By SUSAN B. TAUBER
Staff Writer
stauber@oe.homecomm.net

There's a right way and a wrong way to transport people with disabilities, and Randy Boughner of Clarkston believes he has the right way.

He calls it Rite-Way Transportation. It's a new business he started In February to provide transportation for people with disabilities and for seniors. His business partner is Dr. Marvin Wells of Waterford.

Boughner has two Ford vans to get people with special needs where they need to go. Myron Freiburger, from Clarkston, is the other transportation driver. The business is licensed through the Department of Transportation. Both Boughner and Freiburger have
chauffeur's licenses and are trained in CPR and First Aid.

The vans are ready to handle passengers with just about any type of disability. Boughner is proud to show this off.

"The vans are fully handicap accessible," he said, showing off how the wheelchair lift works. The vans have seat belts that include both the wheelchair and the passenger in it.

The vans also carry first aid kits and fire extinguishers, compact discs with a variety of music to suit each passenger's taste, a step stool to help people get into the van and the "piece de resistance" a soft, shell patterned blanket handmade by Boughner's 93-plus-year-old grandmother, Vera Job, who lives in Yale, Mi.

The customers love the blankets according to Boughner, who is very proud of his grandmother. "She insisted on crocheting a blanket for each van. They are really remarkable, considering she is blind."

Rite-Way Transportation serves customers in Oakland County from
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend service is available by appointment.

To get information on transportation costs and to schedule a ride, Boughner said people can reach him at (248) 394-4444.

Cheryl Patrick of Waterford talks about Rite-Way to anyone she thinks can use the tansportation service.

She's hired the business to drive her son, Robert (Robby), 35, to and from his job at New Horizons in Springfield Township. Robby has cerebral palsy and scoliosis. He walks with crutches at home but uses a wheelchair when he's away.

"I spread the word about Rite-Way all the time," she said.
"They are the best thing that ever happened to us. Transportation for Robby has always been horrible. We've stood outside in the cold for up to an hour waiting for transportation with other companies before.

"Randy called our home once to say he was going to be a couple of minutes late and he didn't want us waiting outside for him," she continued. "He also stopped with Robby to buy an Easter lily for Robby to give me. That's the kind of business Randy runs."

Terissa Daly, case manager at New Horizons in Springfield Township, called Rite-Way Transportation "one of the best transporters."

"They treat the consumers with dignity and respect, and they are very reliable," Daly explained.

Part of that comes from Boughner's background. He worked with people with disabilities while an employee for North Oakland Vocational Association (NOVA) for five years.

"I really enjoyed working with the people," he said. "Then I got
promoted and ended up working behind a desk. I wasn't happy."

He saw the need for this type of transportation and decided to do something to fulfill it. Although his business is only 6 months old, he already has some customers he and Myron transport on a daily basis.

This job is Freiburger's first experience working closely with
people with disabilities.

"I love this job," said the interior design student. "It's taught
me not to take life for granted, I see various types of disabilities
and know that people didn't ask to be born With those."

"We focus on what our passengers can do, not on, what they can't do," Boughner added "Their feelings and dignity come first."