Grace's Glendale Bus Stop Spreads Joy Locally and Beyond

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

Grace's Glendale Bus Stop got its start when a young lady, Grace Mehan, who has Down Syndrome, wanted to take the bus on her own. The bus stop was in a dangerous location, so dad Tom Mehan decorated and built a bench for the bus stop. That singular act took on a life of its own and spread joy and compassion throughout the local community and beyond. 

Here, Grace's mother, Colleen Mehan, shares the story of Grace's Glendale Bus Stop with Patch readers.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve taken on?

A: In general, the biggest challenge is usually perception. People make assumptions based on what they see — gender, hair color, weight, clothing, skin color, a visible disability. In truth, we spend too much time focusing on disability rather than ability, difference rather then what we all have in common.

Grace’s actions and attributes — kindness, genuine enthusiasm and interest in others, empathy, and her engaging personality are often immediate perception busters. We’ve seen rapid conversions made many times. And many people have been converted via Grace’s Glendale Bus Stop.

People love it, love the fact that it is about Grace, and really enjoy the feel good aspect. It not only elevates Grace, it puts a new focus on people with intellectual disabilities and tells everyone that they are important to the community. The bus stop delivers the abilities-over-disabilities-message every time Grace waits for the bus, steps up into it, then steps off at her destination. It’s a victory for her and others in her population.

Q: What inspired you to take on this challenge?

A: Grace had graduated from Kirkwood High School in May 2011 and the next chapter in her education was participation in a Special School District vocational training program. Her job site was Webster University, which is a straight shot east on Metro Bus 56 from our street. Grace wanted to get there on her own. It is unlikely that Grace will ever be a driver, so the next best thing for her turned out to be Metro Bus.

We, her parents, were concerned because the bus stop sits on a thin strip of land where she is one step away from traffic or one step away from falling down a hill onto a golf course. Tom built a bench and started putting up decorations; the decorations were for Grace to enjoy and to alert people to her standing by the side of the road.

It took on a life of its own very quickly. People in the community were talking about the decorated bus stop and wondering who was doing it. Grace waits at the bus stop during prime driving-kids-to-school-time, so word got around that Grace was responsible for the decorations and joy that was spreading. Word also spread when the Webster-Kirkwood Times, our community paper, included a photo of her at the bus stop with plastic pumpkins hanging overhead.

Already well known in the community, she became a symbol for what’s good in the world. Everyone — kids and adults — got into it. As time went on, Tom’s decorations and costumes became more creative. Grace loved everything he did, and how he stepped out of his comfort zone with each bus stop happening.

She also started planning the next decorations and bus stop events with him. For the first 7 – 8 months I’d send photos to family and friends, which was no easy task because more people wanted in on it. Grace’s brother Brendan and sister Maggie suggested a Bus Stop Facebook page. Bingo! It simplified what I was already doing and caught on fire (which no one expected).

Q: Did you succeed?

A: Grace would tell you she succeeded in her goal to be independent by riding the bus throughout our community. I will tell you that Grace succeeded in her immediate goal and so much more. She brought people together. They follow her. They re-route their trip to work to see what’s new at the bus stop. They have their own photos taken at the bus stop; we recently met a corporate executive who had his photo taken sitting on Grace’s bus stop bench.

They get involved in the decorations; last year’s Father’s Day theme, "Tie One On for Dad," had people from all over coming to the bus stop to tie neckties onto the cable that runs between two telephone poles. They post messages to the Facebook page and leave handwritten notes on the bus stop bench for Grace; today a fan posted a photo of her mother and aunt, both of whom were holding Mother’s Day flowers the fan had picked up for them at Grace’s Glendale Bus stop.

Grace has been recruited to speak to school groups about the community created by her bus stop. The bus stop has been on TV and in several online (Thank you, Patch!) and print news stories, even the Bi-State Development Agency 2013 State of the Agency Report.

It’s interesting how the goal of one young woman to get from one place to another independently turned into an inspiration for so many. The response has been overwhelming. And Grace did that thing she does so well — busted perceptions and converted many to see her abilities rather than disabilities.

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