MATA, Groove and Memphis

Our Expectations of the Memphis Area Transit Authority

By Allison Donald

As taxpayers and registered voters, we expect our elected officials to use our tax dollars to provide quality public services that meet the needs of the people they serve.

MATA's limited fleet consists of older, high-mileage buses that frequently break down or fail to show up on scheduled routes. Many riders experience wait times of up to two hours when transferring between buses, and some are left stranded. During days when temperatures exceed 90 degrees, passengers are exposed to extreme heat. Riders have become sick, fainted, suffered heat stroke, experienced seizures, and other medical emergencies while waiting for transportation.

These conditions make it difficult to get to work, school, daycare, medical appointments, grocery stores, shopping, church services, pay bills, and other essential destinations.

Groove On-Demand

Riders may spend up to an hour trying to book a ride through the Groove On-Demand service. Even after a ride has been confirmed, they may wait another 30 minutes to an hour for pickup, or the trip may be rescheduled or canceled.

I have personally waited more than an hour for a Groove On-Demand ride after it had already been confirmed. Once picked up, riders often spend additional time while the driver picks up and drops off other passengers before reaching their destination. Because there are so few drivers and vans available, even trips with only three or four passengers can take up to two hours from pickup to destination.

Insufficient public transportation places citizens at risk. It contributes to health-related emergencies, prevents people from getting to medical appointments, causes workers to lose jobs or turn down employment opportunities, and forces some employees to shorten their work shifts because they cannot depend on reliable transportation.

Currently, neither the fixed-route bus system nor the Groove On-Demand service can be relied upon to consistently meet the transportation needs of Memphis residents.

Our expectation is simple: the citizens of Memphis deserve safe, adequate, reliable public transportation.

MATAplus and the future of Public Transit in Memphis

By Allison Donald

For years, the disability community has fought to ensure that MATAplus remains a priority in conversations about public transportation. We have shown up, spoken up, and pushed for improvements because we understand that for thousands of Memphians with disabilities, MATAplus is not a convenience—it is a lifeline to employment, healthcare, education, community involvement, and independent living. The quality, reliability, and future of this service help determine whether people with disabilities can fully participate in the life of our city. Too often, advocacy has focused not on building a stronger system, but on keeping an essential one from slipping beneath the surface. That is why continued engagement matters.

For years, MATAplus has been living on just enough to stay above water. Riders knew it. Drivers
knew it. Advocates knew it. There has always been an understanding within the disability
community that the system was operating from a place of survival rather than growth. Much of
the advocacy surrounding MATAplus has not been about innovation or expansion, but about
preservation—making sure a service that thousands of people depend on would still be there
when they needed it.

That reality affects not only current riders but also people who hope to use the service in the
Future.

Recently, I spoke with Jacoby Yarboro, who hopes to be able to use MATAplus. His perspective
reflects something often missing in transit conversations: transportation is not just about
mobility, it is about opportunity. For Jacoby, like many people with disabilities, major life
decisions are shaped by a simple question: how will I get there? A job opportunity loses its
meaning if transportation is unreliable. Healthcare becomes harder to maintain when access is
uncertain. Community participation becomes limited when every outing depends on someone
else’s schedule or availability.

Jacoby’s story is not unusual. It reflects the experience of many people with disabilities in
Memphis who must plan their lives around transportation rather than having transportation
support their lives.

Despite those challenges, people continue to rely on MATAplus because there is no alternative
that provides the same level of access. That is what makes recent developments so important.
In a recent meeting with Trustee Rodrick Holmes and City Council Transportation Committee
Chair Edmund Ford Sr., Trustee Holmes stated that he believes the system has stabilized after
years of uncertainty. If that assessment proves accurate, it marks an important turning point.
For riders, stability is not simply about budgets or operations. It is about trust—confidence that
transportation will be available when it is needed.

Recent improvements suggest real progress in that direction. New bus shelters are being
installed, new bus stop signage is planned, and riders can now schedule MATAplus trips
through the MATAgo901 app—something advocates have sought for years. For riders who have
long depended on phone calls and rigid scheduling processes, this shift represents more than
convenience. It means greater independence, flexibility, and control over daily life.

These improvements deserve recognition. They are meaningful, and they reflect years of
persistence and advocacy from riders and community supporters.

These changes are also evidence that advocacy works. They are not accidental—they reflect
sustained engagement from riders and advocates, and they demonstrate that continued
participation can lead to real, visible change.

