This past October, I accompanied fellow coworker, Maisoon Sahouria to the College of San Mateo for the first of her three-part workshop series on advocacy, effective communication, and disability rights. The workshop was an undeniable success, as the attendees (this advocate included), were educated on how to better advocate for themselves and their community. These skills proved incredibly useful shortly after leaving the college.
After the workshop, Maisoon and I decided to take the SamTrans 250 bus back to the CID office. Exiting from Perimeter Road, we walked down West Hillsdale Boulevard toward the intersection of Clearview Way. Upon reaching this intersection, we found that there was not a single curb ramp in any of its four corners.
This intersection is not only important for local businesses and the residents living in the area; it is also the closest SamTrans fixed route stop for the College of San Mateo. Anyone leaving the college using a wheelchair, walker, cane, etc. wanting to ride the SamTrans 250 or 294 busses, would somehow have to leap off of the seven inch sidewalk on the northwest corner of the West Hillsdale Boulevard intersection.
From there, one would cross West Hillsdale Boulevard only to find another absent curb ramp on the other side of the intersection. In order to access to the eastbound sidewalk of West Hillsdale Boulevard that person would then have to travel for over 350 yards on the road of the incredibly unsafe West Hillsdale Boulevard.
Here, they will find their first curb ramp with access to a sidewalk in the middle of the Highway 92 on-ramp. But, the journey’s not over yet; there is still an unbearably steep 350 yards back up West Hillsdale Boulevard, where one would finally be able to catch the SamTrans bus. Needless to say, this is not only impossible, it is unacceptable.
Our findings prompted us to contact the City of San Mateo immediately. We advocated that they do something to remediate the multitude of access and safety issues at this intersection. We spoke to a senior engineer at the Department of Public Works, and our advocacy paid off. Within 10 days, the city installed curb ramps on all four sides of the intersection.
This is just one of the many success stories at CID. Do you have a CID success story that you would like to share here on our Blog and social media outlets? Perhaps we installed a ramp or a stairlift for you at your home and you would like to let others know how it has helped you to remain independent and in the community? Maybe we helped you to become a better advocate for yourself, and you would like to tell that story? We’re looking for more of these types of success stories, so if you are interested in sharing your story, you can reach out to us HERE.
After the workshop, Maisoon and I decided to take the SamTrans 250 bus back to the CID office. Exiting from Perimeter Road, we walked down West Hillsdale Boulevard toward the intersection of Clearview Way. Upon reaching this intersection, we found that there was not a single curb ramp in any of its four corners.
This intersection is not only important for local businesses and the residents living in the area; it is also the closest SamTrans fixed route stop for the College of San Mateo. Anyone leaving the college using a wheelchair, walker, cane, etc. wanting to ride the SamTrans 250 or 294 busses, would somehow have to leap off of the seven inch sidewalk on the northwest corner of the West Hillsdale Boulevard intersection.
From there, one would cross West Hillsdale Boulevard only to find another absent curb ramp on the other side of the intersection. In order to access to the eastbound sidewalk of West Hillsdale Boulevard that person would then have to travel for over 350 yards on the road of the incredibly unsafe West Hillsdale Boulevard.
Here, they will find their first curb ramp with access to a sidewalk in the middle of the Highway 92 on-ramp. But, the journey’s not over yet; there is still an unbearably steep 350 yards back up West Hillsdale Boulevard, where one would finally be able to catch the SamTrans bus. Needless to say, this is not only impossible, it is unacceptable.
Our findings prompted us to contact the City of San Mateo immediately. We advocated that they do something to remediate the multitude of access and safety issues at this intersection. We spoke to a senior engineer at the Department of Public Works, and our advocacy paid off. Within 10 days, the city installed curb ramps on all four sides of the intersection.
This is just one of the many success stories at CID. Do you have a CID success story that you would like to share here on our Blog and social media outlets? Perhaps we installed a ramp or a stairlift for you at your home and you would like to let others know how it has helped you to remain independent and in the community? Maybe we helped you to become a better advocate for yourself, and you would like to tell that story? We’re looking for more of these types of success stories, so if you are interested in sharing your story, you can reach out to us HERE.
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