Meet Frances 

Community activist Frances Emily Dawson Harris is a longtime LBT customer and has dedicated her time to help raise awareness and cultivate positive change for people with disabilities. After receiving a prognosis early in life that hindered her ability to walk, Frances was determined to live beyond her diagnosis. She has accomplished what most doctors said would never be possible – working, maintaining a social life and becoming a beacon to her community.

Since the adoption of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – which just celebrated its 30th anniversary – Francis has witnessed first-hand the progress made in accessibility and inclusion for customers with disabilities. While she often utilizes LBT’s Dial-A-Lift service, she can also utilize LBT’s buses as the entire fleet is ADA compliant. This allows Frances the freedom to ride at her leisure.

“I am so grateful for all the work being done by (Long Beach) Transit and the ADA to advocate for the disabled community. It’s given me the opportunity to live an independent life and take care of my health needs with less challenges,” said Dawson.

Using LBT not only enables her to maintain a rich social life, but also tend to her health care needs. With frequent visits to doctors, Frances relies on transit to get her to appointments. Though she has been faced with many challenges over the years, Frances’ resilience and zest for life are an inspiration to all who meet her. LBT is proud to be a part of Frances’ daily journey.

LBT’s Dial-A-Lift is a curb-to-curb shared-ride transportation service exclusively for persons who have severe mobility impairments and are unable to use the fixed-route bus system. Dial-A-Lift drivers operate ADA-compliant vehicles and are specially trained in the needs of persons with disabilities. For more information on Dial-A-Lift services and information on how to apply, click here.