Metro and the Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee have awarded the 2008 Richard D. Heddinger Accessible Transportation Award to Denise Thomas of Rockville, MD. The annual award honors a person or organization whose efforts have resulted in significant improvements to accessible public transportation services for people with disabilities. 

Thomas is the director of Project Ride, a program funded in part by the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and administered by SEEC, a Montgomery County non-profit organization whose mission is to enable people with cognitive disabilities to live and work as contributing members of the community.

Project Ride focuses on giving people with cognitive disabilities the tools to use public transportation because they often require more intensive training than people with physical disabilities.

Thomas worked with Metro and other area transit providers, human services agencies, educators and individuals with cognitive disabilities to develop and implement the program, now in its third year. Project Ride provides sensitivity and customer service training for transit providers, training workshops for professionals who support riders and individualized training for people with cognitive disabilities.

"Helping people with various kinds of developmental disabilities learn to travel independently on bus or rail throughout the region is a major accomplishment," said Christian T. Kent, Metro's Assistant General Manager of Access Services. "We are honored to present this award to Ms. Thomas and thank her for her commitment to making public transportation accessible to everyone."

The award honors former Elderly and Disabled Transportation Advisory Committee Chair Richard D. Heddinger for his lifelong commitment to accessible public transportation and his tireless devotion to providing access for all citizens of the Washington metropolitan area.

Thomas will receive her award during an award reception on Monday, September 8, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Metro Headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW.

Invitation to the Richard D. Heddinger Accessible Transportation Award Reception (PDF)*

Invitation to the Richard D. Heddinger Accessible Transportation Award Reception (Word)

If you are planning to attend the Richard D. Heddinger Accessible Transportation Award Reception, please RSVP to Rikki S. Epstein, ADA Operations Manager, at (202) 962-1125 or repstein@wmata.com