But progress should raise expectations, not lower them.

Success should not be measured by survival alone.

If MATA has moved beyond survival mode, then the conversation must also move forward. The
focus can no longer be solely on keeping the system operating. It must also be on ensuring that
riders have a meaningful voice in the future.

One of the most significant unresolved issues is the absence of the Specialized Transportation
Advisory Committee. For years, the committee provided MATAplus riders and advocates with a
formal avenue to share concerns, identify barriers, and offer solutions. Without it, riders lose an
important mechanism for influencing decisions that directly affect their daily lives.

That absence matters because the people who use MATAplus every day understand the system
in ways that no report or consultant ever can. They know where barriers exist, where
improvements are needed, and they deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made.
The progress we are seeing today did not happen by accident. It happened because riders,
advocates, and community supporters remained engaged even when progress felt slow or
uncertain. Change happened because people continued to show up, speak up, and insist that
accessible transportation remains a priority.

Now, at a moment when transit leadership is expressing confidence in the system’s future, the
disability community cannot afford to step back. This is precisely when engagement matters
most. The future of MATAplus is being shaped right now, and the decisions being made today
will influence accessibility, independence, and opportunity for years to come.

For people like Jacoby Yarboro and thousands of other Memphians with disabilities, those
decisions are not abstract. They determine whether opportunity is within reach, whether
independence is supported, and whether Memphis becomes a city where people with
disabilities can fully participate in community life.

That is why I encourage riders, advocates, and supporters to attend the Memphis City Council
meeting on June 22 at 4:00 p.m. Show up, ask questions, share your experiences, and be part
of the conversation.

Follow the DCM blog for the latest updates and upcoming advocacy efforts. Join us and become
a member of the Better Transit for a Better Memphis Transit Equity Task Force. Together, we
can continue pushing for a more accessible and equitable transit system.

These are not separate efforts, but connected pathways for staying informed and staying
involved—whether through following updates on the DCM blog or actively participating in the
Better Transit for a Better Memphis Transit Equity Task Force, each offers a way for the
community to remain engaged in shaping what comes next.

For years, the disability community has worked to keep MATAplus above water. Now there is an
opportunity to help decide where it goes next.

The question is no longer whether MATAplus can survive. The question is whether we will help shape what comes after survival.

DCM Staff Update

Disability Connection Midsouth Welcomes Two New Independent Living Specialists

Disability Connection Midsouth welcomes Jacoby Yarbro and Karie Doss-Bond as Independent Living Specialists.

Both specialists bring a combination of personal advocacy and professional development expertise to the organization, where they will focus on connecting community members with resources to foster independence.

Advocacy Backgrounds and Expertise

Jacoby, a Knoxville native who later relocated to Memphis, joins the team with a professional background spanning communications, leadership, community engagement, and disability advocacy.

As an individual who is totally blind, Jacoby noted that his career path is driven by an understanding of the barriers faced by people with disabilities in securing employment and achieving full community participation.

“I believe that every person deserves the opportunity to live the life they choose,” Jacoby said. “I am passionate about helping individuals identify their strengths, overcome barriers, and build confidence in their abilities.”

“Whether assisting someone in accessing community resources, developing independent living skills, or exploring new opportunities, I am committed to providing support that empowers individuals to thrive,” Jacoby added.

Karie joined the DCM staff bringing a history of civic service from central Arkansas, where she volunteered with housing security non-profit Our House and the Arkansas Food Bank.

In addition to her civic advocacy, Karie spent a substantial portion of her career in the automotive industry specializing in corporate finance, accounting, and adult education. Her work as an educator primarily focused on training professional leadership cohorts and developing emotional intelligence curricula.

“I am excited to bring these worlds together,” Karie stated. “My background in finance will help our community members build practical budgets, prioritize their financial needs, and gain independence. I look forward to working alongside everyone and helping individuals reach their personal independent living goals.”

Advancing Accessibility in Mid-South

“I am honored to be part of the DCM team and look forward to working alongside clients, community partners, and fellow staff members as we continue building a more inclusive and accessible community for all,” Jacoby said. “I look forward to creating opportunities and breaking barriers.”

Beyond the Office

Outside of their professional roles, both specialists are active community members. Jacoby is an avid patron of local Memphis restaurants and spends time with his Boston Terrier, Jasper. Karie lives with her wife, and their two dogs, Henry and Maddie. They enjoy spending time with their extended family, gardening and travel.

