Guest Blog by Bridget Brown, Self-Advocate and Disability Advocate

Hop Team with Thornwood High School Students

I am part of a team who teaches students and adults with disabilities about the benefits of riding public transportation and how to do it! I work with Ed from PACE and Jenny from JJ’s List.  Ed brings a real PACE bus to each workshop that people get on to experience what it is like on a bus.  Jenny uses the internet in a classroom to teach people about the different types of transportation in Chicagoland and to show them online travel resources and training videos.  My role on the team is the self-advocate.

As a self advocate, I tell people about my experience taking the PACE bus.  I share tools  and strategies that help me be successful riding the bus.  This helps people so they won’t be afraid of taking the fixed route. Fixed route means that the bus starts and ends at the same place every day and stops at the same stops every time. People are always very excited to learn about the PACE bus and how to plan a trip. I think they know that learning to take the bus is one of the most important things they can do to have a full life in their communities. When we do Hop on the Bus Workshops I know we are helping students and adults with disabilities learn to be more independent.

Bridget Brown, Self-Advocate and Disability Advocate

I love doing Hop on the Bus to Independence workshops because I know how important using public transportation is.  I am a person with a disability and I don’t drive.  To me transportation is THE most important thing because it allows me to be independent. Public transportation allows me to do things in my community:  get to work, go to school and enjoy recreation.  Without transportation those of us who have disabilities have less of a chance of having a full life.

I am so proud to be part of the Hop on the Bus to Independence team.  We care about people who have disabilities and provide a transportation workshop for them that will help them live fuller lives.  It makes me happy that I am helping people.

For more information about Hop on the Bus to Independence Workshops, contact Sarah Armour at sarah@jjslist.com  or visit JJsList.com.