IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact:  Jean Leier (704) 432-0496

GUIDE DOGS LEARN TO HELP OTHERS RIDE THE BUS

Charlotte, N.C., April 18, 2007 - For many in the Charlotte area, awaking each morning and get ready for work isn’t the easy task many of us take for granted.  For hundreds of residents, daily activity depends on successful partnerships between private and public businesses.  Join the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and the Southeastern Guide Dog School on Saturday, April 21, at 10:00 a.m. as they team together in an effort to help blind or visually impaired residents maintain their independence.  The two groups will work together to help familiarize 15 future guide dogs with the Charlotte Area Transit System’s (CATS) Special Transportation Services (STS) buses.  The training will take place at STS, which is located at 545 Spratt Street in North Charlotte.
 
Guide dogs need to feel comfortable on different vehicles and know where to be inside the bus.  As part of the training, CATS’ Special Transportation buses will take the dogs and handlers on a trip around the city to learn how to work with the disabled. 

STS provides door-to-door transportation for individuals who are certified according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ride within Charlotte's City limits.

STS carries over 850 riders a day and provided 224,131 rides in FY2006.
 
For more information about CATS and its services, call 704-336-RIDE or visit us on the web at www.ridetransit.org.