Paris Butler
Public Transportation
By Shannon Kuhn
Paris Butler is on a mission to make public transportation more accessible.
As the city’s AnchorRIDES Eligibility Assessor, Butler is responsible for conducting American Disability Act assessments for people with physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities that prevent them from using the People Mover bus system. He interviews each person thoughtfully, spending time getting to know their individual struggles, and determining if and how the program can best help meet their needs.
“People may not realize how big of an issue transportation is in Anchorage,” he says. It is easy to take for granted. For those with disabilities in our community, however, it is often a significant barrier to quality of life. Simple activities like going grocery shopping, getting a haircut, or attending church service are at times impossible without help. The MOA AnchorRIDES program is here to provide that support.
Butler explains, “A lot of the people I meet are always told what they can’t do because of their disability. I’m more interested in finding out what are your strengths?”
This June will mark his fourth year working for the city. But Butler has been working with people experiencing disabilities for over ten years, the majority of that with youth in residential treatment facilities. Working with youth is a passion of his, and you’ll find him volunteer coaching his daughter’s soccer league, Boys and Girls Club, and high school football. A graduate of Bartlett High School who grew up in Anchorage, Butler has two young children. He also enjoys hiking, archery, and working out at the gym.
“One of the biggest joys about my job is helping people and making our community more inclusive.”
