Green Think Tank Teleconference Sat. Sept. 25, 2010

Next teleconference Sat. Sept. 25 3-3:45 pm CST 712-432-6131 PIN 100453# We discuss and develop workgroup projects that make lives of persons who are disabled more sustainable or provide green jobs or businesses. greenthinktank@comcast.net Moderated by Dr. Ayo Maat. Call me Maat (mah as in Mama and ott as in otter)

Top Ten Green Needs of persons who are disabled: 1. Green sustainable living, income, healthcare, employment 2. Funding of Sustainable projects, including the Soular Car Project and Green Paratransit by private entities preferably 3. Ownership of Green Paratransit 4. Accessible streets in every major city 5. Accessible restrooms and entrances in public buildings with privacy in resttoom stalls and entrances without barriers 6. Accessible green housing cooperatives 7. More political candidates and elected officials who are disabled and visible 8. Carbon-free, chemical-free cosmetics, health supplies 9. Green housing maintenance, lawn maintenance, landscaping, and pest control 10. Public awareness, training of public servants, doctors, media reps that handicapped and wheelchair-bound are not proper descriptions for persons who are disabled. Determine feasibility and recommend funding of green projects that persons who are disabled control singly, as a group, or with persons who are non-disabled. Soular Car Project is a project of the Green Paratransit Think Tank. Members are encouraged to recommend funding for green product ideas, product testing for persons who are disabled and seniors. Some product ideas already proposed are: rider-owned Green Paratransit, solar-powered 4-passemger wheelchair, solar-powered wheelchairs, solar-powered kitchen appliances and durable medical equipment, green housing coops, accessible green resource training centers with overnight facilities, accessible veganic urban farms, and green auto dealerships and insurance agencies run as home-based businesses, green repair shops, medical info and final arrangements (after death), on flash drive wrist bracelets, and evening, holiday and weekend solar-powered wheelchair repair and rental franchises. Consideration is given for Baby Boomers may develop age-related disability in the future. Please RSVP to teleconference at greenthinktank@comcast.net and visit the site http://www.greenthinktankfordisabilitycommunity.blogspot.com. Comments, design ideas, funding ideas, grantwriters, inventors, product developers, persons who are disabled, ideas for adaptive technology always welcome.

Chicago Paratransit Riders--Meet to Get Logs In for Federal Lawsuit on Pace

Emergency Alert

IMPRUVE Paratransit People’s Movement Assembly Mon. September 27, 2010 2:30-5:30 p.m. For Paratransit Riders to pay for Oct. 2 fundraiser or complete logs for Federal Court on late and excessively long paratransit trips. Bring records, notes and memories of such trips & if time permits, discuss issues to bring to D.C. in 2011 – Free meeting at Access Living 115 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago 60610 (near LaSalle)
RSVP & General Info: 773-416-7366 impruve2@yahoo.com

IMPRUVE is a grassroots, unfunded frontline fighter for paratransit rights & transit freedom, Green Paratransit, Green Jobs for US! IMPRUVE is sponsored by BNICEH 6951 N. Sheridan Rd Chicago IL 60626-3527
www.greenthinktankfordisabilitycommunity.blogspot.com
“Like an oak, we yield, but never break” since 2000

Paratransit People's Movement Assembly by IMPRUVE at Access Living

Meet at Access Living Wed. June 16, 2010 last meeting before we leave for US Social Forum in Detroit June 22-26. We leave June 21, Return June 27.

