It can be hard to believe that it has been a year since I have been utilizing the county-based shared ride system. It is also hard to believe how well I have adapted to using it after many years of misconception and disbelief that it could not work for me. It has allowed me to foster more independence in my life, which had little limit and open doors that were once not able to be reached.

Since living independently, I have been registered with the shared ride system. I even tried to use it once, but my anxiety got in the way. During the COVID outbreak there was some major reorganization in the system and things got better. Little did I know that it would eventually become necessary for me to start utilizing the shared-ride system on a regular basis last year as day services transitioned from utilizing their vans to the shared-ride system.

When I first heard of this happening, I was very argumentative with the day services staff about the transition, that “people have anxiety” and that “this isn’t going to work.” At that moment, it seemed like a pipe dream, when it was a process that was starting for some members that they previously could not get. My employer had been doing it for several years, yet I was clinging on to the old, outdated ways for an exceptionally long time because I was unwilling to give things a chance.

Eventually, I had realized that to give it a chance, and eventually I realized it was a big game changer in me being able to foster more independence in my life. As my father had his injury several months ago, I have had to utilize the medical portion a few times due to things not working out for my family. I have understood the necessity of scheduling my appointments within the threshold of transportation so that I can be transported to my appointments, if necessary, when family cannot do so.

 It has been a big game changer that has taught me the responsibility that I need to have by fostering independence by ensuring that trips are scheduled, and the necessary fare is hard for each trip. It is something that some time ago seemed impossible to me, but now it is something that is sort of second nature and a part of life. There are some downsides, but those times when I am on the bus for a long time have allowed me to have time to reflect, learn or decompress from the moments where it may have been challenging for me.

In the end, anything that may seem hard or challenging can be easy if you allow it to be a part of your life by educating yourself early on and being a part of your life slowly. You will never know if something will work out for you or not unless you try and see if it will or not. This is one of the things that I am glad I had given the chance to see if I could do it or not because it has been more beneficial than not in my life along with being a big part of fostering independence in my life.