Mobility Management Increasing Independence for Community Members

--What is the mobility management approach --Components of mobility management and how it applies to your customers --Ways to respond to identified transportation needs --GCRTA’s travel training program --GCRTA’s Paratransit services --Role of human service agencies

Transportation’s Role in Independent Living

Transportation’s Mobility Management Approach: Doing what it takes with the focus on Customer Needs

Responding to an identified community transportation need by  Spreading the word about existing services  Providing customers with the training to use available services  Creating, expanding, and/or more effectively coordinating transportation services

Spreading the Word about Services  Traditional methods (electronic, print, media)  More direct message  Transportation Solutions training  In-person workshop/training  On-line support

Providing Training to Potential Users

Travel Training Providing Everyone the Opportunity to “Join the Ride”

What is Travel Training? Designed to teach seniors and people with disabilities to travel safely and independently on fixed-route public transit.

Who is Eligible? Senior Citizens Adults with Disabilities Students with Disabilities

Programs of Service  One-on-one individualized training  Group training

What is One-on-One training? One-on-one training is designed to teach seniors and people with disabilities to travel safely and independently on fixed- route public transit.

One-on-One  Referrals  Needs Assessment  Pre-training Interview  Environmental Assessment  Training

Group  Community Outreach  Public Transportation: A Route To Freedom

Group Training Curriculum  Week 1: Introductory Class  Week 2: ADA and Public Transportation  Week 3: Obtaining destination and transportation information  Week 4: Introduction to maps and schedules  Week 5: Researching public transit information via the Internet  Week 6: Personal responsibilities, transportation safety and environmental factors  Week 7: Class trip on public transportation

Benefits  Individual  Individual’s Family  Transit System

Individual  Self-Sufficiency/Independence  Social/Recreation  Spontaneous Travel

Individual’s Family  Decreased dependence on others for rides  Decreased transportation cost

Transit System  Increase in public transportation ridership  Establishes a link between transit system and the community  Cost savings

Creating, Expanding, and Coordinating Services

Use all parts of a community transportation network Volunteer Drivers

Paratransit Services Helping people with disabilities get more out of life

Paratransit Services  RTA offers special Paratransit service for persons who do not have the functional ability to use RTA fixed-route bus services  This service uses specially trained operators and smaller, lift-equipped buses

Obtaining An Application  RTA website  Customer service  RTA main office

Eligible Individuals  Unable, as a result of a physical or mental impairment, to travel on the public transit system without the assistance of another  Need a wheelchair lift or similar device to board the vehicle, but one is not available at the Rapid Transit station where they wish to board  Unable to travel to or from a station or stop on the public transit system because of an impairment-related condition

Review of Eligibility  If it is clear you qualify for Paratransit services, the RTA employee will approve the application and notify you in writing.  If it is NOT clear that you qualify for Paratransit service, the RTA employee will call you to schedule a functional test.

Functional Testing  minute interview  Physical  Cognitive  Recommendation

The Role of Human Service Agencies/Organizations  Giving first-level transportation information to customers/clients/patients  Helping to identify transportation needs need  Providing transportation services  Coordinating services

Identifying and Responding to Transportation Needs  Asking about transportation during the intake process  Developing an Individualized Transportation Plan  Stand alone  Incorporated into existing plan  Capturing information on unmet needs

Individualized Transportation Plan  2-page form  8 worksheets

Individualized Transportation Plan Step 1: Determine individual’s current transportation options Step 2: Assess individual’s travel needs Step 3: Identify considerations that may impact individual’s mobility Step 4: Identify applicable community transportation options

Individualized Transportation Plan Step 5: Assess individual’s ability to pay for transportation and potential financial/in-kind resources Step 6: Work with individual to create an ITP Step 7: Familiarize individual with ITP and determine additional support needed Step 8: Review results after plan implementation

Unmet Needs Form  Contact information  ADA eligible  Trip information  Origin/destination  Time of travel  Frequency of travel  Trip purpose  Path to solution (options, answers, anecdotal account)

Providing... and Coordinating Services  Many agencies provide transportation services  Idle vehicles  True allocated cost  Coordinating

Erie County, OH coordination  Shared transportation: Senior services and MR/DD Department  Crosses county line to pick up passengers  Contacts:  Kristy Ferback, Transportation Coordinator, Erie Co. Board on Developmental Disability ,  Sue Daugherty, Director, Serving Our Seniors, ,

Together Achieving Mobility for All Ensuring customers have information about existing services Providing customers with the training to use available services Creating, expanding, and/or more effectively coordinating transportation services