The City of Long Beach is making moves to ensure those with disabilities are not left behind when it comes to getting around, setting the stage for its Transportation Day on March 28, the city announced. Partnered with the Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD), the event will run from noon to 5 p.m. at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library, providing a much-needed platform for connecting disabled residents with transportation services.
Striving to be more than just a network of routes and schedules, the event aims to serve as a bridge, bringing together people with disabilities and the various transportation agencies, attendees will have the opportunity to sign up for specific services like Access Paratransit and Long Beach Transit Dial-A-Lift and to receive the latest updates about accessible transportation options. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson emphasizes the essential nature of such services stating, "It is no secret that public transportation is a lifeline for people with disabilities, as it connects them to medical appointments, school, their jobs and much more,” the Long Beach Government website quoted.
Former CACoD Chair and disability advocate Deaka McClain will be moderating a panel discussion with representatives from the City’s transportation partners, visitors can also check out resource tables, apply for paratransit services, and learn more about making the most of the public transit system, with the added perk of free mobility device cleaning. The City’s Office of Equity along with the CACoD is committed to the cause, recognizing the needs of over 55,000 Long Beach residents living with a disability, and partnering with Long Beach Transit, Access Paratransit, Los Angeles Metro Transportation Authority, and the Disabled Resources Center, Inc.
The event is open to all and free of charge but requires an RSVP which can be secured online or through the City’s Accessibility Coordinator, Jennifer Kumiyama, as per information on longbeach.gov. Long Beach, a city known not just for its vibrant neighborhoods and cultural landscape but also for its dedication to inclusivity, is taking yet another step to facilitate ease and accessibility for its disabled citizens, embodying the promise of a metropolis that truly caters to the needs of all its residents.
For further details and to RSVP for Transportation Day, interested parties can visit the official City of Long Beach website.
