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Living Life in the Community: The Role of Transportation in Inclusion. By Matthew MacNeil: resident of Tillsonburg, Ontario. WE want what YOU want. To live our lives as fully as possible in typical neighborhoods in typical communities.
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Living Life in the Community: The Role of Transportation in Inclusion By Matthew MacNeil: resident of Tillsonburg, Ontario
WE want what YOU want To live our lives as fully as possible in typical neighborhoods in typical communities
We need transportation To be able to: • fulfill civic responsibilities • serve as a volunteer • go shopping • enjoy a park • join a club • spend time with friends • enjoy our community
NO TRANSPORTATION? Don’t bother with the programs People have to get to where they need to go! Without transportation, all of the dedicated effort to provide support may be wasted
THE TRUE BUT SAD REALITY It is pointless to invest time, energy, and money in preparing people for life experiences that will forever be inaccessible
Why? There may be a baseball game in town… But… Unless I spend $16 for a taxi (I also pay for the cost of the program), 1-2 hours of programming is not a valuable experience for me. I can’t afford it.
Even more… • My parents and friends can find me a great job so that I can be part of the community • Without a ride there, I am spending 2 hours of my wages on a taxi and then giving back half of my earnings to ODSP • If I work 4 hours at minimum wage = $40… then take off $16 for taxi… then take off $20 for ODSP… I will have worked 4 hours for around $4. It makes me feel sad and not very included. Am I the only one who feels this way?
How can you help us… • …get to work? • …get more grants and funds for transportation? • …partner in the use of your vehicles? • …partner with other community resources to strengthen services? • …navigate our community without a local bus? • …with the high cost of taxis? • …feel included in our community?
By the community, for the community Community driven initiative • Financial/Asset • Multi-Service Centre • Stonebridge Community Services • Mount Elgin Golf Club • Tillsonburg Rotary • F.L Ravin Limited • United Way Oxford • Co-ordination • Social Planning Council Oxford • Planning and Lessons Learned • Community Advocates Tillsonburg • Community Living Tillsonburg • VON Oxford • 50+ Initiative • Community members
What’s next? • Continue connecting with interested community partners • Rogers: One on One • Tillsonburg Resource Network presentation • Mount Elgin Golf Club fundraising tournament • July 27 • Customer focus groups • A full day planning event • Business plan • External funding applications
What does this mean for you? • Partnerships will be key in leveraging existing infrastructure and resources • We believe Tillsonburg is the right pilot community in Oxford County • Asks of Council: • Use of a meeting room • Point of contact