Svetlana Kouznetsova (Accessibility Consultant) (@svknyc.bsky.social)

#business #accessibility #communication #travel | Svetlana Kouznetsova This morning, I took the Metro-North Railroad train to White Plains for an event — and the ride back reminded me how far accessibility still has to go. As I boarded, I showed my ticket to the conductor. He shook his head and said something I couldn’t understand. I explained that I’m deaf, and he told me I had gotten on the wrong train — an express that skips my stop. I panicked for a moment, imagining getting off in the city and spending another hour or two to get home. Then the conductor motioned me to wait, made a quick call, and soon came back saying I could get off at my stop. I thanked him profusely — he smiled and nodded. This isn’t a new issue. Twenty years ago, commuting to graduate school in White Plains, I faced the same problem and ended up asking a family member to pick me up after class to avoid the risk. Two decades later, nothing has changed: there are no visual indicators at the station showing whether a train is local or express. Timetables list stops, times, and gate numbers (that are sometimes even wrong!), but the announcements are aural only — completely inaccessible to someone who is deaf. Bless the conductor — he was wonderful — but Metro-North as a system needs to do better to make commuting accessible for deaf travelers, so they don’t have to worry about boarding the wrong train or missing critical announcements. This September, Deaf Awareness Month, is a good reminder: accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about making daily life possible for everyone. If anyone at Metro-North would like to discuss these accessibility issues with me further, I would be happy to connect. #business #accessibility #communication #travel (2025-09-10) Justin R. Vonashek Chad Scholes Metropolitan Transportation Authority https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7371582371801796608-F48X