Last Friday UTA celebrated the 29th anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is a celebration we have every year and this year was extra special.
We’re excited to say this year’s event was the biggest ever! Community partner TURN Community Services, an organization that provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities, joined the celebration and donated art to award winners. UTA staff from across the organization, members of the disability community, and UTA riders helped us celebrate. Attendees enjoyed delicious cupcakes from a bakery that was started when a family was inspired by a trip to meet Chef Emeril Lagasse. They met Emeril when their daughter, who lives with cerebral palsy, got a wish fulfilled by the Make A Wish Foundation. After this encounter the family decided to start their own cupcake company called So Cupcake.
CAT Committee Successes
UTA’s Committee on Accessible Transit (CAT) is made up of members of the disability community and UTA staff. This year the committee rode and provided feedback on UTA projects like, the Autonomous Shuttle Pilot and Utah Valley Express (UVX). CAT thanks all riders and community members who submitted nominations for riders with a disability, and UTA staff and operators. We had the largest pool of nominations and recipients ever!
Recognized Exceptional UTA Employees
This year UTA started awarding community members and employees quarterly. The “I am UTA” award is given to recognize UTA employees who provide exceptional service to members of the disability community. This event recognized Joan Effiong (FrontRunner Train Host), Marcelino Dominquez (Rail Service Employee – FrontRunner), Doraleen Taulanga (Travel Training), Geraldo Frade (SLBU Bus Operator), Tonya Eastman (SLBU Bus Operator), Neil Uemura (SLBU Bus Operator). Thank you for your extra care and attention to your riders, you ARE UTA.
Celebrated riders with disabilities
Having accessible, safe and various modes of transportation, gives riders with a disability the freedom to live life the way they want. They use transit for many reasons, including attending school or work, to join community activities, or get to a medical appointment. The “I Ride UTA” award winners were Richard Garner and Ramona Rice. Richard was a huge fan of UTA and loved to ride trains and buses to attend the art program at TURN Community Services downtown. This posthumous award was accepted on his behalf by his BFF and roommate Tim, a fellow TURN student. Ramona is a former CAT committee member who has given valuable feedback on UTA services to improve accessibility for her and other riders. We are thankful to have such amazing riders using our service.
This annual celebration is a great way to gather together, meeting face to face, and see all the folks that make transit work for everyone.
Thank you to the CAT committee, ADA Compliance Officer, Cherissa Alldredge and Katie Matisohn, from the communications and marketing team, for putting on such a successful event!
If you’re interested in learning more, take moment to peruse our CAT webpage.
We’ll see you next year!