Miss-Delectable
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COSMIX crews have formed a unique relationship with a disabled man. Workers helped the man get around during construction, but both have benefited from knowing the other.
Rudy Sanchez is deaf and blind. He uses a guide dog to get around and communicates through an interpreter.
"I moved over here on this side in 1971 in this area," said through his interpreter, Pam
Sanchez lives west side near the bijou bridge. He often walks to restaurants and shops in the area, hoping to stay out of harms way.
"I would ask people to help me to get across," he said. Over time, COSMIX crews working on the bridge noticed Rudy. With construction near Bijou and Spruce about to interfere with his every day path, they wanted him to know about upcoming changes. His bus stop was about to move, traffic lights would be taken down and the curb would be torn up.
One day, crews went up to Rudy while he was waiting for the bus. "About a week before we were getting ready to move it, we approached him and talked to him about the new location and couldn't communicate with him," said Bill Badger, former COSMIX spokesperson.
They then spoke to the deaf and blind school and found an interpreter to help Rudy explain how they could help.
"We had a flagger out here as well, and put up several special pathways to get around and talked to a lot of businesses to help us help him get through the construction zone," said Badger.
COSMIX crews say it's rare they alter their plans to meet someone's special needs. In Rudy's case, they were happy to help. Rudy appreciated the extra attention -- and likes all of changes they made to his neighborhood, like a vibrating traffic signal and bumps on the ramp.
They help me a lot," he said. "They are the best. Without them it would be very dangerous and I could get hit by a car," he said.
COSMIX crews have formed a unique relationship with a disabled man. Workers helped the man get around during construction, but both have benefited from knowing the other.
Rudy Sanchez is deaf and blind. He uses a guide dog to get around and communicates through an interpreter.
"I moved over here on this side in 1971 in this area," said through his interpreter, Pam
Sanchez lives west side near the bijou bridge. He often walks to restaurants and shops in the area, hoping to stay out of harms way.
"I would ask people to help me to get across," he said. Over time, COSMIX crews working on the bridge noticed Rudy. With construction near Bijou and Spruce about to interfere with his every day path, they wanted him to know about upcoming changes. His bus stop was about to move, traffic lights would be taken down and the curb would be torn up.
One day, crews went up to Rudy while he was waiting for the bus. "About a week before we were getting ready to move it, we approached him and talked to him about the new location and couldn't communicate with him," said Bill Badger, former COSMIX spokesperson.
They then spoke to the deaf and blind school and found an interpreter to help Rudy explain how they could help.
"We had a flagger out here as well, and put up several special pathways to get around and talked to a lot of businesses to help us help him get through the construction zone," said Badger.
COSMIX crews say it's rare they alter their plans to meet someone's special needs. In Rudy's case, they were happy to help. Rudy appreciated the extra attention -- and likes all of changes they made to his neighborhood, like a vibrating traffic signal and bumps on the ramp.
They help me a lot," he said. "They are the best. Without them it would be very dangerous and I could get hit by a car," he said.