October 18, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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This week, The Patty Wagon owner
appointment in Shelton. "This is an
Patty Perry used her wheelchair-accessible vehicle to transport
invaluable service," Hughes said.
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
Union resident Everett Hughes to his doctor's
Local woman lends
name, expertise to
transport business
By GORDON WEEKS
g~rdon@ma,voncc~y,eom
Patty Perry spent 20 years driving and directing
disabled and ambulatory persons to their destina-
tions for agencies, so when she decided to start her
own business, she combined her passions, exper-
tise and name.
The Shelton native this summer launched The
Patty Wagon, a family-rtm venture that transports
passengers with disabilities and ambulatory needs
to stores, the airport, social gatherings, medical
appointments and other locations. Transportation
in the wheelchair-accessible vehicle is available
around the clock by calling 427-0202.
Joining Perry in transporting passengers are
her children, Tracy, Jeff and Lisa.
"This was always my dream," Perry said.
Perry worked for People Mover in Anchorage,
Alaska, educating disabled and ambulatory indi-
viduals on how to take advantages of buses. She
was a driver for Mason Transit for 10 years and
served as a mobility coordinator/travel trainer,
finding holes in services offered for disabled cus-
tomers. She's also worked with senior agencies to
group patients together to go to medical appoint-
ments.
While working for Mason Transit, Perry drove
an elderly, visually-impaired woman who wanted
to hear descriptions of the passing scenery in her
native Shelton.
"I told her what was there now," she said. "It
meant so much to her. It's those little things that
make you feel so good."
Another regular customer was an elderly wom-
an confined most of the time inside a Lilliwaup re-
tirement home, who wanted to see the trees.
At a transportation conference back east, Perry
spotted a vehicle with an Americans with Disabili-
ties Act-approved wheelchair ramp and purchased
it.
"My dad rode in it, and he absolutely loved it,"
she said.
Perry's father passed away this spring, and she
attained her business license in July.
"My kids said, 'Mom, you've been talking about
this for years,'" she said.
The name of the business was born from the re-
action of friends when they heard about the ven-
ture: "Oh, you're going to have the Patty wagon."
Perry's first customers were a couple who
crashed their motorcycle celebrating their 50th
wedding anniversary, and needed wheelchair-
accessible transportation from Mason General
Hospital to the airport. A visually-impaired couple
with service animals are regular customers.
'~We go door to door, work one-on-one with their
needs ... I will go in and help them shop," Perry
said.
On Tuesday, Perry was transporting Union resi-
dent Everett Hughes from his home to his Shelton
doctor's appointment and then back home. Hughes
is wheelchair-bound after he fell and broke his
kneecap.
Hughes i~eard about The Patty Wagon from Ma-
son Transit after Dial-A-Ride couldn't accommo-
date him for an afternoon appointment.
"She's there when you call her," he said. "You
don't have to work with another organization's
schedule .;. I can get her when I need her, not
when her schedule works."
All the drivers are trained and fully certified.
The rates for a trip of seven miles or less is $3.50
per mile, for more than seven miles is $2.50 per
mile. The waiting time charge is $10 for every 15
minutes. There are no charges for baggage or ad-
ditional passengers, and no changes in rates for
sercice between midnight and 6 a.m.
Perry said she seeks ways for passengers to fi-
nance their trips through their insurance compa-
hies or other agencies.
"At the end of the day, I feel very fulfilled," she
said. "It's helping people."
Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012
- Page B-3