Carrying Latonya Reeves’ Legacy from Memphis to Washington DC

We Who Believe in Freedom: Carrying Latonya Reeves’ Legacy from Memphis to Washington

By Allison Donald

There are some trips you plan, and then there are trips that stay with you.

My journey to Washington, D.C. was about one thing: celebrating the reintroduction of the Latonya Reeves Freedom Act. But it quickly became something more. It became about memory, responsibility, and the kind of freedom that too many people are still denied. I traveled with a crew of nine, united by a shared purpose—to make sure Latonya Reeves’ name, and what it stands for, continues to move through the halls of power. Latonya was from Memphis, just like me, and that connection made this work personal.

This trip was about one simple idea: the right for people with disabilities to live in their own homes, not expensive institutions.

As I sat in a sixth-floor apartment, going through names and office numbers of members of Congress, the work became real. The LaTonya Reeves Freedom Act wasn’t abstract anymore. It was focused. Intentional. The team loaded up a blue wagon with six birthday cakes, each one printed with Latonya’s image. The plan was to deliver them with a message—celebrate this legislation. Celebrate the civil rights of people with disabilities.

The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act is about ensuring that people with disabilities have the right to live in their own homes instead of being forced into expensive nursing homes or unsafe institutions because services are not available in the community. In Tennessee, that gap is still real. People are placed on long waitlists, systems default to institutional care, and families are often left without meaningful options for support.

This bill is about changing that structure. It would interrupt the institutional placement pipeline and hold accountable those responsible for ensuring people receive the home- and community-based services they need to live in the most integrated setting possible. It is about shifting responsibility from managing institutional placements to guaranteeing cost effective community living as a civil right. That is how we begin to make real the promise of Olmstead v. L.C..

The team and I didn’t come quietly. We came prepared, organized, and clear in our message. One of the first stops was the office of Steve Cohen, who is expected to reintroduce the bill. We dropped off one of the cakes as both a thank you and a push forward. 

Gavin and Monique, both first-time team members from Colorado, experienced community interaction firsthand. There was something powerful about watching Gavin step into offices with his chest out, speaking directly about his experience and the need for this legislation. He didn’t shrink in those rooms—he expanded into them. It wasn’t polished, but it was real, and his voice mattered.

At the same time, across the Capitol, long-time advocate Dawn Russell—a seasoned member of ADAPT—was working rooms with precision, pressing staff and pushing for LaTonya's memory from members including Derrick Van Orden. That conversation happened during the second day on Capitol Hill, while moving through the halls. It was tense and at times contentious, with voices raised. 

Monique, also new to this work, described feeling empowered simply by being in those spaces—by realizing that our government is not reserved for insiders. It belongs to anyone willing to show up and speak. That realization was visible in real time. It wasn’t theoretical. It was happening in hallway conversations, in staff meetings, in moments between doors opening and closing.

Every step of the way, I carried Memphis with me. I thought about the people still navigating systems that don’t fully support independence. I thought about families forced into impossible decisions. LaTonya should not have had to leave Tennessee to live freely. No one should. That is why LRFA matters. 

Moving through congressional offices as a group of nine, we were intentional. Each meeting carried the same message: this legislation is necessary, and it cannot wait. The civil rights of people with disabilities depend on it. We were not just representing ourselves—we were carrying the weight of communities still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled.

Noting where members come from matters. Bennie Thompson. Maxine Waters. Derrick Van Orden. Mississippi, California, and Wisconsin respectively. Across party lines and geography, this issue does not belong to one region or one ideology. Passing the LaTonya Reeves Freedom Act will require bipartisan engagement. Disability rights are not local—they are national.

We ended our trip at a fish fry hosted by Bennie Thompson. After days of advocating, we finally took a moment to breathe. We ate, listened to a blues band, and stepped into a space where the intensity of Capitol Hill gave way to community and connection. At one point, Maxine Waters was on the dance floor doing the electric slide—a reminder that even in the middle of serious  work, joy is part of what sustains us.

LaTonya Reeves’ legacy continues through every person who shows up to push this forward. It continues in every meeting, every conversation, and every act of persistence that refuses to let this issue disappear. Her name is now attached to legislation, but more importantly, it is attached to a movement that refuses to accept delay as permanent.

Freedom is not a policy idea—it is the right to live at home, and we will not stop until that right is real.

We who believe in freedom shall not rest until it comes.