Maine Adaptive

I am disabled, on disability and no transportation. I contacted Maine Adaptive last year March [2018] and arranged to get a XC lesson & rides to the Bethel Inn near Sunday River Ski Resort. They have a bus that goes to Sunday River once a week during winter & the Bethel Inn trails are nearby. I was told they still had seats and there would be no problem. I would shuttle from the mt. to the Bethel Inn using the free shuttle service at the mt. It was all arranged and I did it with the XC Ski Program Director.

I was scheduled for a lesson March 23. I was asked to provide 2 forms, an Application and a Physician's Statement, but no Lesson Request Form, which I found out later is policy & required to get a lesson and secure a seat on the bus.

When it came time to go [March 23] I was told the bus was full and I couldn't go! March 30 I couldn't either, not enough snow. I got no explanation about why I lost my seat [March 23] and it was all a huge disappointment since the season was over.

This season 2018 / 2019, I contacted their office early, in November 2018. I spoke with one of the Program Directors. I asked about getting XC lessons & rides this year. I was told the bus was going on a different day than they give lessons and I couldn't go. But she suggested finding a volunteer to drive me, someone who would go up when they give a lesson too. Maine Adaptive volunteers give XC ski lessons once a week at the Bethel Inn, the same day every week. I think the idea was I could get my lesson and ride from this same person, even though that was not clearly explained - like so many things. She wanted me to update my Application but no mention of any Lesson Request Form even though I think it was required. It's policy. But again at this point, I didn't know that since no one had ever explained it to me.

The holidays happened and then the Govt. Shutdown which cut off most of my govt. funding. It has not been restored and I am still at risk of losing my home. I wanted a break from all the stress and contacted Maine Adaptive to see about getting a lesson & skiing at the Bethel Inn. I asked if I could get a lesson by phone and take the bus to Sunday River, practice at the Bethel Inn. I had gotten advice by phone once before and it worked. To my surprise, I was told the bus was fully booked for the entire season and I never submitted a "Lesson Request Form!"

This is when I learned about the "Lesson Request Form."

To book a lesson & secure a bus seat you must submit a "Lesson Request Form," otherwise there is no guarantee.

So 2 years in a row I am denied access to the program because of this "Lesson Request Form" nobody told me about. I spoke to the XC Ski Program Director about it but got no apology for anything.

I told the Director of Staff Operations and although she apologized and said she would talk to staff, she could not explain anything about what happened . She didn't even address what happened last year at all, and last communication was so cryptic I couldn't follow her train of thought, except that there had suddenly been a cancellation so a ride had miraculously become available! She also thought this was all a big misunderstanding because of a conversation I had with the XC Director I'm certain I never did have!

I have been kept out of this program for 2 winter seasons, technically 2 of their operating years and because of what appears to be a series of mishaps caused by staff. I have yet to receive anything explaining rules and policy and I'm still not 100% sure of what they are [I wonder if they do!]........ This program is awful.