Woman: Elderly aunt with broken leg should be able to use Dial-A-Ride

When Dial-A-Ride changed its policy in December to limit the service to disabled and certified passengers only, ending eligibility for seniors 60 and over, 90-year-old Jeanne Goodell turned to her niece for rides to the doctor.

Goodell received a letter notifying her that she had until Jan. 31 to become certified through either the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Western Arizona Council of Governments to continue using the service.

But before she could submit her papers to become certified, Karen Flynn, Goodell's niece, said her aunt broke her leg getting into Flynn's car for a ride to her doctor. Now she's bed bound.

“How am I going to transport her? I can no longer put her in my car,” Flynn said.

“They gave her a letter for her doctor to sign, confirming she needs rides to get to the doctor, but she needs a ride to get to the doctor for him to sign it.”

Flynn said her aunt needs stitches taken out and “we don't have an option but to wait.” She contacted an ambulance and was told insurance won't cover it.

“We can't make an appointment with the doctor until we know (Dial-A-Ride) can transport her. Who knows when that will be?”

Flynn said she was told it could take up to three weeks to process the paperwork. She believe the program director should expedite special cases, such as her aunt's.

“It's an issue that needs to be addressed. They're putting a hardship on people. It's inhumane.”

On Friday, Flynn learned her aunt is not eligible for service because they live a quarter-mile out of the service area. In November, the board eliminated service to Dateland, Tacna, Wellton and the Yuma Proving Ground, restricted routes to specific locations and implemented other modifications to the program.

Nevertheless, transit director John Andoh said a broken leg would not have made Goodell eligible for the program.

“Just because you're a senior citizen or broke your leg doesn't mean you can use Dial-A-Ride,” Andoh said, noting, “We are not an emergency service, just regular transportation.”

He also explained that Goodell might be able to use the Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) bus system, which is handicapped accessible.

“It's wheelchair accessible. It has a lift and a low floor, so there's no stepping up. And now that we have restored service to all of Yuma, it's more accessible.”

Andoh said the changes were necessary due to lack of funding. “We could no longer afford the old system anymore.”

In the past, any senior citizen was allowed to use the Dial-A-Ride service.

The Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization authorized the changes to offset budget cuts and inefficiencies. Officials said the changes were made to ensure continued service to the most in need and to make the program more cost effective.

Now Dial-A-Ride only carries people with ADA-certified disabilities. To become ADA-certified, people need verification from a medical professional or social service organization.

By law, Andoh has up to 21 days to review the paperwork and classified them as eligible, deny eligibility or ask for more information.

Even after receiving certification requests, he has to verify the information with a medical professional and wait for them to get back to him.

Andoh said he has already recertified 150 customers and many more are still waiting, although he couldn't say how many more were waiting.

“Unfortunately, I'm a staff of one. I can only do my best,” he said.

But he noted that he can't give preferential treatment or expedite anyone's certification over others.

If not enough information is given in the paperwork, Andoh might request the person verify the disability in person. He has the option to take the person to an YCAT bus stop to see if he or she can get on and off a bus.

Andoh also has the option of denying the request if the person doesn't clearly explain the disability.

For more information, call Andoh at (928) 539-7076 or jandoh@ycipta.org.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or (928) 539-6856. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub or on Twitter at @YSMaraKnaub.