Like and oak we yield, but never break since 2000 - IMPRUVE (Independent Movement of Paeatransit Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality)

Date: Wed.June 16, 2010
Location: 115 W. Chicago Ave. 2nd floor conference room
Time: 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. (arrive 1:45 p.m.)
Purpose: Update on Workshops and National Paratransit Rider Organizing, Appeal

Contact: 773-416-7366 or Cecelia Jackson 773-544-9488

Workshops for Fri. June 25, 2010 http://organize.ussf2010.org/workshops

Transit Freedom and Justice: Civil Rights for Paratransit Riders - Fare Equity, Rider Control 10:00am-12:00 pm Cobo Hall Room 03-45

Soular Car Project: Green Solution for Persons Who Are Disabled and Baby Boomers 3:30-5:30 pm Cobo Hall Room D3-23

Thanks to all supporters of IMPRUVE trip to USSF2010 in Detroit: GXF of Common Counsel Foundation, Commissioner Larry Suffredin, Sabeel El, Ayonna Collins, Paul Safyan, Tony Lowe, Travis Jackson, Clarice Holiday, Richard James, Dr. Jacqueline Haas, Donna Lewis, Frank Jones Jr., William Crosby, Dock Walls, Kerry Moore, Cecelia Jackson, Genevarene Baxter, Dianna Long, Patricia Baxter, Tyquan Baxter, Kristen Cox (organic vegan food boxes from Cousin's - still available for your donation)and Dr. Ayo Maat

Support IMPRUVE and Soular Car Project at USSF2010

Support IMPRUVE's trip to USSF2010 with a donation, volunteer to print flyers, if you are attending, bring your laptop and projection equipment to our forum worskshops for our presentation by PowerPoint.

Look for workshops on the Soular Car Project and IMPRUVE Paratransit Minuteman Campaign at the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit June 22-26, 2010.

Email us and we will send you photos of 5 models of the soular car, nickname for the Cruise Car, a low speed, solar-powered car that is a NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) with soul.

impruve2@yahoo.com or greenthinktank@comcast.net Visit greenthinktankfordisabiitycommunity.blogspot.com Post comments. Join. Volunteer. Donate.

Paratransit riders are developing solutions to unfair fares and service cuts of the paratransit.

See Green Paratransit Plan and video slide show, article in Gapers Block by Sofia Resnick. Two reporters followed Dr. Maat 11 blocks to get to the nearest point to catch the suburban paratransit to get to a health appointment. We are still working with mechanical engineer Doug Larson on the Soular Car project. The article talks about the woes of Illinois paratransit that led us to call for a rider-owned paratransit. Good reading. Enjoy. Photo of prayer vigil conducted regarding fare hikes by Pace on paratransit. Pace still raised the fare Nov. 15, 2009 despite the governor's agreement on Nov. 11, 2009 that fares would not be increased for two years. See article at: http://gapersblock.com/mechanics/2010/02/08/a-green-plan-for-paratransit/index.php

Green Paratransit Think Tank To Work with Engineer to Test Soular Car

Soular Car test postponed. TBA.
However, see article on Green Plan for Paratransit at gapersblock.com/mechanic/2010/02/08

Douglas Larson, mechanical engineer, announced November 28, 2009 that he will be ready in January 2010 for first testing by a person (or persons) who is/are disabled of the solar-powered neighborhood car project called "Soular Car."


Larson has now postponed the test for a variety of reasons, weather conditions that impact persons who use motorized chairs being one of them. Plans are to work with Alderman Moore to get a pilot project off the ground ASAP.

He has invited Dr. Ayo Maat and those she refers from IMPRUVE (Independent Movement of Riders for Unity, Vehicles, Equality) or Green Think Tank for the Disability Community to be among the first testers.

First test is to determine:

1. If persons who are disabled can transfer in and out of their wheelchairs to the
Soular Car (manufactured by Cruise Car Inc.)

2. If persons who are disabled can transfer in and out of the Soular Car to the
motorized carts provided at local stores for shopping

3. How the installed covers hold up that trap solar energy to keep the vehicle warm

4. How the vehicle holds up in Chicago winter weather



Later tests will determine:

5. Which is best: foam-in-place permanent back supports or portable back supports?

6. Is it more feasible to begin with rentals than outright purchases

7. How can this technology be used in larger passenger vans for a paratransit
fleet?

8. Can the ordinance requiring doors be amended to exclude them in favor of velcro
enclosure for persons who are disabled and transfering from motorized
wheelchairs?

Douglas Larson wants to have his Soular Car project on display in May 2009 at the Green Fest in Chicago's Navy Pier