MEDIA CONTACT:
Jill K. Cappadoro
Director of Public Relations
(813) 223-6831

HILLSBOROUGH AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY�S PARATRANSIT SERVICE RECOGNIZED

July 24, 2002, Tampa, FL � The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority�s HARTplus program was recently recognized by Hands On Educational Services for its �advocacy and commitment to services for persons with disabilities.� The acknowledgement came during the 4th annual Hands On Educational Services recognition dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Tampa in June.

The HARTplus paratransit van service is provided by HART, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, for the purpose of delivering transportation services to individuals who, because of a functional disability (physical, cognitive or other), cannot access or use the public fixed route transportation system.

�Although we have a mandate to provide this service, we are pleased and proud to offer specialized transit to members of the disabled community. HARTplus gives our patrons the independence to go to school, to be employed, and to fulfill their dreams of success,� said Jan T. Smith, HART Board of Directors Chairperson.

Hands On Education, a state-funded four-year-old program based in Tampa, offers job training and placement assistance to individuals with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health issues, emotional handicaps and low reading levels. Hands On Education has been using HARTplus since October 2000 to transport its program participants to job sites.

�HARTplus changes the lives of its clients and everyone they are associated with,� said Hands On program director John Ficca. �The service is critical in terms of getting the disabled to and from work.�

For more information about HARTplus or other HART services call the HARTinfo Line at (813) 254-4278, TDD at (813) 626-9158, or visit gohart.org.