The New Britain Senior Center, along with the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, was awarded $63,000 to expand the existing transportation program.

The commission discussed possible changes to the existing service at the Commission on Persons with Disabilities meeting Tuesday. The expanded services include hiring another driver to handle the additional 20 hours each week, which will include extended evenings and weekend times.

Chris Montes, director of community services, is excited about the ability to provide more services to those who need them.

"It’s exciting to provide rides for people. This is extremely important for the community and for people with disabilities because for some of them they will now have access to church on Sundays, or be able to go to the mall," Montes said.

"It will provide more mobility and accessibility to stores and shopping and to things that those people who do not have disabilities have access to now."

According to Montes, the Handi-Van program has been an asset to the community for the last 15 years, and he credits Mike Karawan, director of the New Britain Senior Center, for helping to get the application for the state Department of Transportation grant.

Jay Sullivan, disabilities service specialist, uses the service in bad weather and believes the services are invaluable.

"This service works when public transit ..is not available," Sullivan said. "If people can’t get to places, this gives them door to door services.

"Hopefully this will allow more people to have improved access to their community. According to the 2000 Census, there are 16,000 people in New Britain with various disabilities living quality lives."

Commission members also discussed plans for their annual ADA celebration each July at Walnut Hill Park and celebrates the legislation that protects people with disabilities.

In addition to providing transportation services, the commission provides services in case management, client advocacy, handicap compliance assistance, curb ramp funding and site recommendation for construction, community inclusion advocacy, and ADA assistance and compliance.

Franchone Fraser-Ben Reuben Bey can be reached at ffraser@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 221.