Travel Training for Young Riders Oh, its so much more…. Judy Shanley, Ph.D. Asst. Vice President, Education & Youth Transition Co-Director, National Center for Mobility Management Easter Seals Chicago, IL

Learning Objectives  Recognize connections across travel training, mobility, and lots of other learning areas  Identify important roles for school transportation  Leverage community and national resources  Have fun, network, and reflect

What is Travel Training?

It’s Not About….

It is About…. Creating Opportunities for Children & Youth

It is About… Working Together

It is About…. Building a Foundation for Student Learning & Independence

What is Travel Training?  “Travel training” means providing instruction, as appropriate, to children with significant cognitive disabilities, and any other children with disabilities who require this instruction, to enable them to: (34 CFR (b)(4)) 1. Develop an awareness of the environment in which they live; and 2. Learn the skills necessary to move effectively and safely from place to place within that environment (e.g., in school, in the home, at work, and in the community).

A Narrow Approach to Thinking about Travel Training  Travel training is the professional activity of teaching people to independently travel on public transportation. – Travel training practice - application of a code of ethics, guiding principles, methods and strategies. – Individuals who successfully complete a travel training program will demonstrate the skill level needed to travel independently and without support.

Travel Instruction Travel instruction is the array, continuum, or family of services offered to individuals with disabilities, seniors, and others who need assistance to increase their mobility and travel on public transportation independently. Association on Travel Instruction (ATI) - Travel Orientation Travel Familiarization Travel Training

Travel Instruction – Multi-tiered Process  Travel Orientation – Individual or group activity conducted for the purpose of explaining the transportation system.  Travel Familiarization – Individual or group activity to facilitate use of transportation systems with a travel trainer accompanying experienced traveler(s) on a new on a new mode of transportation or route to point out/explain features of access and usability. Think about your role, how can you contribute to:

Travel Training  One-to-one short-term instruction provided to an individual who has previously traveled independently and needs additional training or support to use a different mode of travel, a different route, mode of transit, or travel to a new destination - or –  One-to-one comprehensive, specially designed instruction in the skills and behaviors necessary for independent travel on public transportation provided to an individual who does not have independent travel concepts or skills to go from point of origin of trip to destination and back

Travel Training  Assessment  Planning for a trip  Natural – Built environment – path of travel  Boarding/deboarding  Riding the bus  Safety and Security Topics

How are you Involved in Travel Instruction? A.Co-deliver travel instruction services with colleagues B.Use school buses as a venue for training C.Collaborate with public transit colleagues to support travel training D.Other ways E.Not involved at all

Why Provide Travel Instruction? A.Oh gosh, we have so much time, we just need another thing to do B.Our buses don’t get enough use – lets find other things to do with them C.It’s the law!

(2) Special education includes each of the following, if the services otherwise meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section-- (i) Speech-language pathology services, or any other related service, if the service is considered special education rather than a related service under State standards; (ii) Travel training; and (iii) Vocational education. Legal Reasons…. IDEA 2004: Regulations: Part 300 / A / Sec Special education

Legislation & Policy Across School and Community Reinforce a Focus on Inclusive Transportation  Least Restrictive Environment  Inclusion  IDEA  Access to the General Education Curriculum  Americans with Disabilities Act  Higher Education Opportunity Act  State Employment First Initiatives  Olmstead Act  Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Why Travel Instruction? Student Outcomes  Enhance student mobility skill and independence  Create mobility options for children & youth – Least Restrictive Environment, Inclusive practice  Develop a platform for greater learning

Benefits/Outcomes 20 Student Outcomes Professional (educators, transportation Outcomes Wheel of Learning Mobility Management

A Wheel of Learning Opportunity

Small Group Discussion  10 Minutes – Small group - Use the template to jot down your thoughts in response to each question – share ideas and strategies  10 Minutes – Large group discussion/reflection on thoughts

Voices from Youth I feel like I am independent. I don’t need to depend on my mom and dad to take me places. Now I can ride the bus to get to my job and to the movies with my friends Spontaneous Choice 23

Travel Instruction Benefits to School Professionals  Offers opportunities for transportation-classroom connections – working together  Provides forums for community engagement – Collaboration with transit  Positions program for potential funding support – Federal Transit Administration – PROMISE Grants – IDEA Funding

School Programs  Using yellow bus as a learning venue for mobility  Establish ride buddy program  Share vehicles (as States/districts permit)  Encourage integrated multi-modal mobility options – Bus, cars, walking, bicycles, shared ride  School participation in mobility management & community coordinated transportation planning

Yellow School Buses as a Learning Venue  Relationships with Pupil Transportation (National Association for Pupil Transportation and National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services  Simulate public buses Establish fare cards Use public transit signage Invite public transit drivers on school grounds Develop schedules and route maps Provide students/clients computer route maps Mimic driver alert systems on buses Replicate social variance on bus

Share Vehicles Not surprisingly, in many states — 14 to be exact — the yellow school bus remains the only allowable transportation mode for transporting all students to and from school. But then things get complicated. National Association for State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services – article in STN transportation?utm_source=eNews &utm_campaign=STN+EXPO &utm_medium=

What is Mobility Management Mobility management is an approach to designing and delivering transportation services that starts and ends with the customer. It begins with a community vision in which the entire transportation network—public transit, private operators, cycling and walking, volunteer drivers, and others—works together with customers, planners, and stakeholders to deliver the transportation options that best meet the community’s needs.

Goals of Mobility Management Creating partnerships between a diverse range of community organizations (public, private, non-profit, for-profit, etc.) to ensure that transportation resources are coordinated effectively. Using these partnerships to develop and enhance travel options for customers in the community or region. Developing ways to effectively communicate those options to the public to inform customers’ decision- making, focusing on enhancing customer service.

Mobility Management focuses on YOU and your individual transportation needs – whether you are currently driving, need transportation, or are somewhere in-between. Like a travel agent coordinates air, hotel and car rental, mobility managers, or specialists, help you coordinate the services you need to get you where you need to go, for your whole trip.

Mobility Management Makes Sense… Demand. Numbers of riders increasing. Flexibility. Public transit recognizes the importance of multi-modal services. Quality of Life. Connections with health, employability, and livability – especially for Veterans. Economic. Market-driven services, improves efficiency. Customer-Focused. Involving riders and other community members in the design of services results in services community members want and will use.

Economic Impact Denver, CO RTD: mobility mgmt savings -Vanpool programs: $690,000 -Taxi user side subsidy: $1,483,000 Southeastern Michigan: SMART -Community Partnership Program saved $ 2.7 million(2002 figures) Portland, OR: Tri-Met & Ride Connection -As mobility manager for special needs riders, Ride Connection saved Tri-Met $ Million in FY 2001 From J. Burkhardt Management.pdf

Why?

Why is Coordination Important?

And This is Why…

Leverage Resources through Mobility Management & NCMM

How Can School Professionals Connect with Mobility Management Systems?  Contact your local Metropolitan Planning Organization – Transportation department to learn about coordination in your community  Find out about grant programs through which your school may participate and collaborate with mobility managers  Learn about whether your students can access any of the transportation services provided by participants in the mobility management-coordinated transportation system  Attend meetings, meet people, join transportation committees  Use resources offered by mobility managers to orient students to transportation options  Invite mobility managers into your school

The National Center for Mobility Management The mission of the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) is to facilitate communities to adopt transportation strategies and mobility options that empower people to live independently and advance health, economic vitality, self- sufficiency, and community.

About the NCMM National Technical assistance center Launched in early 2013 Jointly operated by three national organizations: – Easter Seals – American Public Transportation Association – Community Transportation Association of America Through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. DOT

Communications and Outreach  Website that integrates current mobility management work across partners  Listservs – LinkedIn Newsletters  Targeted articles and informational pieces in related publications

Stay Current with NCMM Follow us on Twitter: Sign up for NCMM’s e-newsletter and regular updates on important topics. Read our latest blog entry or newsletter, or listen to a podcast or recorded webinar –

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. In Fierce Conversations, By Susan Scott

Judy Shanley, Ph.D