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From page 35... ... 35 In-Depth Case Studies As previously noted, an extensive search for travel training programs was conducted as part of the initial activities of this project. The sources for this search included previous literature, expert advice, contacts of the research team, and an Internet search that focused on terms such as travel training, transit training, mobility training, transportation training, travel instruction, and transit instruction. Read the entire page →
From page 36... ... 36 Organizational Background Via Mobility Services Travel Training Program is part of Via Mobility Services, a nonprofit community organization in Boulder, Colorado, whose mission is "to promote independence and self-sufficiency for people with limited mobility by providing caring, customer-focused transportation options." The Travel Training Program offers individual and group travel training to older adults, people with disabilities, and low income individuals to give them the skills to safely and confidently use the public transportation system in Boulder County. Program Start-Up The program evolved from earlier more informal efforts in the city of Boulder, with program growth in response to identified unmet needs for travel training among older adults and people with disabilities. Read the entire page →
From page 37... ... 37 Program Operations Program Description The Via Mobility Services Travel Training Program contains several components. The Easy Rider Travel Training Program (ERP) Read the entire page →
From page 38... ... 38 pedestrian skills and stranger awareness, problem solving such as missed connections, and understanding rights guaranteed by ADA. • Group training (Seniors on the Move) Read the entire page →
From page 39... ... 39 adults and people with disabilities. The program consists of a classroom presentation (1 hour) Read the entire page →
From page 40... ... 40 Personal Qualities of Trainers A common theme among staff was that the personal qualities of trainers are often more, or at least as, important as job experience or background. Trainers must be able to connect with participants. Read the entire page →
From page 41... ... 41 However, the training will necessarily need to be tailored to their particular situations. Adequate Infrastructure Is Needed Issues with the infrastructure of the public transit system in the community (e.g., having buses available, having bus stops that are accessible) Read the entire page →
From page 42... ... 42 Organizational Background The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is an umbrella organization established by the state of Illinois for planning and budget oversight of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Read the entire page →
From page 43... ... 43 certifications and those seniors who are not ADA eligible but could benefit from travel training. Program Operations The target audience for RTA's travel training program has been ADA applicants for complementary paratransit services. Read the entire page →
From page 44... ... 44 community agencies that serve people with disabilities and seniors. The group trainings consist of: – A general introduction about the three RTA service providers: Metra, CTA, and Pace. Read the entire page →
From page 45... ... 45 the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind that provides the travel training for RTA's blind or visually impaired travel training participants. The RTA also has contacts at more than 500 social services and human services organizations in order to perform program outreach. Read the entire page →
From page 46... ... 46 Organizational Background NJTIP, Inc. was formed in 2007 as a private nonprofit organization specifically to offer travel instruction in New Jersey. Read the entire page →
From page 47... ... 47 about the pilot was provided in a final report by Small and Associates, which operated the pilot and eventually established NJTIP as a nonprofit organization. All of the information provided herein about the pilot is from the pilot study final report (Small and Associates, 2007) Read the entire page →
From page 48... ... 48 • Assistance in researching travel routes and schedules. • A free one-month bus pass upon graduation. Read the entire page →
From page 49... ... 49 attended NJTIP travel familiarization classes from 2009 through December 2012. NJTIP forms partnerships with agencies that work with seniors, including senior apartment complexes and independent living complexes focused specifically on seniors. Read the entire page →
From page 50... ... 50 overall study results. It is unlikely that seniors had as many trips as other individuals with disabilities since many seniors would be retired and therefore would not have work-related commuting trips included in their results. Read the entire page →
From page 51... ... 51 NJTIP staff believes that at least one person is needed fulltime to operate the small group component of the program, although it is helpful to have two trainers available if there is a large group. They also recommended that group training be conducted between 10:00 a.m. Read the entire page →
From page 52... ... 52 Organizational Background Ride Connection is a nonprofit community service organization founded in 1986 that offers transportation assistance, now including income assistance on a temporary basis, to persons with disabilities and seniors without alternative transportation. Ride Connection serves a three-county area, including Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas Counties. Read the entire page →
