Viewpoints - Pathways to Accessible Transportation

Easter Seals Receives Transportation Security Administration Community Partner Award

2014-09-26T14:52:00.001-04:00

At the 12th Annual Transportation Security Administration Conference at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Easter Seals was honored to receive a Disability and Multicultural Coalition Community Partner Award from the Transportation Security Administration. The award was presented by John S. Pistole, TSA administrator, and Kimberly Walton, TSA assistant administrator for the Office of Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsmen and Traveler Engagement.

Easter Seals has developed a close, working relationship with the TSA to support and promote their efforts to improve the experience of travelers with disabilities during the security screening process. Easter Seals Project ACTION has provided customer service and sensitivity training to new TSA employees for two years, reaching over 700 employees with information on how best to serve air travelers with disabilities and their families, creating a seamless and confident flow of service that allows necessary security screening while respecting the needs of the individual traveler. Earlier this year, two Easter Seals affiliates, Easter Seals Las Vegas and Easter Seals Florida, were called on to assist the TSA in conducting training and roundtable discussions to better inform the TSA of what customers with disabilities experience. Both affiliates hosted training and were able to use their extensive community contacts to assist the TSA in conducting two very successful regional events. Assistant Administrator Walton attributed a large portion of this success to the role Easter Seals affiliates played in making the events happen.

Finally, Easter Seals Project ACTION promoted TSA Cares, a new service for air travelers with disabilities to alert TSA as to their travel plans in advance and gain needed information about the screening process as well as arrange for a Passenger Support Specialist to meet the traveler and assist them through the security process from start to finish.

Read more about TSA Cares at TSA Resources for Passengers with Disabilities. For additional information about how air travelers with disabilities are being assisted in Los Angeles, read our Viewpoints blog on customer service practices in Los Angeles airports.

Tailoring ESPA Publications for Your Community: Denton & Tarrant Counties, Texas

2014-09-02T15:46:00.000-04:00

Easter Seals Project ACTION updated the popular You Can Ride travel training booklet in 2012. The book’s new design features updated photos and page slits so that travel trainers can insert their own pictures. In addition, ESPA also offers a You Can Ride design template for transit systems and trainers who want to create books using local photos, colors specific to their transit system, or who want to create sections related to modes available in a community, such as rail, bus, or ferry.

Easter Seals North Texas, in coordination with the Denton County Transportation Authority and SPAN, put the offer to adapt You Can Ride to the test, and as a result have developed an easy-to-understand version of the booklet with photographs tailored to the environment and the transit systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Neat innovations include showing pictures of customers buying fare tickets online and using the fare payment kiosk at a light rail station. In addition, Easter Seals North Texas artfully included a map watermark as background on all of the booklet pages. For Fort Worth, Tarrant MHMR and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (the T) created two versions of the You Can Ride guide—one for a general audience and the other primarily for school district staff and others who work with transition-aged youth.

North Texas Travels, an Easter Seals North Texas project, uses the Denton booklet as part of their program to teach people with disabilities, caregivers, and veterans about local and regional transportation options. The program’s designed to empower individuals with skills to safely and confidently use public transit.

Tarrant County MHMR has also created a pocket-sized guide with trip and emergency contact information styled after the GET Going! Guide developed by ESPA and The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation to assist passengers who may become confused or anxious while using public transportation.

Both projects were funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

Has your community tailored an Easter Seals Project ACTION product for your riders or operators? If so, let us know! Email examples or photographs to espablog@easterseals.com, and we’ll share them on our blog!

Ask the Expert: Cherie Leporatti, Travel Trainer, WMATA

2014-07-03T08:45:00.000-04:00

Cherie Leporttia is a travel trainer with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) in Washington DC. Metro provides group orientations, station tours, trips on training buses, and one-to-one training to over 6,000 transit riders each year. In this interview Cherie Leporttia shares information about her background and Metro’s travel training program.

1. Tell us about your travel training program.

WMATA Photograph by Larry Levine

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) established its travel training program in 2008 and hired three employees that are fully dedicated to travel training. One staff member is a Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructor. All three staff came to the job with extensive education and experience in the humanities field, along with knowledge of the transit system as it pertains to programs serving people with disabilities. In 2010, a pilot program was established utilizing funds received from a grant to hire an additional six full-time travel trainers. These travel trainers were and continue to be hired as contractors. Metro's in-house travel trainers work across all jurisdictions conducting outreach, providing workshops for professionals who work within our target populations, and working directly with customers participating in travel training. The contract travel trainers are assigned to work in specific jurisdictional areas. Our team also has ASL and Spanish interpretation capabilities.

We provide group orientations to approximately 6,000 people each year. We provide a detailed overview of our program, a trip on a training bus to a prearranged destination, a tour of a Metro Station and a return to the trip origin. In-house travel trainers are fluent with our programs and services and are careful to adapt each presentation to meet the needs and interests of each audience. We also provide one-to-one training as part of our travel training program. We work with approximately 500 people each year in our one-to-one program. We measure success by calculating the number of trips taken on MetroAccess prior to travel training and comparing it with the number of trips taken on MetroAccess and fixed route following travel training.

2. What got you interested in this line of work?

I became interested in this line of work years ago and possibly before travel training became a notable field. As a young girl in the 1970s, I helped my mom in volunteering with one of the first therapeutic riding programs in the country. I helped out with training the ponies and introducing them to mobility devices, unusual noises and desensitizing them so that they would be safe for riders with disabilities. After graduating from college, I continued my passion of working with adults with disabilities through mostly part-time work as I raised my children. In the late 1990s, I went to work full time as a rehabilitation counselor in Fairfax County, Virginia. As my career progressed within my chosen field, I grew more and more interested in transportation. In my line of work, so much focus was spent on job training and coaching at the job site but so many issues and problems surrounded my consumers' transportation needs. Many of my consumers lost their jobs because there was no reliable transportation or they could not afford the cost of paratransit. In 2007 I relocated within the Fairfax County Government serving as its ADA Coordinator before joining WMATA’s Travel Training program.

3. Why do you believe travel training is so important?

I believe that travel training is important because it helps people realize their potential to participate in the community, increases their independence and confidence, increases their employment options, saves money and ultimately improves paratransit performance as customers exercise their options, which can reduce dependence on paratransit.

For many, working with a travel trainer may be the first time they are without a parent, teacher, or a known person within their circle of support. This is often an excellent opportunity for a professional travel trainer to conduct an unbiased assessment on the individual's ability to adhere to safety standards within the community, follow verbal or physical cues in a public setting, abide by social norms, and travel from A to B via public transportation through their community with notable familiar landmarks. Consumers who can travel independently will naturally gain a sense of independence and increased confidence. This may look very different from person to person, but the effect is the same. One person may be able to travel via bus from their home to the neighborhood public library while another may have mastered a one hour trip from their home to their worksite that involves multiple transfers. Both customers will have increased their independence and both may feel the same sense of confidence within themselves. People who have the skills to travel on public transportation will naturally increase their job opportunities. Job seekers will no longer be bound by a relative’s ability to drive them to the local mall or traffic which may impede the MetroAccess van. If they can use fixed-route service they will increase their on-time arrivals to and from work, decrease their transportation costs since our fixed-route system is free or reduced for people with disabilities and older adults, and they can flex their schedules as they wish since fixed-route transportation has generous fixed hours.

