STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — On Friday, Kamillah Hanks, a member of the City Council (D-North Shore), joined advocates at the Staten Island Center for Independent Living to draw attention to what she describes as the MTA’s Individual Disability Exemption Plan’s (IDEP) systematic shortcomings.
The new congestion pricing charges, which went into effect on Sunday, January 5, will not apply to qualifying vehicles carrying individuals with disabilities, including those driven by caregivers, according to the proposal.
However, some claim they are being rejected, while others claim the application process itself is becoming a hurdle.
Despite having a master’s degree, Michael Ring, vice president of the Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York, admitted that he still struggled to complete an IDEP application.
“I struck a wall,” he remarked. The paperwork, which is written at a reading level of the sixteenth grade, was analyzed by AI. It should be written for readers in the fourth grade.
As a wheelchair user, Fati Vuillemey, who is a member of the women’s group at the Staten Island Center for Independent Living, voiced her annoyance at constantly encountering obstacles. (Priya Shahi/Staten Island Advance)Shahi Priya
Hanks went on to attack the IDEP system, pointing out that residents with disabilities are left without care on weekends, the toll-free helpline regularly fails, and there is no voicemail option.
When calls do get through, she claimed, they are frequently answered by staff members who are not aware. The application process, which calls for certifications or Access-A-Ride permission in addition to needless paperwork, was also criticized by her as being unduly intrusive and redundant.
The worst part, she said, is that candidates must go to the southern tip of Staten Island for duplicated assessments, which constitute a basic disrespect for the welfare of individuals with disabilities. These assessments are duplicates of those already conducted through Access-A-Ride. Some of our most vulnerable residents are now stranded and finding it difficult to obtain necessary services as a result of what was supposed to be vital relief turning into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Hanks’ special advisor Michael Arvanites talked about his experience trying to get his mother, Susan Arvanites, of Castleton Corners, to sign up for the IDEP. Susan Arvanites, a mental health nurse at Ground Zero who assisted 9/11 responders, must visit the World Trade Center Clinic in Manhattan. She regularly passes through the congestion zone and is eligible for the disability exemption plan since she is battling cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Michael Arvanites revealed that he had a very hard time assisting her in enrolling in this program. It appears like the barriers are in place to prevent you from succeeding. My mother’s infirmities were caused by an attack on America, and we are now failing to provide for her.
Arvanites claims that his mother’s application has not yet been notarized.
Disability advocate Jerry Hutton, who had surgery to remove his sight four years ago, revealed that he still has trouble getting around and is hesitant to board buses and trains by himself.
According to disability advocate Jerry Hutton, who had surgery to remove his sight four years ago, getting around is still difficult for him. (Priya Shahi/Staten Island Advance)Shahi Priya
According to Reginald Rosarion, the new executive director of the Staten Island Center for Independent Living, “as an independent living center, we really want to have a strong coalition to really change and, at the very least, make more accessible, the application process so that all New Yorkers with disabilities can really benefit from this program.”
The Community Agency for Senior Citizens’ (CASC) executive director, Albana Telic, spoke to the state’s fastest-growing demographic: people 65 and older.
According to Telic, they shouldn’t have to face extra challenges when going to the city for necessary medical care.
Three years ago, Claudette Duff, the director and creator of Integrity Senior Services Inc., which has been providing services throughout the state after serving Staten Island for more than 20 years, become legally blind.
“I realize that there aren’t many services available for the blind on Staten Island,” she stated. Why they treat people this way is beyond me. Furthermore, disabled people—who are mostly old or extremely poor—cannot go to their destinations and meet their basic necessities because of the congestion charge. It makes matters worse.
Hanks urged the MTA to act quickly to eliminate needless travel for redundant exams, streamline the IDEP application process to incorporate current disability certifications, and make the toll-free number fully operational and accessible.
+ There are no comments
Add yours