PCA/Companion

On Changes

By Sanford Rosenthal

 

Sometimes they are for the better, while other times they are not.  Last night I realized how a change had been for the worse.

Picking up a Companion or PCA after the consumer was picked up, used to be allowed .  This is important if a rider needs help at the ultimate destination.

Likewise it use to be allowed to drop off a PCA or a companion on the way back.  Now all this has changed.  Pick ups and drop offs of PCA's as well as Companions are not allowed any more.  Customer Service Specialist Maurine at TOPS informed me just now that there has been a change implemented from how it used to be done.

This new policy only serves to reduce the consumer's ability to use the paratransit service.  When an assistant is not allowed to gain access into the van in this way, the one being penalized, is the consumer.  Many assistants don't have cars to drive over to the consumer's place of residence.

More than likely it is an imposition already to ask for the assistant to accompany a consumer.  It seems like an added insult when these pick ups and drop offs are directly on the pathway to or from the destination.

When can we return to sanity?  Isn't the idea to help persons with disabilities to get out in the community?  Why add obstacles to their lives if we don't have to?

The End