Each time one of our travel training students chooses to ride fixed-route instead of paratransit, they are decreasing demand for that already taxed system. MetroAccess is a shared ride paratransit system. Prior to the establishment of our travel training program, customers had little choice but now as we work with each person to carefully address their concerns, teach them safety measures and real skills that they are able to confidently choose to ride fixed route. Decreased demand on paratransit allows us to focus more on those travelers who have no other choice for their trips. I feel like I need to mention here that people who participate in travel training will always have the choice to use fixed-route or paratransit for each trip that they are taking. One goal for travel training is to teach our customers about their choices.

4. How do you address caregiver and family concerns when working with students or young adults with disabilities?

Metro is very generous when it comes to Personal Care Givers (PCAs). In fact, anyone over the age of 5 can serve as a PCA on our system. When scheduling the first session, our travel trainers always invite the customer’s PCA to participate. We share with them the individualized plan that we have created, a schedule with the bus routes, locations, and times. In addition, we exchange telephone numbers and agree to contact or have our customer call them at specific points along our route. In most cases the PCA must be on board and supportive of our efforts before our customer can be successful.

We also provide PCAs with ways that they can be supportive in our training. We may encourage them to practice the route with us and then on their own so they can support what we are teaching. Sometimes we will encourage them to follow behind us in their personal car so they can get a feel for the route and what the bus route looks like. We might encourage them to meet us at our destination. We might ask them to post the bus route in the home and review the times schedule with their child/consumer. Each situation is unique but the goal to keep everyone safe, well informed and comfortable is the same.

In Memory of Julie Cunningham, COMTO President and CEO

2014-07-01T13:51:00.002-04:00

Easter Seals Project ACTION would like to recognize the contributions that Julie Cunningham made to the transit industry, her support of equitable access to transportation, and her encouragement of opportunities for minority professionals in transit.

http://www.apta.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/2014/Pages/140624_JulieCunningham.aspx

TSA Resources for Air Passengers with Disabilities

2014-06-13T14:55:00.000-04:00

Transportation Security Administration

Air travel can be difficult, and navigating an airport security checkpoint can be especially difficult when traveling with a disability. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides specific resources for passengers with disabilities and certain medical conditions. All TSA personnel who work at airport checkpoints receive training on screening passengers with disabilities and medical conditions, which emphasizes treating passengers with dignity, respect, and sensitivity. In addition, there are the TSA Cares, Passenger Support Specialist (PSS), and the TSA Pre✓™ programs.

TSA Cares is a helpline that assists travelers with disabilities and medical conditions and their families prior to airport arrival. Travelers can call ahead and ask questions about screening as well as what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares provides information about screening that is relevant to the traveler’s specific disability or medical condition, and travelers also have the opportunity to speak with disability experts at TSA.

Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures, and what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares serves as an additional, dedicated resource specifically for passengers with disabilities, passengers who have medical conditions or other circumstances who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.

The hours of operation for the TSA Cares help line are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. EST and weekends and holidays 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST. Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA.

TSA recommends that passengers call no less than 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary. If a passenger wants information about screening for a particular device, TSA recommends that he or she call TSA Cares to learn more about what to expect throughout the screening process.

In addition to TSA Cares, there is the Passenger Support Specialist (PSS) program. The PSSs are Transportation Security Officers and Supervisors who, in addition to their regular checkpoint duties, have volunteered to take on the responsibility of assisting passengers who may be in need of assistance. The PSS volunteers receive special training to provide assistance and resolve traveler-related screening concerns, primarily for travelers with disabilities. At some airports, Passenger Support Specialists complement the TSA Cares program. TSA personnel can call PSS to assist travelers who may need assistance.

Travelers who need assistance or are concerned about TSA screening can ask a checkpoint officer or supervisor for a Passenger Support Specialist. The PSS volunteers are trained to be caring, empathetic, calm, poised, and determined to assist and solve any problem that arises. TSA would like to have a PSS in the vicinity of every checkpoint to provide proactive assistance and resolve traveler-related screening concerns.

Another TSA program that assists passengers is TSA Pre✓™. This program allows low-risk travelers to experience faster, more efficient screening at participating U.S. airport checkpoints for domestic and international travel.

The TSA Pre✓™ expedited screening program allows members to pass through airport security checkpoints without removing their belt, shoes, laptop from the bag, light outerwear/jacket and 3-1-1 compliant bag. Under the new application process, U.S. citizens can pre-enroll for the program online and visit an application center to verify their identities and provide fingerprints. Once the TSA approves an application, in a matter of weeks or even days, the agency issues the applicant a “known traveler number,” which allows that person to use the Pre-Check security lanes at more than 115 participating airports. There is an $85 non-refundable application processing fee, and the membership is valid for five years. Also, TSA extended Pre-Check enrollment to include active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. military services, the National Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard based on their Department of Defense identification numbers.

TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual will be guaranteed TSA Pre✓™ screening.

Travelers are encouraged to visit TSA’s website for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions at http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/travelers-disabilities-and-medical-conditions for more information. This website provides specific information on what to expect for passengers with specific disabilities or medical conditions.

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Winners of Pedestrian Safety Grants

2014-05-01T15:36:00.000-04:00

Pedestrian safety is especially important to people with disabilities traveling independently on public transit. People with disabilities need safe routes to bus stops and other forms of transit. Grants like this can support community recognition of the importance of pedestrian safety and awareness.

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Winners of Pedestrian Safety Grants

New York City Puts Money Behind Accessible Taxi Goal

2014-05-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) voted to enact a 30 cent surcharge to all taxicab rides, starting in 2015. The revenue collected from this surcharge will fund procurement of accessible vehicles.

New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Votes to Enact 30 Cent Accessibility Surcharge

Ask the Expert – Judi Bonilla, Travel Trainer at We Get Around! In San Diego, California

2014-04-17T14:56:00.000-04:00

Travel trainer and gerontologist, Judi Bonilla shares her insights on travel training and why it is so important for older adults.

1. Tell us about your travel training program.

We Get Around! is a volunteer organization with a vision to improve the quality of life for San Diego's senior community. We’ve created a small group travel training program led by an experienced travel trainer that combines travel instruction, brain health information, and low-impact fitness.

The class is taught in the field using fixed-route buses and trolleys. Local landmarks are incorporated into class destinations, providing students exposure to a variety of travel patterns and community diversity. The class begins with a trip briefing, learning topic, and handouts so students can recreate the trip independently. Lessons include purchasing tickets, using accessibility services, personal safety, transit etiquette, and trip planning. The focus is to provide an environment where an adult learner can develop and practice the skills needed to travel independently.

We Get Around! is a volunteer-led program and receives no funding from city, state or local public transportation entities.

2. What got you interested in this line of work?

I am a gerontologist and early on saw the benefits travel training can offer older adults. In the field of aging, our work is focused on the principles of successful aging and aging in place. Transportation is a critical issue for older adults and their families. This program fills both a social need and gap in the public transit infrastructure for the residents of San Diego. Prior to We Get Around!, there was no travel training program serving the San Diego area.

3. Why do you believe travel training for seniors is so important?

Travel training is a great tool to use as older adults begin to decrease how far they drive, regulate where they drive, and when they drive. Having the “What Happens When I Can No Longer Drive” and the “Giving Up The Car Keys” conversations are tough for families and health care providers. Travel training is an excellent solution when exploring alternatives to driving. Research has shown that social interaction offers older adults many benefits. Staying socially active and maintaining interpersonal relationships can help maintain good physical and emotional health and cognitive function. One report found that men and women ages 60 to 80 reported that taking a short walk just three times a week increased the size of brain regions linked to planning and memory over the course of a year. Linking the use of public transportation to better health outcomes is another way elders can benefit from travel training

4. How do you address caregiver or family concerns when working with older adults?

Students of the program are self-referred and run the range of physical abilities. Some use mobility aids while other have complete mobility. At the first class orientation, students and caregivers learn how classes are researched, planned, and tested. We welcome a family member or caregiver to attend the first class with the students. Often the caregiver or adult child gets as much from the class as the student! In addition, we post class trips to YouTube and often tweet live on our trips.

