Peggy Chong - The Blind History Lady

and people of all ages interests and physical abilities on today's program a ride down colfax avenue the longest street in the world and what to do if you're blind and encounter bears In 1977, there were no wheelchair lifts on regional transportation district buses in Denver, Colorado.

So people who use wheelchairs were trapped in nursing homes because they couldn't afford the only way for them to go shopping to doctor's appointments.

work, school, church, or anywhere to have fun and do the things ambulatory people can easily do because their only option was a Volkswagen van service at $30 per trip.

That's equivalent to $154.86 and $2,026.

So on July 5th, 19 people in wheelchairs went to Colfax and Broadway in Denver, next to the State Capitol.

One of them rode up to the door of a bus, and when the driver said, you can't get on here, the gang of 19 laid down in the street in front of and behind the block-long line of bumper-to-bumper buses, blocking them for two days.

We want a right! We want a right! We want a right!

As a result, RTD agreed to install wheelchair lifts on their entire fleet.

And 22 years later, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed requiring wheelchair accessibility on every bus in America.

And for those of us who are blind or visually impaired, buses and commuter trains announce where they're going so we can get on the right one and announce the next stops so we know where to get off.

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, RTD buses also have a digital display on the front of the inside of the bus and behind the driver's seat showing the next stop.

Other ADA changes include paratransit, curb cuts, and screen description and stage description at movies and theaters.

Since Colfax Avenue, U.S. Route 40, is the longest street in the world, 55.7 miles, I decided, along with co-producer Hope Achamu, to ride the entire length of Colfax by bus to see how many people use the wheelchair lifts.

wheelchair lifts have improved since 1977.

RTD buses now use wheelchair ramps instead of lifts.

They're super efficient.

When needed, the driver pushes a button and the ramp slides over the bus stairs to the sidewalk.

And then all of the passengers walk or roll onto or off the bus.

A button push later and the ramp retracts onto the bus.

and people of all ages interests and physical abilities on today's program a ride down colfax avenue the longest street in the world and what to do if you're blind and encounter bears In 1977, there were no wheelchair lifts on regional transportation district buses in Denver, Colorado.

So people who use wheelchairs were trapped in nursing homes because they couldn't afford the only way for them to go shopping to doctor's appointments.

work, school, church, or anywhere to have fun and do the things ambulatory people can easily do because their only option was a Volkswagen van service at $30 per trip.

That's equivalent to $154.86 and $2,026.

So on July 5th, 19 people in wheelchairs went to Colfax and Broadway in Denver, next to the State Capitol.

One of them rode up to the door of a bus, and when the driver said, you can't get on here, the gang of 19 laid down in the street in front of and behind the block-long line of bumper-to-bumper buses, blocking them for two days.

We want a right! We want a right! We want a right!

As a result, RTD agreed to install wheelchair lifts on their entire fleet.

And 22 years later, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed requiring wheelchair accessibility on every bus in America.

And for those of us who are blind or visually impaired, buses and commuter trains announce where they're going so we can get on the right one and announce the next stops so we know where to get off.

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, RTD buses also have a digital display on the front of the inside of the bus and behind the driver's seat showing the next stop.

Other ADA changes include paratransit, curb cuts, and screen description and stage description at movies and theaters.

Since Colfax Avenue, U.S. Route 40, is the longest street in the world, 55.7 miles, I decided, along with co-producer Hope Achamu, to ride the entire length of Colfax by bus to see how many people use the wheelchair lifts.

wheelchair lifts have improved since 1977.

RTD buses now use wheelchair ramps instead of lifts.

They're super efficient.

When needed, the driver pushes a button and the ramp slides over the bus stairs to the sidewalk.

And then all of the passengers walk or roll onto or off the bus.

A button push later and the ramp retracts onto the bus.