when some of my trips with groups are cancelled or delayed due to weather.

If you were in charge, what kind of changes would you make to public transportation? - I'd make sure to see if there's any way to make accessibility preparations for most train stations that really needs to become accessible. I would have special public buses & special public bus stops made only for the disabled, pregnancy, or elderly so they get around a little better (not to be confused with Access-A-Ride), maybe even on special public bus schedules. I might plan new kinds of turnstiles that people can't jump over to be placed in all the train stations so people can learn better not to get in without fares. I would make preparations for all train tracks to be cleaned up from littering (even though that might have been done already).

People Issues (MTA workers & other passengers)

How often do you have to interact with MTA employees (bus drivers, AAR drivers, station agents, conductors, etc.)? - Sometimes I like to go up to train conductors or MTA workers & have chats with them about what I learned about the NYCT. Which involves subway cars, station improvements, or even how the MTA are trying their best to help increase accessibility for the Disability Community.

What are the reasons for these interactions? - I just like to enjoy speaking with MTA workers about the work of MTA NYCT or how I'm grateful to them for their help in increasing accessibility.

Do you ever experience any issues with MTA employees? - No, I don't think there were any issues I've dealt with any MTA employees.

How often do you interact with other passengers (on buses, subways, while waiting, or traveling inside subway stations or at bus stops)? - Sometimes I say hello to little adorables (children or babies) that I've seen during my travels (& even give a nice compliment to families) or I go up to anyone who looked like they need help with directions so I would help them get to their destinations by train, although technically I'm not supposed to do any of that since I'm not supposed to talk to strangers.

What are those interactions like? - Some families thank me for calling their children ("adorables"). Sometimes I managed to help other people with their destinations or they say they're good so they don't need help.

Do you wish there was something other passengers knew about what it's like for you to travel? - Maybe I like for other passengers knowing that I'm trying my best at becoming independent by being an independent traveler.

Disability Advocacy Have you ever done any advocacy work related to disability? - I think I have with my project on autism since self-advocacy & disabilities can be involved in it. I'm trying my best as a self-advocate to become a Big Help for the Autism, Disability, & Advocacy Communities by explaining Autism from my own perspective.

Do you think there's a connection between transportation & disability rights? - To be honest, I'm not sure if there is some kind of connection but I might say Yes. I'm also not sure if travel training is involved but if how some train stations are accessible so far, how buses have spaces for the disabled (or disability), & how there might be some meetings on helping make transportation better for people with disabilities are involved then I hope any of them make some sense.

Would you consider advocating for changes to public transportation to make travel easier for people with disabilities? - Yes, I would be OK with advocating for changes to public transportation. I like for people with disabilities to get all the help they'll need in order to become happy independent travelers. It would be nice to make traveling more easier for them so they can enjoy their travels without any problems.

What do you think people without disabilities should know about what public transit is like for someone with disability? - I think people without disabilities should understand how someone with disability might be taking a huge step at becoming independent by experiencing public transit by themselves which involves being on trains, enjoying their train rides, & arriving to their destinations.

What do you think people with disabilities should know? - I think people with disabilities should be aware that becoming independent can be challenging for us (even myself) but if they can have some hope & believe in themselves then they can overcome any challenge at being an independent traveler.