5. How do health and wellness tie into public transportation for the population you work with?

This is one of the most exciting aspects of travel training. I recently presented a poster at the 2014 American Society on Aging Conference. The poster was titled Shifting the Image of Public Transportation from Have To...To Want To! With over 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day the need to improve health at every age is increasingly important. Recently, the Alzheimer’s Association included in its recommendations to stay socially connected, and exercise both body and mind. Travel training makes a powerful connection to all three!

Opportunity for Paratransit Managers: Advanced Practices in Paratransit Services

2014-04-08T14:02:00.000-04:00

Photo: Transit Authority of River City

Easter Seals Project ACTION is offering a new advanced course for ADA complementary paratransit managers, Advanced Practices in Paratransit Services. This course complements the Excellence in Service for Paratransit Managers introductory course.

All of ESPA’s training events and products are available to the public free of charge. Currently, ESPA offers six online multi-week courses that include readings, activities, and online and teleconference interaction. The Advanced Practices in Paratransit Services course is moderated by ESPA staff and includes two live Webinars.

A participant in the last session of the Advanced Practices in Paratransit Services online course provided the following feedback.

“It is a good forum, and the first time I have taken an Easter Seals course. In conversations with other transit agencies, there are very high marks for Easter Seals presentations and I look forward to learning more through the programs.”

Participants in the course complete four learning modules over seven weeks.

1. The Face of Paratransit

This module covers topics such as websites and social media, effective communication technology, accessibility, and availability of policies and referrals to other agencies.

2. Policy Development and Amendment

This module offers guidelines for developing and amending policies to address common issues. It also covers hot topics in paratransit policy and setting and using service standards to improve service.

3. Premium Paratransit Service

This module includes topics such as public-private partnership information and requirements, cost-benefit framework for public transportation projects, and using premium paratransit to increase the independence of people with disabilities.

4. Using Your Complaint Process to Improve Service

This module includes topics such as customer monitoring and feedback, principles of mediation and negotiation, evaluating bus operator performance, and using the complaint process to improve service.

The next Advanced Practices in Paratransit starts April 28 and runs through June 13. If you are interested in taking this course please Register before April 23.

Course Calendar

Start Date: Monday, April 28
Live Webinar #1: Tuesday, May 13
Live Webinar #2: Tuesday, May 27
End Date: Friday, June 13

For More Information

Contact the course instructor, Kristi McLaughlin, at APPS@easterseals.com or 800-659-6428.

Customer Service Starts with Engaging the Customer!

2014-02-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

By Judy Shanley

Through 17 model demonstration grants the Strengthening Inclusive Coordinated Transportation Partnerships to Promote Community Living project is developing, testing and demonstrating ways to empower people with disabilities and older adults to actively engage in designing and implementing coordinated transportation systems. The project will support communities nationwide in adopting sustainable, scalable, and replicable models that include the participation of people with disabilities and older adults in the design and implementation of responsive, coordinated transportation systems.

The heart of the work is engaging people with disabilities and older adults in multiple ways – providing opportunities for their voices, opinions, and perspectives to influence the coordinated transportation systems in their communities. As a result of this input and participation in the planning process, grantees indicated that transportation options and systems were more responsive to the needs of diverse riders and customer service improved. Learn more about the work of these grantees, including engagement strategies that influence customer service.

The Strengthening Inclusive Coordinated Transportation Partnerships to Promote Community Living project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Community Living to demonstrate the significance that inclusive processes can bring to transportation efforts. Easter Seals, the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and Westat are collaborating to implement the project.

Keep your eyes open for webinars on these projects and lessons learned.

Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee

working hard at inclusive coordinated transportation planning

Ask the Expert - Steve Marshall, Safety and Compliance Officer Crawford Area Transportation Authority in Meadville, PA

2014-01-31T16:37:00.001-05:00

First Responders in Winter Weather - CATA buses were used as warming shelters for firefighters, residents, and for thawing firefighting equipment during a four-alarm fire in Meadville, PA in

January 2014.

You’re the Safety and Compliance Officer with Crawford Area Transportation Authority. Please tell us a little about how you started your career in public transportation and what your position entails.

I had spent years as a Fire Dept. training officer and Asst. Fire Chief. Quality training is a huge issue in transit….and these days, transit buses and their drivers are considered part of the first responder corps that is available to come to the rescue when disaster hits, so it was a natural fit. I was initially hired as a supervisor and then promoted to Safety & Compliance when our Executive Director decided that with the phenomenal growth CATA had experienced, we needed a dedicated compliance person who would focus on safety, training, risk management and compliance with regulations….such as the ADA.

CATA has the lowest cost-per-mile of any rural fixed route transit system in the state of Pennsylvania. Our management structure is small and streamlined, so each of us has many responsibilities. My main responsibilities are safety, accident investigation, training, human resources, route planning, risk management and compliance. I also run our DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing program.

Crawford County is south of Erie, PA. Please tell us about the size of your system and your fixed-route and door-to-door services. It looks like you also provide service for several universities in the area.

We are in the “snow-bow” south of Erie, which makes for some interesting days. We run a total of 10 fixed routes with large Gillig buses and have about 35 shared ride buses. Crawford County is one of the largest counties in the state, about 1,000 square miles…but way down the list on population. We have a lot of remote dirt roads in our county and they see CATA buses frequently.

There is a story that was told to me by a local citizen and I pass that story on to our new drivers to help explain what rural transit is all about.

Our county is home to a number of large gamelands where hunting is a huge deal. The gamelands are crissed crossed with roads and trails…some good, some not. One quite snowy day, two hunters were hunkered down next to a snow covered gameland trail, waiting for the deer, miles from the nearest road (or so they thought!). They heard a noise in the snow-obscured distance. Pretty soon a CATA bus materialized out of the snow squall and stops for them. They were so dumb struck at the site of a transit bus in the deep woods that at first they couldn’t find the words to tell the driver they didn’t need a ride. Sometimes rural transit really means RURAL!

ALL of our vehicles are ADA-compliant. We do over 300,000 trips annually, which for an area of this population, is an incredible number. We are experiencing a 20% annual growth in service demand. I attribute those numbers to the very pro-active work of our Executive Director and Operations Manager who work hard to get the word out about us by visiting potential customers such as nursing homes, senior centers and local community groups. We also provide dedicated bus service to Allegheny College and University of Pittsburgh at Titusville. Our area is an aging community. We have a large number of senior citizens who depend on CATA because most of the younger members of their families have left the area looking for work or an education, leaving Mom and Dad living here without someone to take them where they need to go. That’s where CATA comes in. We do hundreds of routine necessity trips a week. Mom can get out to the hair dresser, then the grocery store and then stop at the pharmacy or doctor’s office and never have to worry about the weather, parking, gas prices or their health affecting her driving abilities. We have seen an increase in recreational trips too. Groups of seniors who get together to go to special events, be it shopping at a distant mall, a concert, ball game or a special restaurant. That they call us for this leisure travel is in my opinion, a clear indication that we are doing something right.

