Mentally disabled man anxious about Presto after transit card problems nearly left him stranded

The family of a Toronto man with a developmental disability says he's now anxious aboutusinghis Prestocard after an incident where he says he was kicked off a bus because his card didn't work even though there was money on it.

"I was upset about it," Grant Koturbash told CBC Toronto.

His sister, Shelley Koturbash, says he's now constantly nervous about using his card, and calls her repeatedly.

"He has anxiety. Now he's worried about every time he gets on the bus. Even today before we sat down [for this interview], the first thing out of his mouth was, 'Can you put 10 more dollars on my Prestocard because I may be out,"'she said.

The TTC said there are instances where Prestopasses with money on them are tapped and declined. It says it's working with Prestoand the gate manufacturers to address the issue.

For most transit passengers the glitches in transitioning to Prestoare frustrating but for people with developmental disabilities, they represent a challenge to their independence, according to some advocates

"[With Metropasses] it's sort of a one and done: you go and you pay your monthly fee you know if it's December and you've paid your fee you're on the bus," said Brad Saunders, CEO of Community Living Toronto, an organization that offers support for those living with an intellectual disability and works to help them live meaningful lives.

"Prestois more complicated and that sense of not knowing for sure creates anxiety which is never a good thing."

In the new year, Metropasses will be phased out entirely and replaced with Prestocards that have a monthly pass on them. Community Living Toronto is now working with the TTC and other groups on a training program specifically for those with developmental disabilities on how to use the new cards and the system in general.

Card issue

In November, Grant Koturbash saidhe was heading home from a coffee shop near Eglinton West and Islington.

"I tapped my Prestocard and [the driver] said I have no money on my Prestocard," said Koturbash.

He saidthe driver told him to get off the bus and to put money on his Prestocard. He said he told the driver he was special needs but he saidthere was no response.

With no cash on him and no ability to load his card, Koturbash said he approached a woman.

"I said, 'Can you please help me, I have no money, I tapped my Prestocard, no money in my walletand stuff,"' said Koturbash.

The woman agreed to pay his fare and when he arrived home he called his sister.

"I was shocked," said Shelley Koturbash, who saidshe had just loaded up his card two days prior.

She describes her brother as a mild-mannered and non-aggressive person. She said he's high functioning in some ways he is able to wash his dishes, pick up bottles for recycling and other tasks but loading a Prestocard is too complicated; he relies on a social worker or his family to help him.

She said the incident has left her brother shaken.

"Grant gets very anxious. He keeps asking me, 'How much money is on my Prestocard,' and, 'Am I going to be okay? What's going to happen?"'

Prestoand technology

Community Living Toronto said it often hears of stories about people with developmental disabilities encountering problems with Presto.

"Prestohas just added another layer of complication that they need to understand and figure out, and there hasn't been a lot of communication that's accessible to people we support," said Saunders who said he's heard of TTC enforcement officers ticketing people with mental disabilities in the confusion.

"The challenge with the situations I've heard of is it's just so definitive,you tap your Prestoand if that "x" comes out on the gate, you're not getting in. If there's no one to talk to, to ask about it,you're stuck."

Discover my route

The TTC maintains it's not its policy to kick anyone let alone someone with a developmental disability off a bus because their card doesn't tap properly.

"We would never want our operators to ask someone to leave the vehicle," said Heather Brown, acting manager, customer communications.

Brown said there are glitches with some gates that don't let a passenger go through, even if there's money on their card.

"There is continuous improvement in the availability of our fare gates. But there are circumstances where sometimes this is happening. We are working with Presto and our fare gate manufacturers to make sure this issue is being rectified."

One of the challenges for people with an intellectual disability, advocates say, is not knowing what the balance is on your card when you tap it, but the TTC said that might change in the future.

"We are exploring the option of possibly including the balance on the screen," said Brown.

In the meantime, the TTC has also partnered with Community Living and other groups to offer a training program called "Discover my Route" for those with developmental disabilities transitioning to Presto.

"It really works with the individuals to make sure they do understand the change, they understand the differences and more importantly they know how to problem solve and how to ask for help," said Angela Bradley, director of resource development andmarketing with Community Living.

The pilot program launched around the time the transition to Prestobegan includes in-class instruction to teach people how to use transit and what to do in case of an emergency or when their card doesn't work.

"It's like anything,it's new, it's changed and it needs training."