Jamie while you bring up some interesting points let's just take cigarettes for example.   While many may smoke you can not smoke (in Ohio) in a work environment with others and the vehicle is a work environment for a driver/staff.  I think not having food and drink in vehicles makes some sense from a safety perspective (as the bus example you listed points out)---but being a believer in the saying to each his own....then I believe agencies should feel free to take on whatever risks or lack of risks they are comfortable with (as long as they don't violate rights) and not all of us have to be the same.   Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: list-manager@opra.simplelists.com [mailto:list-manager@opra.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Jamie Steele
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2015 3:20 PM
To: opra_members@opra.simplelists.com
Subject: Re: Vehicle Safety and Individual Rights

I’m certain the intent is to not allow you or I drive one, but agreed that would be fun!

> On Jun 9, 2015, at 3:09 PM, Garry Mosier <gmosier@mrsinc.org> wrote:
>
> We taxpayers pay for the tanks they make in Lima, but that doesn't entitle me to drive one, although that would be very cool!
>
> Garry Mosier, C.E.O.
> Mercer Residential Services, Inc.
> www.mrsinc.org
> 419-586-4709
> Follow us on Facebook
>
> MRSI’s mission is to be the leader of quality and affordable housing and support services for people with intellectual or emotional disabilities in the communities of West Central Ohio.
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: list-manager@opra.simplelists.com
> [mailto:list-manager@opra.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Jamie Steele
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2015 2:42 PM
> To: opra_members@opra.simplelists.com
> Subject: Re: Vehicle Safety and Individual Rights
>
> I think Than has a point, although visualizing him eating a taco in his car on the way to work made me chuckle on a Tuesday.  He also has first hand experience regarding the elderly.
>
> Sure these vehicles are the property of the company that purchased them, but with whose money and with what intent?  Tax payers money was used to purchase the car, van and bus.  We make our living and provide a much needed services at the will of the community.   The intent to purchase the car, van, bus, is to provide a community experience for those individuals the community feels need assistance accessing.   In a way, we are paid by the community to help others access the community.  If we are just a government tax supported entity, and that s all we are, then we should follow the rules/will of the community, right?  Perhaps following our cities public transit regulations such as this:
>
> Rule #15 for Cincinnati s bus transit system, "No eating, drinking or smoking (including electric cigarettes) on Metro buses .
>
> But I think we are entrusted with the publics money and intent, to make sure we actually provide a true  homelike",  normal  ,  integrated ,  person centered  community experience for each individual.  Not for a group of individuals, but for THE individual.  If that s the case, then shouldn t we allow the individuals to choose for themselves if they want to eat a taco, smoke a cigar in a vehicle paid for by the community who entrusts to integrate individuals into the community?  Shouldn t we also request that the individual pick up after themselves or request assistance when exiting the vehicle?  To me, this is the right conversation we should be having in our industry.  Ask any state or federal politician if they think the public dollar spent on providing services to people with developmental disabilities is done so with the same intent as the public dollar spent on public transportation.  I think, most would not think so  (Ok some of our Ohio legislators would have to take some time to think about it and ask Than).
>
> I say go ahead and allow folks to eat tacos in the group home van.  So what if the inside of the van looks like everyone else s car on the street  Isn t that the point?
>
> Jamie
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 9, 2015, at 2:02 PM, Todd Frick (via opra_members list) <nobody@simplelists.com<mailto:nobody@simplelists.com>> wrote:
>
> This email was sent from yahoo.com<http://yahoo.com/> which does not allow forwarding of emails via email lists. Therefore the sender's email address (t.frick@yahoo.com<mailto:t.frick@yahoo.com>) has been replaced with a dummy one.
>
> Let us not forget that the idea is to integrate within the community.  There are rules in the community.  This is not a violation of rights, this is merely adhering to the rules of the community.  If they wish to utilize your service, they must adhere to the rules posted (such as non smoking issues, fire arms, etc).  Health and Safety trumps all else.
>
> Todd Frick
> Triad Residential Solutions
> Falcon Financial Services
> (419) 482-0711
>
> ________________________________
> From: Tara MacLean <tmacl@siffrin.org<mailto:tmacl@siffrin.org>>
> To:
> "opra_members@opra.simplelists.com<mailto:opra_members@opra.simplelist
> s.com>"
> <opra_members@opra.simplelists.com<mailto:opra_members@opra.simplelist
> s.com>>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 1:48 PM
> Subject: RE: Vehicle Safety and Individual Rights
>
> That was my concern.  I think it is easy to have this written in policy for staff but I think it crosses a line if you are telling those we serve they can t eat, drink, or smoke when most of us do in our vehicles.  I can also see how this can be a safety issue.
>
> Tara MacLean
> Director of Human Resources
>
> Siffrin
> CARF<http://www.carf.org/home/> Accredited since 1993
>
> From:
> list-manager@opra.simplelists.com<mailto:list-manager@opra.simplelists
> .com> [mailto:list-manager@opra.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Than
> Johnson
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2015 12:14 PM
> To:
> <opra_members@opra.simplelists.com<mailto:opra_members@opra.simplelist
> s.com>>
> Subject: Re: Vehicle Safety and Individual Rights
>
> Where does choice and community come into the discussion?  I eat in my vehicle, school kids can eat on buses, elderly eat in vehicles on trips, ???
> Food for thought!!!
> Than
>
>
> On Jun 9, 2015, at 12:05 PM, Kerry Sinclair <ksinclair@bridgesrehab.com<mailto:ksinclair@bridgesrehab.com>> wrote:
> Good morning,
>
> Our NMT policy also states that eating, drinking, and smoking is prohibited on our vehicles at all times for the same reasons.
>
>
>
>
> -Light the Way.  Lead the Way.  Be a Bridge.
>
> Kerry Sinclair
> Director of Transportation
> <image001.jpg>
> BRIDGES REHABILITATION SERVICES
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> Brook Park, OH 44142
> office: 216-848-1118
> fax:     216-848-1270
>
>
> EASTSIDE LOCATIONS
> 24200 Aurora Rd.
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> On Tue, Jun 9, 2015 at 11:57 AM, Jerri Elson <jlelson@prodigy.net<mailto:jlelson@prodigy.net>> wrote:
> Good Morning,
>
> We have had a policy in place for many years stating that eating and drinking in the vans is prohibited, by everyone (including staff!).  This keeps everyone safer, keeps our drivers from being distracted, and keeps our vehicles much cleaner!
>
> Jerri
>
> Jerri L. Elson, LSW/QIDP
> Executive Director
> Muskingum Residentials, Inc.
>
>
> On Tuesday, June 9, 2015 11:37 AM, Ryan Cavanaugh <rcava@siffrin.org<mailto:rcava@siffrin.org>> wrote:
>
> Good Morning Everyone,
>
> I would like to ask for some guidance regarding transporting the people we serve, and their right to consume food and drink while riding. While reviewing the Health and Welfare Alert for Choking #18-04-15, it has a bullet point about how eating in a vehicle is a risk factor based on the inability to monitor eating and can lead to a delay in care.
>
> With that in mind, how do we go about permitting [or not permitting] persons served from eating while transporting?
>
> Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter,
>
> Ryan Cavanaugh
> Regional Director
>
> Siffrin
> Empowering people with disabilities
>
> T: 330.799.8932 ext. 4
> C: 412.335.3741
> F: 330.799.8936
> www.Siffrin.org<http://www.siffrin.org/>
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> CARF<http://www.carf.org/home/> Accredited since 1993
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