ESPA’s focus in February is customer service. What type of training does CATA offer its employees on customer service topics, particularly customer service for riders with disabilities? How often do you offer training to your operators and office employees?

CATA has a five-day classroom initial drivers training course which is followed by five days of riding with a “Mentor” Driver. These are senior drivers who have the experience and pass on what they know about the routes and how buses really work…outside of the classroom. New CATA drivers also spend an entire day in our training bus, working on mobility device securement and passenger assistance. The new drivers then spend a couple of days with one of our most senior drivers who has over 20 years experience and knows how to secure just about any device you could get on board. Only when she is satisfied that the new drivers are ready, do they get to move on to the final phases of our training program which includes evacuation of people with mobility impairments (with a rescue dummy and smoke machine) and disability awareness training. We also have twice-yearly safety meetings where we cover subjects like new regulations, equipment & service changes and continuing education training.

All of our non-driving employees such as dispatchers, book keepers, bus cleaners, and administrative assistants are required to complete the disability awareness and disability customer service sections of our driver training. We also train our drivers how to handle some of the more common medical emergencies they may encounter such as seizures, strokes and dementia. Our “seasoned” drivers are also required to recertify each year in mobility device securement.

CATA employees participating in a training course.

Are there any “lessons learned” or “words of wisdom” regarding safety, compliance, and customer service that you think are particularly important? What would be your top two or three tips for operators serving people with disabilities?

I tell all of our new drivers to remember that any one of us could be needing this service at some point in our lives, be it from an accident, illness or just advancing years…put yourselves in their place and be the solution to their transportation challenge. In the case of our senior citizens, their trip with CATA may very well be the highlight of that person’s social life. This may be their only contact with the world. Go the extra mile and make it a special day.

This job is NOT about driving the bus. This job is about getting the customers where they need to go. The bus driving is just a tool to get the job done!

#1 Be understanding. Be patient.

#2 Treat the customers exactly like you would want to be treated. Treat them as if they were your mother, father, brother, or sister.

#3 Treat the customer as a person, not a disability. Talk to the person, not the device!

#4 Everyone has a bad day now and then. If you encounter a customer having issues and they take it out on you, remember, it’s not personal. Let it go. When you park the bus at the end of your shift, leave those stresses on the bus. Don’t take it home with you. When you come back to work tomorrow, you will probably find that those stresses left the bus in the night.

Final thoughts?

#1 With the aging of America’s population, ADA-compliant travel is in ever increasing demand. We must be pro-active and be ready. We must not treat a person who has a mobility challenge as a problem, but rather as a chance to prove we are the solution to the transportation challenge they face each day.

#2 The hiring of good people is essential. It is not enough to be able to safely drive a bus. In fact we’ve hired some who have never driven a large vehicle in their life. We hired them because it was apparent that they were a “people person”. I can teach most to drive safely and do the job. I can’t teach you to be a pleasant, out-going human being. That’s a quality you are born with or not!

Ask the Expert: Rebecca H. Hunter, M.Ed., Research Associate, University of North Carolina Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

2014-01-07T11:24:00.000-05:00

What is your background?

Rebecca H. Hunter

I’ve been privileged to follow many different paths over the years. Trained as a counselor, I spent the first 15 years of my career in mental health. During those years, while traveling throughout North Carolina, I saw firsthand the impact of communities on the health and well-being of their residents. During my subsequent years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I embraced a community-oriented public heath perspective while working in health professions education, teaching rural health, and conducting aging research in partnership with communities. Today I am proud to be affiliated with UNC’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, one of CDC’s Prevention Research Centers, and a member of the CDC-Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN) (www.prc-han.org). My work on community wayfinding is though the CDC-HAN, a network of several academic centers across the county, including local and national partners. I also work on pedestrian safety and walkability, and brain health issues.

How are health and wayfinding connected?

When thinking about wayfinding—the process of finding our way from place to place—it’s useful to consider that we are all “wayfarers” and have been so since the beginning of time. Knowing that we can find our way is pretty basic to our sense of self. In fact, many of us take pride in pinpointing where we are and knowing which way to go to find key landmarks or places of interest or importance. We feel especially good when we succeed in finding our destination in an unfamiliar or challenging place. At the same time, if wayfinding is problematic for us, then we may be insecure in venturing out. We may be less willing to explore new places whether traveling on foot or by cycling, driving or using public transit.

So we can think of wayfinding as something that is crucial to our mobility, whether we are walking or using other means of transport. It is a vital link to a variety of activities that are important to our well-being, such as physical activity, shopping, visiting family and friends, working or volunteering, and enjoying community cultural or sporting events. All of these are activities known to be important to personal health.

Poor wayfinding may also increase health and safety risks. For example, a jumbled group of signs may confuse freeway drivers who then create a safety hazard for themselves or others. Pedestrians may lose their way, walking further than intended and increasing risk of fatigue and exposure to the elements. Such a situation can be especially dangerous for frail older adults or people with chronic health conditions that affect their stamina.

As these examples suggest, poor wayfinding can be result from the individual’s status, for example, problems with vision, or from a community environment that lacks good design features and aids that support wayfinding. Since changing individuals is not always feasible or even desirable, it is important that our community environments are well designed for wayfinding and have a variety of wayfinding aids, such as well-organized and maintained signage and information systems, that help people navigate regardless of their abilities and regardless of their mode of travel (see Pathways to Better Community Wayfinding). While rare at present, integrated pedestrian, motor vehicle, bicycle and transit wayfinding systems can contribute significantly to more livable communities for all. They also support community health through economic and commercial vitality and increased walking and cycling with reduced pedestrian and motor vehicle injuries and fatalities. Air quality benefits when drivers are efficient in wayfinding and when more people find it easy to walk, cycle or use public transit, rather than driving. All in all, good wayfinding is a win-win for individual and community health.

What work has the CDC-Healthy Aging Research Network done around wayfinding, including for people with disabilities?

Our focus on community wayfinding grew out of our work on community environments that support healthy aging. It began with a simple question: Why isn’t ease of wayfinding routinely considered in work to build healthy communities? After all, we all have to find our way from place to place! Moreover, we know that wayfinding can be more challenging for older adults and for anyone with functional limitations. Demographic projections make it clear that our population is aging and that there will also be an increase in the numbers of people with disabilities. From a public health perspective, we want to enable people to be active and engaged in the lives of their communities for as long as possible. Good wayfinding environments can make a big difference!

Now it has been almost three years since we began work on wayfinding. First, we created a series of items to assess wayfinding and added them to the CDC-HAN Environmental Audit Tool for use in comprehensive community assessments of neighborhood walking conditions. Secondly, we were delighted to assist in creating the Easter Seals Project ACTION Neighborhood Wayfinding Assessment Pocket Guide a brief, user-friendly tool for evaluating how well neighborhood infrastructure helps people find their way.

We next conducted an extensive review of published literature across numerous disciplines. We drew upon findings to develop a conceptual framework for community wayfinding to promote understanding across sectors and to focus attention on relevant public health outcomes. We are preparing a manuscript detailing that work. Concurrently, with the leadership of David X. Marquez at the University of Illinois, Chicago, we conducted an exploratory study of older adult wayfinding in the neighborhood of South Chicago. Participants in that study included several people with mobility or cognitive limitations. We are wrapping up a manuscript on that project. Currently, we are completing a review of the literature on technologies to support community wayfinding ranging from individual user tools to complex wayfinding systems.

