As mentioned before, I rely
heavily on accessible transportation. While growing up with my sisters, it was
very hard for me to watch them go out with their friends while I was stuck at
home. Now, it’s hard to meet friends when my outings have to be
scheduled.
When my family first lived in
Airdrie, there weren't any resources for families with children with
disabilities. Mom thought it was
important to have a society that people could turn to for help. She was part of the founding Board of
Directors for the Crossfield, Rockyview, Airdrie, and Balzac (C.R.A.B.) Society
for the Handicapped.
During her seven years on the
Board of Directors, she helped to establish accessible transportation in
Airdrie and the surrounding area. The C.R.A.B. Society for the Handicapped
purchased wheelchair-accessible buses to help out busy families. The few buses
that were running quickly became busy, saving wear and tear on parents who
would otherwise have to drive everywhere. It allowed them to devote more time
to their homes and families. I t also provided transportation for senior
citizens and adults with disabilities (whether permanent or temporary).
Airdrie has grown a lot but when I
lived there, it was much smaller and didn't have a public transit system. If you didn't drive or it was too far to walk,
you couldn't get from place to place in town. I relied on the same bus driver to take me to
and from school every day from when I was two-and-a-half years old until I
graduated from high school. My bus
driver remembers when I was about four years old and I threw a temper tantrum
and wouldn't quit screaming. She took me
back home and Dad met us at the door. Needless
to say, he was not impressed with me. It
was the only time I ever misbehaved on the bus. She also loved to bug me all the time about
boys. Her biggest challenge was in understanding my speech but with
perseverance, she usually got my story!
When I was eighteen, I moved into a group home
in Calgary. Because it’s a larger city, it has better public transportation. I generally
use Access Calgary, which has accessible buses that pick me up from my house
and take me directly to my destination and back. Access Calgary is designed for people who are
unable to easily take the public system. Personally, the weather and sidewalks
make it tricky to take transit, and I need to have a ramp to board a bus or
c-train. Access Calgary is the safest
and easiest way to get from point A to point B. It's very nice to get there in one ride rather
than making all the bus and train connections; it cuts down on transit time!
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