Comment from University of Michigan's Science, Technology, and Public Policy program's (STPP)
University of Michigan's Science, Technology, and Public Policy program's (STPP)SupportAdvocacy
Summary: Detroit Disability Power, a community partner of the University of Michigan's STPP, supports the initiative by highlighting the necessity of accessible and reliable transit for the disabled community. They argue that transportation barriers contribute to the marginalization of disabled residents and provide a framework for what constitutes an inclusive transit system.
The University of Michigan's Science, Technology, and Public Policy program's (STPP) community partner Detroit Disability Power’s mission is to ensure the full inclusion of Metro Detroit’s disabled population in transportation, housing, employment, and many other areas of life. The 19.4% of Detroiters in the disability community share a disproportionate overlap with other marginalized populations, including those with fewer financial resources and racial minorities. People with disabilities are a marginalized group in part because of the exclusion they face due to economic, social, and civic barriers in our ableist system. Lack of access to transportation is a contributing factor to this exclusion, and an accessible and reliable transit system in Detroit is necessary to allow all residents to participate fully in society.
We outline the components of an accessible and reliable transportation system in this infographic.