OPINION — MAG doesn’t stand for “magnifier!” The Maricopa Association of Governments is reaching out to Sun City and Sun City West residents for input on our transportation needs.
For many of us, “independence” is defined by the ability to hop in a car, grab prescriptions, hit a doctor’s appointment (or dentist, neurologist, etc.) and grab a bite on the way home.
When vision loss from conditions like geographic atrophy, macular atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa or Usher syndrome enters the picture, that independence is often stripped away.
Over 25% of people over 65 struggle with reading or recognizing faces, which eventually leads to losing a driver’s license — a massive blow to one’s quality of life.
I am personally incredibly grateful for Valley Metro and Ride Choice. Having a vehicle come on-demand to my door at a reasonable price allows me to remain independent. While friends and family are wonderful, having a reliable, professional service is vital.
However, for those with profound vision loss, door-to-door needs to mean more than just a curb stop. We need MAG to consider:
• Vehicle identification: Help for those who cannot see well enough to know if they are approaching the correct car.
• Orientation assistance: Knowing which way the vehicle is facing and where it is positioned.
• Physical guidance: Seniors who haven’t yet had orientation and mobility training may need a steady arm to the door, a hand guided to the handle and a description of the vehicle (e.g., “it’s a low sedan” or “it’s a step up into a truck”).
Please take a moment to fill out the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/SunCities. Let’s make sure our voices — and our needs for sighted assistance and reliable transit — are heard!
Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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