Discrimination

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Am I being discriminated against because of my inability to drive? ACCES-VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) is a service of the New York State Department of Education. I was denied services because "transportation not feasible or available." I told them that I am willing to walk the three miles to the nearest bus stop but they did not accept this and denied me services. This cannot be legal. Here is the letter they sent me.

Discrimination? Hmm, maybe. But, government agencies must limit their services to those individuals who can benefit in the widest possible ways. Having reliable transportation to the agency is one of the agency's conditions for receiving its benefits. You could imagine how many individuals sign up only to stop attending after a few weeks of missing transportation or arriving late. Bad weather cancels some of the best intentions.

BUT ... if I were you, I would request a review of the ACCES-VR decision. Make it abundantly clear that you can and will do everything it takes to arrive on time and do so for every meeting. They should give you a chance, then.

Good luck!