· Are you experiencing any difficulties with
access to HandyDART services for your clients?
CAOT-BC is currently involved in
discussions with BC Transit regarding recent changes to vehicle specifications
which is having an adverse impact for some of our clients (e.g. restrictions on
wheelchair dimensions).
We are seeking your input on this topic, so please email us with details of your experience(s) by
August 31, 2013.
Ian Handy, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteMy major concern is that you can no longer fax applications and the mailing process slows down application when we often need it urgently for new acute clients.
Marie-Helene, OT in Golden, BC comments:
ReplyDeleteI would just like to point out that there is no HandiDart Services in our area (Golden and District). Our client have no options to move within the community if they are dependent on a wheelchair, unless they own an adapted vehicle. This leads to significant social isolation.
This service was removed a few years ago, along with community bus, apparently due to low usage as we are a small community.
Rosemary, OT comments:(on behalf of the Physical Medicine dept at West Coast General Hospital, Port Alberni
ReplyDeleteOur Handi Dart service in this town is amazing - but overstretched. The telephone staff and drivers are all wonderful people - helpful, encouraging, cheerful and they all go way beyond their call of duty, to serve.
However, our population is getting older and more frail, and the present capacity is only just managing to cope. Soon it will not be able to cope. If we could have more buses and drivers of the same quality, that would be great. I hear that we are expecting at least one new bus soon.
We have not heard any adverse comments regarding regular equipment. Recently, one outsize motorized scooter was found to be too large for the lift. But it is an exceptionally large scooter – akin to a smart-car in size, and this is the first incidence that I have heard.
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ReplyDeleteBrenda, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking on this very important issue. Living in a rural community certainly has its share of benefits, but for a person living with any type of functional challenge there are more issues than not. Getting out in the community has limited options and with Handidart further limiting their access the issues are compounding.
Our local handidart has very limited hours of operation and with their limited number of fleet vehicles the only clients who get to use this service are those who can plan their trips a week in advance. Even then, it is often only the clients who have appointments at the hospital who will be allotted a time/space on the Handidart. Those who need to go out for other reasons (whether it is community based physical or cognitive groups, shopping, or social) are deemed less of a priority and are left without options.
We have many clients in the community who have customized wheelchair/power mobility aids to meet their needs. They are larger than the average wheelchair. They are often refused access to make room for clients without wheelchairs.
Needless to say this is a very frustrating and belittling experience for our clients. Handidart is no longer a user friendly option for clients with challenges to access our community. Your support in these issues is greatly appreciated. Thank you again for the time and effort you are putting forth to address Handidart issues.
Nina, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteI wanted to comment on the suspension quality of some handyDART buses. Specifically, some clients with ataxia or tone find that riding the HandyDART (sometimes as long as 45 minute trips) increases their tone and ability to function pain-free and/or normally. While this isn't an access issue per-say, I thought I would contribute this information to the general discussion of HandiDART services. That is, HandiDART may consider the quality of suspension they select when choosing their buses, and opt for better suspension if it is available.
Chris, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteHi, The only c/o I ever heard was how long it takes to get to a destination due to so many stops to pick up people.
Caleb, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteConcerns that have been expressed in Kelowna Area:
1. New buses with side ramps designed to extend onto curbs are not always appropriate when there is not a curb present (many areas in Kelowna). This apparently increases the angle of the ramp making it more challenging for drivers and caregivers to push clients onto the bus especially bariatric clients. This was not an issue with the lift style buses and could limit which passengers could be taken on the bus if they were to heavy or if the angle was too high.
2.When putting people on bus using side ramp it is more challenging to maneuver clients around the passenger on the corner of the entrance then it was when using the lift style system and pushing them straight down the aisle.
Sally, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteIn Vernon, seniors have had difficulty booking Handy DART service to attend both community day programs which are offered as part of Adult Day Services at the Gateby Care Centre (Interior Health).
-We offer a 3 month assessment and treatment program called “Elderly Assessment and Short Term Treatment (EAST) Program” offered Monday to Friday from 9 am -11:30 am
-We offer an eight week Follow-up exercise program” which runs Monday, Wed and Fridays from 1-2:30 pm.
Also, new clients have not been able to access taxi saver program for approximately 1 ½ years.
This has had a large impact on seniors ability to access health services for seniors offered by Interior Health.
Katherine, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteOne of the issues I’ve faced is when I’ve applied to HandyDart for a client who is an older driver & wants to transition to or learn about alternatives for community mobility prior to giving up their license. I thought that if they became more familiar with using Handydart & taxisaver, they would transition more successfully & would be more likely to willingly to give up their license & driving privileges. This would also be beneficial for the client with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia, where they are still able to drive safely but will eventually lose the ability—they may be able to continue to access the community if they learned how to use Handydart prior to losing their license. However, Handydart will not accept these drivers as clients because they still have valid driver’s license & do not have a temporary disability.
Adele, OT comments:
ReplyDeleteI first heard about this from a client’s wife. Her husband is unable to use Handydart because his wheelchair is wider than the 24” overall width. If you look at Translink’s website it indicates that the overall width is 37” but Abbotsford is changing its policy as noted below in the pdf guide.
http://www.busonline.ca/pdf/Mobility_Aid_Guide.pdf
My client’s wife has heard that the 24” overall width will become standard eventually.
This will limit the mobility and independence of many wheelchair users. I work at a rehab hospital, and took a quick look today at the distribution of wheelchair sizes that are currently signed out to inpatients. Looking at regular manual wheelchairs (not power and not tilt-in-space) only 11/47 wheelchairs would be able to meet the 24” over all width requirement. While this is only an “informal snapshot in time”, it means that if these individuals needed to use a Handydart with the 24” overall width requirement, 36 individuals would be unable to access the “accessible transit”.
Wheelchair sizes are defined by the width of the wheelchair seat which is narrower than the overall width. A 16” wide wheelchair usually has an overall width of 24” or less, but most chairs wider than a 16” wide wheelchair will be wider than 24”.
I have not been able to confirm this, but I have also heard that Translink might be switching to manual wheelchair ramps instead of power lifts. If this is the case, I would have concerns that the drivers would be a risk for increased back injuries and that there would be an increase in long term disability claims for its drivers.
My clients use Handydart to visit family/friends, to travel to work/volunteer/exercise places, to shop and to get to medical appointments. The 24” overall width will have a major impact on their health and quality of life.