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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 on demand touring service for disabled residents & visitorsfrom Brenda McDonough to Libby Gibson .,. - -, TOWN OF NANTUCKET 0,trrucir,, oi 't•_ 1 IA• , . , 1 F.A. TP COMMISSION ON DISABILITY 0 . .._ 0 . -- --'''''''S-, le, • JUZ OW •& COUNTY BUILDING la, 4°0400. lb"BROAD STREET E EC 11 NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS 02554 N A N Pj'1-PHONE/FAk 508-228780'fp - TOWN CLb<r •V E — 1 .1 NANTujusNE12ffitit: • TO: Libby Gibson Town:Administrator , FROM: Brenda R.McDonough Facilitator,Nantucket Commission on Disability , DATE: June 20,2006 RE: On-Demand Touring Service for Disabled Residents and Visitors On May 1211 2004,the Commission on Disability petitioned the Board Of Selectmen to create one extra taxi license exclusively for a wheelchair accessible taxi, which you unanimously approved.This taxi operates as a regular taxi serving the general public along with the wheelchair=disabled community.A letter was sent to all applicants on the taxi-waiting list offering this special license along with some specific requirements governing this license,which the Commission on Disability recommended. Some of the requirements for this license were that the accessible taxi operate year-round,seven-days- a-week,and on-demand eighteen-hours-a-day.Since we are advocates for disabled people,we wanted residents and visitors who use wheelchairs to enjoy the same on- demand,taxi service,which most of us enjoy,Jon St Laurent who was 169th on the taxi waiting list out of 202 taxi applicants,received this license in July 2005.Jon agreed to all the terms and conditions governing the accessible taxi.This license greatly benefited the wheelchair-disabled community andJon as well,since,he did not have to wait for years to receive his taxi license.The Commission feels very fortunate for-Tonto have received this license.He has done a fabulous job for our disabled community and we couldn't be happier with his level of service and dedication to his clients.He is providing a much- needed service to a community that has not had any on-demand taxi service ever on Nantucket and itis evident that he loves his job and enjoys providing his service.Jon has' the only yvheelchair-accessible taxi on the Island. Presently,there is only one tour company,Nantucket Island Tours,'which has an accessible bus that can accommodate a motorized wheelchair,You must call at least 24 hours in advance to reserve this vehicle,,so there is no on-demand tour service for any •• wheelchair user. Since Jon St Laurent has the only wheelchair-accessible taxi and there are no wheelchair-accessible tour vans,Jon would like to offer tours along with his taxi service from the same vehicle, On May 10th,2006 Jon and his attorney,Steven Cohen, attended the Commission on Disability's meeting requesting a letter of support for Jon to operate his taxi service as a tour service also.Jon realizes that there is a needto provide