We also prepared a compendium of practice and policy resources which is available on the CDC-HAN website (http://www.prc-han.org/docs/CWF_practice_policy_grey_lit_15nov13.pdf). In addition, we convened an expert panel of representatives from the fields of planning, engineering, architecture, transportation, public health and universal design to share their perceptions of wayfinding barriers, best practices and sector-specific and cross-sector recommendations. The panel came together for a “cross-fertilization” meeting to define key themes and recommendations for Pathways to Better Community Wayfinding. Now our goal is to broadly disseminate Pathways and to promote action to improve wayfinding in all of our communities.

I should mention that wayfinding is one of those areas where there is a lot of research and observation of the particular challenges faced by people with disabilities, especially people with visual or cognitive challenges. There is also a lot of product development going on, both for personal products, like smartphone apps, and environmental products, like improved audible beacons at pedestrian crossings. What is exciting about much of this work is that innovations stand to benefit all users. Audible beacons, for example, will not only help the walker with low vision, but perhaps also serve to prompt the teenager distracted by texting or the harried young mother with toddlers in tow.

What health results have you seen first-hand in local communities, including regarding people with disabilities?

Truth be told, we are a very long way from where we need to be in the areas of wayfinding practice and policy. That makes this question a difficult one to answer, as many communities have yet to tap into a vision of wayfinding that includes public health goals. The good news is that communities, whether large cities or small towns, already allocate resources to wayfinding; the bad news is that communities tend to focus those resources narrowly. Some will emphasize branding; others, economic goals such as getting people to commercial areas or other community attractions. Traditionally, there has not been a great deal of attention to pedestrian wayfinding and even less to bicycle wayfinding. And unfortunately, there is little integration across transportation modes, jurisdictions and even neighborhoods within a single community.

This situation is largely the result of a lack of guidelines and widely known best practices. As such, the process of implementing best practices in local communities and assessing results is just beginning to take off, so there is not a great deal to report yet. At the same time, we are seeing exciting new approaches to wayfinding that offer direction to other communities. London (U.K.) is one shining example. Through the Legible London initiative, the city has made great strides to transform London from a confusing and intimidating city for pedestrians to an inviting, inclusive, walk-friendly city. Legible London has an explicit public health agenda to increase walking for health as well as to foster economic and environmental benefits. Increased walking In the U.S., New York City has a similar initiative that is yielding results such as reducing the numbers of visitors and residents getting lost in the city. Nashville (TN) is using wayfinding aids to link community residents to physical activity opportunities. These and other examples are highlighted in Pathways.

The big challenge is always how to effectively get wayfinding and related issues in front of planners and decision makers, so that change can happen and results ensue. In the Walk Wise, Drive Smart project, community members, including people with disabilities, taught us that accessibility, safety and ease of wayfinding go hand in hand. By participating in neighborhood walking assessments with planners, public works and transportation officials, they also helped these influential decision makers understand problems in the pedestrian environment from a very immediate and compelling human perspective. It is one thing to observe a problem sans people and quite another matter, for example, to see an older person with a walker stranded in the roadway when the light changes or to see a person in a wheelchair resort to riding on a busy street because of sidewalk obstructions.

Focused efforts like these involving community residents and planners and decision-makers and implementers (e.g. residential and commercial developers) can have a big impact. We see that happening all over the country in initiatives to improve community walkability, promote safe routes, implement complete streets and achieve healthy communities. However, the issue of wayfinding is not always an integral part of these initiatives, and we need to change that.

How can communities use Pathways to Better Community Wayfinding to improve current conditions?

We hope Pathways will be a catalyst for community wayfinding practice and policy improvement. Pathways looks at what we know about wayfinding, how communities currently approach wayfinding, and what needs to be done to create better wayfinding for all people, regardless of age or ability. Planners and policy makers can use it to assess community practices and wayfinding-relevant policies across all transportation modes and in development and redevelopment. The content and recommended action steps in Pathways can also serve as a starting point for dialogue among citizens and professionals of differing backgrounds toward the goal of improved wayfinding for people of all ages and abilities.

If wayfinding is to be easy, seamless and enjoyable, then the community vision of wayfinding must be expanded well beyond tourism, city image and commercial goals. Indeed, good wayfinding is basic to vital and livable communities and supports public health and safety of all motorists, walkers, cyclists and transit users. A broad vision of wayfinding makes for the best possible use of community resources.

Final thoughts?

Wayfinding can be a tough topic. Many people have never thought about it beyond their immediate experiences, and the different professionals who work in this area do not always collaborate. We hope you will share Pathways with others in your community, region or state and join us in working to get this issue the attention it needs. Together we can find the way!

It’s All Part of the Mix: Mobility Management, Voucher Programs, and Volunteer Driver Programs

2014-01-06T10:23:00.000-05:00

By Whitney E. Gray

When communities come together to enhance transportation services, they may need to look at multiple options and aspects of accessibility. From curb ramps, bus lifts, and taxis to one-call/one-click centers and social media, creating a fully coordinated system may take more effort but is more inclusive for all. In Bloomington, Indiana, for instance, the community has discovered that full accessibility requires an in-depth look at all aspects of their transportation system. The community has continued to see an increase in inclusivity for all as they enhance different aspects of the system and create new services.

The Bloomington ATCI Team (2011)

In 2011, the community of Bloomington, applied and was accepted to Easter Seals Project ACTION’s Accessible Transportation Coalitions Initiative. As a result of their participation in ATCI, the Bloomington team established the Monroe County Coalition for Access and Mobility (see MCCAM’s Facebook page). Several organizations in the community are members, including Bloomington Transit, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Indiana University, the Area 10 Agency on Aging, Ivy Tech Community College, and the National Center on Accessibility, along with advocates who have disabilities, and community social workers. The group has met monthly for two years, and someone with a disability is usually in attendance.

To begin their work and better determine the needs of the community, MCCAM first worked to collect data on the types of requests that Bloomington Transit and Rural Transit (a service of the AAA) received that they could not meet. The group identified the need to have a mobility manager to develop a transportation voucher program and research the viability of a volunteer driver program. To fund the mobility manager position, Bloomington Transit applied for and received a grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s New Freedom Program, in 2013. The transit company implemented the grant through the AAA and hired, in May of 2013, Barbara Salisbury, a member of MCCAM and a community advocate, on a part-time basis.

Salisbury’s next project will be to look at the viability of a volunteer driver program. She will start by looking at available resources in the community to see what coordination efforts might be successful in expanding, even further, the transportation options for people with disabilities.

Bloomington Transit just recently applied for a second New Freedom grant and hopes to learn in early, 2014, as to whether they will be awarded this grant. These funds will be used to provide additional dollars for the voucher program and expand the mobility management activities to include mobility education and travel training.

At the most recent MCCAM meeting, the group decided to take a look at transportation from a broader perspective and focus on pedestrian issues in their area. For a future meeting, the MPO is planning to send a representative to talk to the group about the policies and practices in place for the city, area, and county regarding pedestrian development. Questions regarding pedestrian access that the group may look at include:

• How do people get from point A to point B for bus access?

• Are pedestrian traffic signals accessible?

• Is pedestrian traffic signal retro-fitting possible?

• How accessible for all disabilities are the curb ramps in the community?

• What kind of policies already exist in the community that MCCAM can build off of?

• What policies need to and can be changed?

• Where can we be the most affective if we go forward with pedestrian issues?

Salisbury has also organized an additional advisory committee with primarily consumers and stakeholders including people with disabilities and people providing direct support and care for people with disabilities. This advisory committee provides direct input on the programs and activities of the mobility management project.

