A Bus Stop for Sean
Ridgefield resident Christine Santori has spent a good part of her life advocating for the special needs population. Her adult son Sean is physically disabled, walking only with the use of forearm crutches.
Despite his disability, Sean is determined to remain engaged in the community and regularly attends Ability Beyond, a Bethel-based nonprofit that job training, day programs and group homes for adults with disabilities.
While getting Sean to the programs has been difficult and costly, Christine is thankful to Robert Yastrzemski of Hart Transit who has made it possible for Sean to travel home from Ability to Ridgefield independently.
Here's where things get a bit complicated. Up until yesterday, Yastrzemsk’s Hart bus has stopped in front of the Gulf Station at 115 Danbury Road, a location selected for its central location and outdoor lighting. This can no longer serve as the Hart bus stop.
“Since October, we were met with hostility from the staff and manager repeatedly,” says Christine, who is now in search of Ridgefield another location where it is safe and convenient for Yastrzemski to drop Sean off in the late afternoon.