From page 53... ... 53 Program Operations Program Description The RideWise program teaches older adults and people with disabilities to travel independently and safely on all forms of public transportation, as well as other forms of transportation. It employs a person-centered social services model based on increasing individual independence. Read the entire page →
From page 54... ... 54 practices transit use with the trainee, whose understanding and use of the transit system is assessed. Read the entire page →
From page 55... ... 55 Riders' Clubs. A Riders' Club transit orientation, led by volunteer Ride Ambassadors, is an enjoyable way for older adults to gain the needed familiarity and confidence to travel independently, using a fixed route service, should they decide to do so. Read the entire page →
From page 56... ... 56 associated with any human services agency. If they had more resources they would more actively knock on doors and use Public Service Announcements. Read the entire page →
From page 57... ... 57 Organizational Background The Riverside Transit Agency was established as a Joint Powers Agency in 1975 and began operating bus service in March 1977. RTA is the Consolidated Transportation Service Agency (CTSA) Read the entire page →
From page 58... ... 58 training plan that identifies and overcomes barriers to using service. The main goals of the travel training program are to increase capabilities and self-sufficiency while facilitating the most suitable and efficient transportation service for each person. Read the entire page →
From page 59... ... 59 Travel trainers do not wait for referrals of people with disabilities; they proactively seek candidates. They target new paratransit riders, training them before they become dependent on paratransit service. Read the entire page →
From page 60... ... 60 mailings, and presentations to its key partners. In addition, Freedom to Go works with the Braille Institute, the California Council for the Blind, and the California School for the Deaf. Read the entire page →
From page 61... ... 61 Program Replicability The Freedom to Go travel training program has been developed very carefully, with broad RTA management insight and oversight. Services were not rolled out until the program was fully configured, so start-up issues were negligible. Read the entire page →
From page 62... ... 62 Organizational Background Founded in 1978, Paratransit, Inc. is a private nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing transportation services to individuals with disabilities, to the elderly, and to related agencies throughout Sacramento County. Read the entire page →
From page 63... ... 63 Vendor agreements were established with the ACRC and the California State DOR. In 1983, Paratransit was awarded $64,000 in Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Read the entire page →
From page 64... ... 64 community. Paratransit, Inc. Read the entire page →
From page 65... ... 65 From December 1981 through September 2012, Paratransit has trained 12,030 people. The cost avoidance over the last 17 years in Sacramento has been calculated to be $20,588,458. Read the entire page →
From page 66... ... 66 • Providing community outreach to targeted populations. • Designing effective training for both individuals and groups, and measuring success. Read the entire page →
From page 67... ... 67 Organizational Background The mission of The Kennedy Center (TKC) is "to promote the empowerment of these individuals to achieve their optimal participation and inclusion in the community with both dignity and confidence." The Kennedy Center does this by offering services, including travel training, to individuals with disabilities and the elderly. Read the entire page →
From page 68... ... 68 state of Connecticut in that they get state funding to provide travel training and outreach to seniors. Program Operations Program Description TKC promotes three attributes of fixed route transit: 1. Read the entire page →
From page 69... ... 69 transportation options for people with disabilities, seniors, and veterans in southwestern Connecticut, identify gaps in service, and help implement new service where it is most needed. The project will support seniors living in southwestern Connecticut by solving transportation-related challenges for those seniors, including providing group and one-on-one travel training when it is appropriate. Read the entire page →
From page 70... ... 70 seniors who had not previously used public transit. Most TKC senior travel trainees have been lifelong fixed route users who needed to learn new routes or learn how to use fixed route given their more limited mobility due to wheel chairs and scooters. Read the entire page →
From page 71... ... 71 orientation covers many topics, including the availability of alternative travel options. Sources The Kennedy Center, Inc. Read the entire page →

From page 35...

... 35 In-Depth Case Studies As previously noted, an extensive search for travel training programs was conducted as part of the initial activities of this project. The sources for this search included previous literature, expert advice, contacts of the research team, and an Internet search that focused on terms such as travel training, transit training, mobility training, transportation training, travel instruction, and transit instruction.