As both her committee and MCCAM move forward with accessible transportation initiatives, ESPA continues to provide technical assistance as needed. Krystian Boreyko, ESPA training and technical assistance specialist who works with the community of Bloomington, stated, “The Bloomington ATCI team has grown and developed goals far and above their original ATCI project. Always with an inclusive mind-set, the team is working on both small and larger aspects of accessible transportation, leading to a more coordinated and inclusive transportation system for all.”

To speak with ESPA about technical assistance for your community, call 800-659-6428, (TTY) 202-347-7385, or email projectaction@easterseals.com.

Ask the Expert: Jeremy Johnson Miller, Rural Central Iowa Mobility Coordinator Under Contract with Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency

2013-12-16T10:17:00.000-05:00

What is your background?

Born and raised in Eastern Iowa, I moved to the Des Moines metropolitan area shortly after college and have lived here for almost 10 years. I have a Bachelor’s degree from The University of Iowa with a major in Geography. I have worked in a wide range of professional capacities including in the fields of public health, direct care, case management, and transportation management.

How did you become involved in mobility management?

As a county transportation manager, I was able to work closely with our regional transit provider, who contracted with each of its seven rural counties. By working with low-income families, I quickly discovered gaps in services where improvement was obviously needed. The Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA) then offered me a contracted position as mobility coordinator to work with seven rural counties in Central Iowa. HIRTA saw being able to have the first-hand knowledge of what the community actually needs and how the community works as invaluable.

What types of training did you receive?

I took a hands-on approach to developing the mobility management program at HIRTA. Since it was an entirely new program, I needed to learn everything about transportation. I immediately looked to organizations like the Community Transportation Association of America and Easter Seals Project ACTION to provide some direction, ultimately applying for many opportunities to enhance my knowledge base. I have taken many webinars and attended many conferences. I learned the most, however, from formalized trainings, which included: Managing Community Mobility (National Transit Institute), Introduction to Travel Training (ESPA), Design Thinking for Mobility Solutions (CTAA), and Job Links: Strategies for Employment-Related Mobility (CTAA).

What modes of transportation are available in your area?

Iowa is unique; we have a regionalized system, which allows each county to have access to public transportation. Here in Central Iowa, we have two urban systems (Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority and CyRide) and one rural system (HIRTA Public Transit). In addition to the traditional systems, we have many volunteer driving groups, private for-profit transit companies, and local cab companies.

What types of services do you provide?

As a mobility coordinator, I provide community outreach and education to Iowa’s seven counties. I attend monthly/quarterly meetings within the community, essentially bringing transit to the table. I have sat on many project planning committees and have attended several conferences providing further education about our services. I am a qualified travel trainer and can provide one-on-one or group bus orientation to familiarize new or existing riders to HIRTA Public Transit.

How do people with disabilities or older adults access your services?

Our public transit services are open to the general public. People with disabilities and older adults can access HIRTA by calling our scheduling number and providing their information as needed. Those who need further assistance typically rely on a case manager or family member to assist with scheduling. Our entire fleet of vehicles is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and is maintained per Federal Transit Administration regulations. We also operate on-demand, door-to-door transportation services for anyone who needs a ride. We have a wide range of marketing tools to distribute to new or current customers, our website is easy to use, we have also joined social media outlets to further our community exposure.

What benefits does mobility management have for people with disabilities and older adults in rural areas?

Our services are available to the entire seven-county region and are not limited to city limits or fixed routes. We are able to provide transit services to communities needing assistance through bringing our bus to the customer in need of a ride. In the rural areas, we typically find people with disabilities or aging adults who are isolated and alone without any support system. By bringing our buses into the rural community/setting, we have the ability to connect people to a more populous area.

What results from your work have you seen in the community?

I have been able to make new connections for HIRTA Public Transit. By bringing transit to the table, human service agencies are finally able to gain access to answers about transit. I was also able to add several transit questions to a community needs assessment questionnaire, giving us access to information never gained before. In addition, I have worked with a local group struggling to maintain attendance with local transit providers, providing a reliable/consistent voice to meet with them on a regular basis. This same group was able to achieve funding to expand hours to better serve their community, which probably could not have been possible without a reliable transit voice at the table.

I helped revive a struggling transportation advisory group (TAG). This group had seen turnover and a decrease in attendance. After making connections in the community, I brought in vital resources from the community to enhance our conversations. Through this group, I gathered information regarding a shuttle service between two populous towns for college students. This service has had its ups and downs but has continued to have support from the agencies within the community.

Upon joining another local TAG, I helped a community conduct a survey to determine unmet needs of the area. We soon discovered that citizens did not know where to access information. We quickly gained funding and created an easy resource guide, Anyone Can Ride! Story County Transportation (PDF), to distribute to the community about transportation options in the area. Along with this guide, we provided a quick tutorial to front line workers at medical and other human service agencies, encouraging them to ask people “do you have transportation?” before scheduling appointments.

Currently, I am a co-leader on a project funded by the Administration for Community Living and CTAA. We are conducting an extensive survey in an eight-county region while rallying community partners to enhance our efforts tenfold. As part of this study, we have performed multiple focus groups to gather as much information about the pros and cons of public transit, ultimately including riders into the planning process. The end product will be a resource guide for anyone needing transit assistance along with a written document outlining full survey results and recommendations for moving forward. At the same time, we have been accepted for ESPA’s Accessible Transportation Technical Support Project, which will help us to move our project forward and determine a feasible path for our group into future planning efforts.

My greatest achievement to date is being named 2013 Mobility Manager of Year by FTA Region VII. In this inaugural year, FTA Region VII along with my fellow mobility management peers nominated me as the first recipient. Having been leader of the Iowa Mobility Management Network Chair for two years and a representative on the Iowa Transportation Coordination Council, this award came as a humbling event to secure my hard work and dedication to my craft.

Final thoughts?

I truly thank everyone who has crossed my path as a mobility coordinator, from the individual customers who I was able to connect to transit and help them gain independence in their everyday life to the national contacts who have guided me and provided great outreach and technical support along the way. Successful transportation coordination is dependent on the involvement of all community partners and groups of riders.

Conducting Bus Stop Accessibility Evaluations in Fort Wayne, Indiana

2013-12-13T14:27:00.002-05:00

By Whitney E. Gray

Bus stop evaluations can be a large task for communities to take on, but they are necessary in order to ensure that all stops remain accessible. Over time, equipment or hardware can break, more accessible technology may become available, and the needs of a community can change. Making sure that bus stops are accessible based on current standards ensures that the fixed-route bus system is inclusive for all riders.

In 2012, the Indiana Department of Transportation informed the city of Fort Wayne, among others, that it was important to come into compliance with new Americans with Disabilities Act Public Rights of Way Guidelines (PROWAG). Though the federal guidelines had not yet been adopted, INDOT wanted to help cities get transition plans in place. One component of PROWAG focused on bus stops, and Fort Wayne’s last bus stop assessment had been conducted 10 years earlier. In addition, their bus stop assessment had not included all of the criteria that were now a part of the PROWAG standards, such as sidewalk accessibility and bus pad availability.

