Picture This!
What's new this week in transportation
The Gee-Man has arrived!
King County welcomes the accessible Mr. Johnston
Practically anyone who's been around town for a
while and reads the newspaper knows him. For more than 30 years,
he's answered questions from readers, made people laugh--even written
columns devoted to topics he knows best--like living life in a
wheelchair. Today, former Seattle Times journalist Steve
Johnston kicks off his newest venture. This time he'll team up with King
County to write a special series of online columns that reach out to
people with disabilities.
Taking a page from James Cagney, who once said,
"Rats! It's the G-Man," Johnston has accepted a special government
assignment to use his unique blend of humor, insight and reporting to
sniff out answers to questions on the minds of many people with
disabilities. In the coming months, the Gee-Man will explore the
types of resources and services available in the King County area and
write about the challenges he, and other people with disabilities, face on
a daily basis.
"According to the state's latest population survey,
13.4 percent of adults in King County have some sort of disability--
that's more than one in every seven of our friends and neighbors. And in
future years, that percentage may even grow as our overall population
ages," King County Executive Ron Sims said. "As the nation prepares to
celebrate Disabilities Month in October, Steve Johnston will use his
compassion and unique abilities to better connect with people who are
coping with the challenges that come with having a disability."
Each week the Gee-Man will answer questions and
share his personal experiences online at
www.metrokc.gov/geeman.
Readers will be invited to send in their questions along with suggestions
for future columns. The public will also be able to meet and talk with the
Gee-Man at various community events and forums starting with the Emerging
Majority Festival, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. on
Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Seattle Center Pavilion. The
annual festival brings employers and people with disabilities together and
provides a variety of resource information.
"As Gee-Man, the county's accessible answer guy, I'm
looking forward to sharing some of my experiences in a wheelchair and
helping people understand that being 'disabled' doesn't mean the person is
'unable' to take part in life," Johnston said. "The reality is, people
sometimes don't know where to turn to for help. Maybe they're looking for
a nursing home for a parent or wonder if there's a better way to get
around town. These are the types of questions I'll try to tackle in my
weekly columns."
The Gee-Man's first column debuts today. Expect the
accessible answer guy to take on a variety of questions ranging from where
to find a wheelchair to how to get around town or locate a nursing home
for a loved one. People can e-mail the Gee-Man at
geeman@metrokc.gov or they can
call him at (206) 263-4705 or TTY 1-800-833-6388 (Washington Relay
Service). The Gee-Man's mailing address is 201 S. Jackson St., M.S. KSC-TR-0817, Seattle, WA 98104-3856.
"I'll read all your questions and comments, and try
to find answers to as many as I can," says Gee-Man. "After all, it's your
government, and it won't cost you anything to ask. Take advantage of it."
Related links
Gee-Man Johnston: The
Accessibility Answer Guy
King County Office of Civil
Rights Enforcement
Metro
Accessible Services
Specialized Metro Telephone Services
City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights
[external link]
Northwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
[external link]
Washington State Department of Services for the Blind
[external link]
Washington State Disability Service Locator
[external link] |
