For Immediate Release: September 29, 2016 Contact: Barbara Beckert, Milwaukee Office Director 414-773-4646

Disability Rights Wisconsin Says Transportation Improvements are Essential for People with Disabilities Disability Rights Wisconsin calls upon policymakers to improve transportation funding and supports in Wisconsin that include the concerns of people with disabilities. “While many are calling today for essential road repair investments we cannot forget about those who can’t get to work, worship or see their friends and family because we continue to cut back on public transit investments,” says Barbara Beckert, Milwaukee Office Director. DRW is joining with thousands of other individuals and organizations across the state today as they advocate for transportation solutions in Just Fix It - Turn Out for Transportation Day. Nearly 640,000 Wisconsinites of all ages have a disability. Transportation is vital to an independent life in the community and allows people with disabilities to work and caregivers to provide care. In a recent Wisconsin survey of self-advocates 40% of individuals with disabilities said they want to work but there is not enough transportation. Many people indicate they can’t meet basic needs, get to medical appointments, or have reliable transportation to a job due to transportation barriers. Surveys of people with disabilities statewide also indicate that transportation is a number one concern given that lack of options for people who can’t drive equate to poor quality of life. While Wisconsin has made great strides in advancing community based services for people with disabilities, the lack of transportation is a barrier to independent living. “Many Wisconsinites with disabilities live very isolated lives because they can no longer afford rising public transit fares, routes have been cut, paratransit is not available, or they simply live in a rural area with no transportation options,” says Beckert. DRW asks that the Governor and Legislature prioritize the needs of people with disabilities in the next biennial budget, specifically increasing funding for transit and specialized transportation for people with disabilities and older adults, flexibility to allow for local and regional decision making about transportation that best meets community needs and with a focus on leveraging all available federal transportation funding. Disability Rights Wisconsin is the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy Agency, charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping individuals free from abuse and neglect. ###