A volunteer evaluates a bus stop

Needing technical assistance, the Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation (Citilink) applied and was accepted to ESPA’s Accessible Transportation Technical Support Project in 2013. ATTS helps communities formulate an action plan to address specific local accessible transportation needs. With assistance from ESPA and ADA-Indiana’s Coros ADA Community Grant program, the Fort Wayne ATTS team developed project goals and then recruited and trained 30 volunteers from community partners (Citilink, Fifth Freedom, League for Blind & Disabled, ARC, City Street Department, Regional Planning, etc.). The training event, the team’s first goal, focused on ADA regulations for bus stops and how to evaluate the accessibility of bus stops. The next day, five teams evaluated stops in their assigned areas of town.

To date, volunteers have assessed approximately 1,200 bus stops and collected 47 data items describing each stop (date, stop ID, route number, street name/cross/type/location, parking/loading/bike lane, sign-mounting/route info, boarding area, sidewalk, curb/ramp, shelter, seating, lighting, bike rack, land use, photo & GPS coordinates). Volunteers have taken two or more pictures at each location, and the regional planning district has integrated the survey information into a more comprehensive Bus Stop Database. The data has been checked for quality, and locations where data was incomplete or missing were re-surveyed. Per the team's project plan, Citilink (the public transit system), the city of Fort Wayne street department, Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council staff, and volunteers will monitor and maintain the database. This database will be used to develop, implement and monitor a prioritized bus stop improvement plan.

The team is also exploring methods for integrating the sidewalk and curb ramp data— maintained by the Fort Wayne Board of Works—with the Bus Stop Database, which will allow for a more thorough evaluation of accessibility. The project progress and findings to date have been presented to ADA-Indiana and ESPA.

ESPA looks forward to continuing to work with the Fort Wayne ATTS team on their bus stop assessments. For more information on evaluate accessibility, check out ESPA’s Assessments webpage.

Ask the Expert: Landis Erwin, Marketing Manager and Travel Trainer in Erie, Pennsylvania

2013-12-11T15:53:00.001-05:00

What is your background?

Landis Erwin with young bus riders

While attending Gannon University for journalism communications and leadership, I was made aware that the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority was hiring a marketing intern to help promote their bus service. I was able to keep this internship for a period of three years, teaching students about the route and how to travel on the city buses. In addition, we held different events to give away promotional items.

During my internship, EMTA was rebranded to the “e” and developed new marketing strategies. With community relations increasing, I was able to spend more time doing things for the office as time became available in my schedule. During my senior year at Gannon, the marketing manager position at the authority was available, and I applied for the position after speaking with people within the company. And now, here we are!

How did you become a travel trainer? What types of training did you receive?

Once I was hired in the office, our travel training services expanded through communicating with the public. At the “e,” marketing plays multiple roles in order to present the company in a positive light. With the encouragement of the authority, I am able to take time to meet with people and ride the bus in order to help someone learn our system.

We have a trainer here at the “e,” who trains our drivers as well as those in the community. She helped me to blossom in travel training, and it has now become one of my favorite job aspects. After working with her, I was confident enough to learn techniques on my own through research, personal experiences, and by attending the 2013 Association of Travel Instruction Conference in Chicago this past summer.

What modes of transportation are available in your area?

In Erie, we provide fixed-route and paratransit transportation, which is known as our eLIFT.

What types of travel training services do you provide?

An EMTA bus

The “e” has several training services. People are able to schedule and come into the office for individual or small group trainings. This way we can sit down with them and personally talk about how to use the system as well as plan a trip to different destinations. We will even go to the extent of riding the bus with them so that they can better learn about the routes. Some people just need a little boost of confidence when it comes to something new, such as public transportation.

We are also fortunate to have our Travel Training Bus, which is able to seat large groups of people comfortably, and we travel to different places for group trainings. It is set up like a classroom inside--consisting of pull-down desktops, lights and speakers, cabinets with supplies, a refrigerator for water, and a television to watch the training video. We take the bus to trainees’ locations, train them inside the bus, and then drive a small route to look at different bus stops nearby. This will increase visibility and answer any questions they have along the way. It’s our most popular training service and even allows the driver(s) to participate in something hands-on.

Our training services apply to anyone and everyone who requests it. I personally work more with younger riders, those with disabilities, and our senior population. We attend every health or senior fair, school function, and community awareness event that community groups request us to attend. This is all a part of our training because we are there to help on the spot for both fixed-route and paratransit services.

What results from travel training have you seen in the community?

Public transportation is now more recognizable and accepted within our community due to travel training. People are learning better and making the programs known throughout the city, and travel training has even expanded to different classroom curriculums. Our fixed-route and paratransit ridership has increased, and educating the public on changes/unknown routes has become more important than ever before.

Final thoughts?

The “e” has worked hard to make public transportation a significant part of the Erie community. We understand that some will always choose to drive their vehicles, but we find it important to make them aware of what is still available for them. Thanks to our local, state and federal funding sources and the hard work of those at the “e,” Erie has a public transit system that will go the extra mile to help passengers ride the bus safely.

Ask the Expert: Julie Rosekrans, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist II at ESPA and Former Travel Trainer

2013-11-19T08:56:00.003-05:00


Julie Rosekrans

Easter Seals Project ACTION is pleased to welcome Julie Rosekrans as the newest member of our team. She most recently worked at the Central Maryland Regional Transit and has experience in mobility management, travel training, human service transportation, and disability services. Rosekrans will serve as a liaison to Federal Transit Administration regions in her role at the National Center for Mobility Management. Read on to find out more about her expertise.

What is your background?

I have worked in the disability services field for nearly a decade. I first worked as a vocational counselor with The Arc, where I provided employment supports to individuals with disabilities with a focus on self-employment opportunities in Howard County, Maryland. I was with The Arc for five years before joining Central Maryland Regional Transit, where I developed a travel training program. From a young age, I felt a call to do my part to ensure equality for individuals with disabilities in my community, and that passion continues to fuel my daily work and purpose. As the travel training program manager for Central Maryland Regional Transit, I managed a team of staff that trained and provided outreach to a six-county region in Central Maryland. During my time there, I developed curricula and provided training to individuals with disabilities, older adults, veterans, students, and low-income families.

What transportation challenges did you experience with providing employment supports to people with disabilities?

I would often work with individuals with disabilities who would find a job that was a great fit for them, but they were unable to accept offers of employment because they did not have safe, reliable, or independent transportation to get to work. I even watched a few of the clients on my caseload lose jobs they loved because paratransit services were running too late too often. Some of the clients with whom I worked were afraid to use fixed-route public transportation even though they wanted to transition from paratransit services. Another big challenge I faced was the make-up of the routes in the county. If someone did not live near a bus stop or close enough to one to be eligible for paratransit services, they would have to rely on family members or taxi cabs to get to work.

How did you transition to travel training? What types of training did you receive?

I transitioned to the travel training field because I felt called to what I felt like was a unique and growing field, and it truly is! I wanted to do my part to make the community more accessible for the amazing people with disabilities that I knew, and for the whole community, too. I enjoy training and educating people, so I felt like I could use my knowledge and background to help people who needed it.

On my first day of work as a travel trainer, I was tasked with building the program from the ground up. I knew what I wanted the end results to be―people with disabilities being fully independent and active members of their communities―but I had limited ideas for how to get there….and then I found Easter Seals Project ACTION.

I attended ESPA’s Introduction to Travel Training course in my first three months as a travel trainer. It was an amazing course that taught me so much about the field, and I brought back much of the information and materials to include in CMRT’s training curriculum. That class also gave me a chance to network with other travel trainers, to share resources and challenges, and to feel like I was not alone in the field. In the following months, I also attended a variety of ESPA webinars and completed the Fundamentals of Travel Training Administration course when I transitioned into management. Experts in the accessible transportation field taught all of ESPA’s courses, and I learned so much from these trainings.

