(This recent story was told by the woman transported in the wheelchair compartment of the ADA van.)
“I’m the lady with the broken femur that posted my story earlier in the month. I’m supposed to be getting PT for my leg that was snapped in two, on a regular basis, but it’s irregular at best.
On 7-26-23 Transport officers Cheatham and Castillo were on duty driving the wheelchair-accessible van. Out of the 3 vans like this only one is working…..and it doesn’t work well. That day, three women were going to physical therapy…. me, one from Lumley, and one from Cruz. I was in the wheelchair box.
There are three lights, but only one works so it’s a dark trip wherever you go. No windows. We complained about no air conditioning, so Castillo climbed in to check the vent. She said, ” Well, with my hand right under the vent I feel air.” It felt like a furnace to us.
I can’t believe the Department of Transportation would decide it’s legal and safe to leave three women without seat belts. The officers put the two girls going with me in the back of the van. There are NO SEATS OR SEAT BELTS back there! There is a metal step that was not intended for passengers and has no restraints whatsoever.
If there was a roll over, I’d be flying out of my wheelchair as I’m not strapped in…only the wheelchair is. The two ladies in the back would be flipping over in a metal blender.
Remember, we are chained completely with no ability to break our fall or protect our head in a crash. We’d be toast. So in addition to posting this on a blog, I had my family forward it to the DOT.”