I think an employee of the Milwaukee County Transit System, MCTS, may have been listening to their iPod on the bus and a classic Simon and Garfunkel song came on and sparked a great idea.

The following was taken from an announcement to current Transit Plus participants.

“Imagine going anywhere, at any time, without having to make a reservation, while saving hundreds of dollars. Well you can by participating in the “New Freedom Pass” Program offered by the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). MCTS has partnered with Milwaukee County’s Office for Persons with Disabilities to provide free bus rides to Transit Plus clients that use MCTS buses, instead of paratransit vans and taxis.”

“In addition to the free bus pass being offered by Milwaukee County, the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation is helping to expand and promote accessible transportation options for people with disabilities by providing Milwaukee County with a grant to help cover the cost of travel training and other strategies that overcome barriers to using MCTS buses.”

Although the bus is not the perfect travel solution for everyone, it is a reliable method to get where you are going. The buses run at specific times and are usually quite prompt to pick you up.

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Kenney, Mobility Manager, Milwaukee County Transit System at 414-344-4550 ext. 3507.

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Hey, check me out on Facebook. Is this something you have heard from your friends or maybe your kids? Have you thought to yourself, what in the world is Facebook? If so, don’t worry, you are not the only one.

Facebook is a great communication tool both for friends and professionals alike. It is a great place to stay up to date with all of your friends but also a great way to learn about organizations in your area.

The Badger Association is now on Facebook and it is an easy way to find out what is happening at the Badger. Just do a search for Badger Association and join our group!

But wait! I heard Facebook was not accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired. Not true! Let me give you a helpful tip to make navigating Facebook a breeze. Instead of visiting Facebook, check out m.facebook.com.

Facebook’s Mobile site is geared towards small hand-held devices but also works great for users of a screen reader. All of the Web 2.0 is stripped out and you are left with a very screen reader friendly site.

Although the mobile version of Facebook is great, there are a few limitations.

• You can not take part in the online chat.
• Although you can read other’s notes, you can not create your own.
• You can not take part in all of the online applications.

Even with these limitations, the mobile site is great. I use it on a daily basis and I am able to stay in touch with friends, family, and professional contacts.

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During peak riding times, silence would be a nice reprieve from the loud chatter on the bus. Unfortunately the silence we are now hearing is the lack of audio announcements for stops on our county bus.

Transit Television Network, the company that ran the audio announcements, has filed for bankruptcy. The audio announcement of stops made bus travel easier for riders who are blind and visually impaired. A rider could relax on the bus and just wait to hear their stop automatically called. Now, a rider who is blind or visually impaired must rely on the driver to announce the stops as required by ADA.

Troy Hergert, a long time bus rider who is blind commented, “The loss of the automatic stop announcement forces me to rely on each individual bus driver to announce the stops. History shows that half do and half don’t. Some require that you remind them to do this and some resist. This is a step backward and will require that we proactively hold each bus driver accountable for these ADA/transit company policies.”

A representative from MCTS’s Customer Service reported they do not currently have another similar option for this equipment. They will contact us if another solution becomes available.

In the meantime, any complaints and recommendations should be passed on to MCTS (the Milwaukee County Transit System). You can call Customer Service at 414-937-3218 or send an e-mail to: <
custserv@mcts.org.

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Once held back by vision loss, this 18-year-old woman begins her academic career at Marquette University

In the fall of my freshman year of high school glaucoma caused my sight to worsen and I was declared legally blind. Despite being a writer, I seldom find the words to describe the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges I went through while experiencing the world around me fade to darkness.

Due to my vision loss, I could no longer see the print in my text books, lines on notebook paper or information presented on chalkboards or overhead projectors. As a result, my grades suffered immensely throughout the first three quarters of high school. By the end of that year, I began accepting the nature of my visual impairment and sought out spiritual relief and academic assistance, starting a path to regaining my independence.

By my senior year, I was ready for Orientation and Mobility training at the
Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired. When I opened my mind to the idea of me with a cane, the world was opened up to me. I began to travel around the city freely, safely and independently. I now tell people that the Badger Association was the pivotal link in my life, separating my fears from my future aspirations. I am now confident in navigating busy streets which is solidified each day as I conquer the sea of traffic in downtown Milwaukee on Marquette University’s campus.

As a new freshman at Marquette University majoring in Journalism, I don’t allow my vision loss to interfere with my goals. I have recently create a radio show, The Voice of Justice on WMUR Marquette Radio, designed to create a platform for students, administrators and community leaders to come together as we discuss how to bring about social justice issues and change on campus, in the community and across the world. My vision loss is still an obstacle, but the training I received at the Badger Association taught me there are endless ways of overcoming the daily challenges.
It’s been a tool for me to access many helpful resources to make my life easier.
To learn more about safe cane travel, contact the Badger Association’s Vision Rehabilitation Services, 414-615-0121.

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