Earth School Students Speak Up for Transit Rights

Some of our courageous 4th and 5th graders stood up for transit accessibility and the rights of those with disabilities at the Board Meeting of the MTA! Check out their coverage in The New York Daily News: "MTA needs to lift subway elevator reliability efforts, say NYC disabled advocates," (March 30, 2023):

"A group of fourth- and fifth-graders from The Earth School in the East Village addressed the MTA board about the issue at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

'My grandma and grandpa are old. They can’t really walk up a lot of stairs. If they take the train to my house, they can’t get up the stairs and there are no elevators. Please put more elevators,' a young girl named Rosa Gutfordson said.

'If you couldn’t use the stairs, how would you feel?' asked a young boy named Hugo.

'Taking the train costs money. Why are people paying to take the subway if it can’t even help you when you can’t use the stairs? Can you please provide elevators?' he asked to applause.

'We also want to know, how come you put those trains that play commercials, but you can’t have a functional elevator?' asked a boy named Eli, referencing the video screens installed on many trains."

To see them in action, watch the video from March 29, 2023: