1. TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
DATA, CHALLENGES, AND WORKING TOGETHER…
Thursday, September 10, 2009
8:00 – 9:45
9:45 – Break
10:00-11:00
How many of you work with students and schools?
Judy L. Shanley, Ph.D.
Education Program Specialist
US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
Co-Chair, Education and Technical Assistance Workgroup, United We Ride
No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity, service or enterprise referred to in this presentation is intended or should be inferred. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Education.

2. Beliefs Activity
I believe that establishing a coordinated transportation service plan with schools is like….
Buying a 30 year old automobile that has potential
Using a bus schedule in mid-town Manhattan in New York
Expecting that automobile manufacturers will design an automobile that gets 200 miles per hour
Talking transportation with 30 of my closest mobility manager colleagues
Move to corner of room – based on your beliefs…
This activity should take about ½ - finish at 8:45…

3. Data…the Need… Prevalence of Students with Disabilities
Ages 3-21 – 6,718,203
Ages – 335,311
National Longitudinal Transition Study2 (2007) Parent/Youth Survey
67% of students held paid job.
- Some data re; prevalence
Sources: Table 1-1. Children and students served under IDEA, Part B, by age group and state: Fall 2007

4. Providing Support
Approximately 5% of students expressed needing support for transportation following school (NLTS2 Data Brief, April 2005 • Vol. 4, Issue 1).
Approximately 11% of students with disabilities were provided transportation services ( May 2004.

5. Transportation Mode Percentage
How in- or out-of secondary school youth got to his or her current or most recent job
Transportation Mode
Percentage
Walks or rides a bike
9.5%
Drives him/herself
63.5%
Ride from family member, friend, or coworker or carpools
15.9%
Public transportation
7.6%
Service agency provides transportation
1.5%
Other
1.9%

6. Working with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation…
Carl’s Story …
Working with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation…
- Ride buy program…

7. The Needs of Children & Youth in Schools…
Q: What types of transportation services for students with an IEP are eligible under IDEA?
A: Students with an IEP are eligible to receive transportation services in order to participate in school related activities. Section (c ) (16) (iii) < of IDEA outlines that transportation services should include specialized equipment (such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps), if required to provide special transportation for a child with a disability.
- The law

8. Transportation as a Related Service
Services to increase access and mobility
• Transportation because of a disability
• Assistive technology services or devices, such as help getting or using any kind of
equipment that helps people with a disability, such as a tape recorder or reading machine
• Audiology services for hearing problems
• Orientation and mobility services

9. The Needs of Children & Youth in Schools…
Q: Are students with an IEP are eligible for any other transportation-related services under IDEA?
A. Students with an IEP are also eligible to receive orientation and mobility skills and/or travel training.
Related service
Travel to and from school and between schools;
Travel in and around school buildings, and within the community.

10. School – Community Partnerships
Stephanie’s Story…
School – Community Partnerships
- Interviewed…Stephanie works does mobility training..

11. Challenge…
However, IDEA does not require students to be transported in separate and isolated vehicles from their peers. School districts are encouraged to integrate students to the extent possible on both small and larger buses that circulate through neighborhoods.
What is your experience with inclusive transportation for children and youth with disabilities?
- Need to break at 9:45 – 10:00

12. What is your experience with working with school orientation and mobility specialists?
Challenge…..
Qualified Orientation and Mobility Professionals to Work in Schools
Defined as ‘services provided to blind or visually impaired students by qualified personnel to enable those students to attain systematic orientation to and safe movement within their environments in school, home, and community’ [Section (b)(6)(i)].”

13. Connect with Orientation & Mobility Specialists in Schools
Find out if there are certified o&M specialists in your schools or area
Share resources – I talked to an educator – didn’t know that mobility managers exist
Develop cooperative plans – grants…
16 certified o&m specialist in your state –
There are 17 training programs across the country
Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals -

14. Project Action
ESPA held an April 2008 grant competition for school districts
Six school districts from four states received grant funding
Form teams with key stakeholders, convene meetings, and identify challenges and potential solutions.
These six school districts were selected in
June 2008:
n Allegheny Intermediate Unit near
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
n East Valley School District, Spokane,
Washington
n Kearney Public Schools, Kearney,
Nebraska
n R&D Transportation, Moorpark,
California; and Las Virgenes School
District, California
n TASH/Twin Valley School District in
Elverson, Pennsylvania
n The Partnership Transportation
Management Association of
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania;
and Montgomery County Education to
Workforce Partnership Schools, North
Wales, Pennsylvania

15. School Challenges & Solutions
Challenge One: Obtain information
about transportation resources.
Solutions: Establish a coordinated process to obtain information about transportation services and communicate information about these resources to students, families, and school personnel.
Strategies of note
included a one-stop website, mobility
manager, or community directory.

16. School Challenges & Solutions
Challenge Two: Train students to use public transportation.
Solutions: Obtain, adapt or create a
curriculum to familiarize students with
community transportation services. Identify
or establish a travel training service to
teach students how to travel independently.
Strategies of note
included a one-stop website, mobility
manager, or community directory.

17. School Challenges & Solutions
Challenge Three: Limited public
transportation service on nights and
weekends.
Solutions: Host an ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders to identify strategies for expanding service hours.
Strategies of note
included a one-stop website, mobility
manager, or community directory.

18. School Challenges & Solutions
Challenge Four: Absence of student and school transportation issues in the local coordinated transportation plan.
Solutions: Commitment from personnel to participate in local or regional coordinated transportation planning activities, allowing them to provide and receive information, and become active members in the planning process.
Strategies of note
included a one-stop website, mobility
manager, or community directory.

19. School Challenges & Solutions
Challenge Five: Lack of information about the family of transportation services, eligibility criteria and funding streams
Solutions: Learn about the family of transportation services, identify existing service providers, consider new service providers, identify existing funding sources, support and participate in local partnerships to provide transportation for students for trips that occur outside the regular school day.
Strategies of note
included a one-stop website, mobility
manager, or community directory.

20. Working Together…
What suggestions to you have for OSEP to address these challenges?
What can you do when you get back to your communities?
Can you apply anything you learned about the change process?
What tools can you use?

21. LEVERAGING EDUCATION RESOURCES
Access education funding opportunities
Collaborate with State and local education agencies and organizations
- Can be based on legislation

22. Resources Department of Education United We Ride
United We Ride
National Resource Center
Project Action

23. Resources
US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

24. Thank you – I look forward to future opportunities to work with WI Mobility Managers
Judy Shanley,