ODOT introduces Mobility Management program, helps disabled people get around town

TULSA, Okla. — People with disabilities facing challenges from getting from one place to another are now able to get a little help from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). 

Mobility Management is a program ODOT started a couple years ago. It's fairly new to Oklahoma and to Green Country. 

The federal Transportation Administration program specifically helps people with disabilities and their families. 

"Transportation in a traditional sense isn't available all the time. It may bit even be reliable or accessible because everybody has various needs," said Mobility Management Program Director Olivia Hook., 

She said the program is essentially like social work; it connects people with the transportation they need. 

"Mobility management programs work with the individuals in the communities understanding what resources are out there and if there isn't a resource out there that meets their needs, we're constantly doing a lot of problem-solving," said Hook. 

She added that people can get to their job, the grocery store or doctor's appointment. 

The program uses public transit, such as Metrolink Tulsa and specialized transportation for rural areas. 

Hook said, "Quality of life is so important and when you have no transportation, it can be devastating to a family." 

If you need a ride, you can fill out a form online and someone can help. 

Hook said transportation providers have also helped people in their homes, such as connecting them with builders of wheelchair ramps. 

"We're hearing and we're talking to our communities in a different way, and if we do that, that’s just going to create a better Oklahoma," Hooks said. 

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News Source: Fox 23 News