I also learned a lot from the Association of Travel Instruction by attending their annual conference each August. ATI puts on a great conference each year, full of hands-on training and professional development for travel trainers, mobility managers, and anyone else in the field of accessible transportation.


Rosekrans works directly with a trainee (2013)

What types of travel training have you provided?

CMRT mainly uses a train-the-trainer approach in travel training, so I worked with staff at human services agencies, school systems, and other places that support individuals with disabilities or older adults. By empowering the staff members at those agencies who know their clients best, they could, in turn, provide training to their clients on how to use public transportation. The train-the-trainer approach can be a very successful model in travel training. I also provided travel training for transitioning youth with disabilities and conducted small group trainings at various schools in the region. Last Spring, I led a community travel training workshop at a local community college, which allowed people from the community to be trained in a classroom setting and then go out on a bus. Just letting people know your program exists can be half the battle, but, once they know about it, they will use you as a resource in achieving full inclusion.

What results from travel training did you see in the community?

I had the pleasure of seeing great results in the community! I would see first-hand how access to safe and independent public transportation could help a person thrive. One of the most rewarding aspects of my efforts was seeing people have an increased sense of independence and pride in their ability to travel independently. I’d often be out on a bus with staff members of human service agencies and some of their clients and I’d get to watch the staff empower their clients in travel training, so that was also rewarding.

My favorite success story was that of a man named James, who participated in our group travel training classes. He learned how to take a bus to his local community college, where he filled out an application and was accepted into a program. He now takes that bus to college twice a week and the benefits of his independence are seen just by looking at or talking to him.

Successful travel training can also produce a number of accessibility improvements in a given community. When I would be out in the field providing training individuals with disabilities, I would recognize the environmental barriers that stood in the way of their access to transportation. Simple changes, such as moving a bus stop by 20 feet, makes the difference for someone to become an active part of the community. Travel trainers and trainees are often boots on the ground and can be the ones who recommend that those crucial changes be made.

Final thoughts?

Accessible transportation is a vital part of any community. First-time travel trainers have access to countless tools and resources that support training initiatives, and organizations like ESPA are there to help.

Additionally, I am so thrilled to be joining the Easter Seals Project ACTION team and to use my background on the national level. I hope to use my experience and passion in the fields of travel training, mobility management, and disability advocacy to contribute to the wonderful work that ESPA does every day. I will be working with both ESPA as well as the National Center for Mobility Management, and I look forward to bringing the voices of riders with disabilities to community mobility management projects that the NCMM will undertake. I’m ready to roll my sleeves up and get to work!

Transportation for Veterans in Southern Nevada

2013-11-11T11:15:00.001-05:00

By Whitney E. Gray

When servicewomen and men return from deployment abroad, they may have different needs, abilities, and skills from when they left. Veterans who are re-entering their communities must complete the same life activities as before, such as working and caring for family members, but service-related disabilities may make these tasks harder to take on. For veterans who are no longer able to drive, accessible transportation is crucial to make sure they can access medical care, get to work, and re-integrate into community life.

To better serve veterans, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has developed the Veterans Medical Transportation Network (VMTN). VMTN provides free door-to-door medical-related transportation services to various Veterans Administration (VA) clinics and primary care physician offices. With one call, all veterans eligible to receive treatment as part of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) or who have a medical appointment may use the service along with a family member or caregiver accompanying them to their appointment.

An RTC bus. Photo via Clark County’s website.

The RTC also offers the Downtown & Veterans Medical Center Express (DVX) transit service to the VASNHS in North Las Vegas from the RTC’s transit hub, the Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas, where riders can connect with other VMTN shuttles.

To help solidify and expand services for veterans, RTC applied for and received two grants from the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) in 2011 and 2012. Through VTCLI, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, is awarding $29 million to help veterans, military families, and others connect to jobs and services in their communities by improving access to local transportation options. Ken Thompson, coordinator of technical and information services at Easter Seals Project ACTION, provides technical assistance to VTCLI grantees both online and over the phone to address questions about project implementation and outreach to the veteran community.

VTCLI grantees, as well as other communities, are encouraged to use the VTCLI Route to Community Engagement Toolkit. This eight-step process is designed to help transportation professionals and local military leaders reach out to veterans, military family members, and active duty service personnel to obtain information on their transportation needs and recommendations on how to meet those needs. For more resources to help your community enhance transportation services for veterans, visit ESPA's webpage on veterans' transportation.

Hey, wanna go across 500 miles of northern Spain?

2013-11-08T08:52:00.000-05:00


Justin and Pat (photo from their Facebook page)

Originally posted November 6th, 2013 on the Easter Seals Blog by Beth

Here’s Mary Van Poolen, [Easter Seals] Marketing and Corporate Relations intern, with [a] guest blog post.

I’ll push you

by Mary Van Poolen

Easter Seals Project ACTION staff members were at the Every Body Walk! Summit in Washington, D.C. last month and spoke with two courageous friends about the incredible journey they are about to undertake. From June 1 to July 12, 2014, Justin Skeesuck and his best friend Patrick Gray plan on taking a 500 mile trek across northern Spain. The two men were born a little over 24 hours apart and were friends from the get-go.

These life-long friends have a deep relationship that spans over 38 years. They tell their supporters, “We travel together; we live life together through ups and downs, and most importantly, will do anything for each other.”

Normally the Camino de Santiago walk takes travelers about 4 weeks, but because of Justin and Pat’s circumstances, it will take them 5-6 weeks. Justin has an auto-immune disorder that attacks his nervous system. He has loss of movement in his legs (and, more recently, his arms and hands) and uses a wheelchair. Pat reflects on the day they began planning their journey, “We were sitting in his living room and…uh, he asked me, ‘you wanna go across 500 miles of northern Spain with me?’ and I said, ‘I’ll push you.’”

Justin is a motivational speaker, an accessible travel consultant, and a trainer who inspires and instructs people with disabilities how to overcome challenges when traveling. Patrick, “the best friend,” is a program manager for St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho. He will not only use his physical strength to push his best friend 500 miles on this journey, but will use his skills as a registered nurse to help Justin with his everyday needs.

The Camino used to be a Roman trade route until it became a Christian pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain. Justin and Pat will be leaving from St. Jean Pied de Port on the French side and ending in Santiago de Compostela on the west coast of Spain. They are taking the journey to actively promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness.

Justin and Pat want to inspire others with the world changing message that there is more to life than just sitting around and complaining about our daily challenges; life is too short and dreams are achievable if you only try! The two live by this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

In partnership with Emota, a digital storytelling company, Pat and Justin are creating a “real-time” documentary covering the 500 mile wheelchair journey, and you can read more about it all now at their I’ll Push You website.

I am amazed by the strength that Justin and Pat have both as individuals and as friends and hope their story will be heard, shared and end up impacting the lives of others. “This turned into fuel to do more,” says Justin, “to dream big, that’s a world changing message.”

Webinar: Air Carrier Access Act - New DOT Rules to Make Flying Easier for Passengers with Disabilities

2013-11-06T12:43:00.001-05:00

November 14, 2013
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST

The U.S. Department of Transportation invites you to join a webinar on the new Air Carrier Access Act Rules on Thursday, November 14, 2013. During this webinar, U.S. DOT will highlight the specific aspects of two new rules: (1) airline website and kiosk accessibility; and (2) the stowage of manual wheelchairs on aircraft. Following the presentations, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions using the chat feature.

Space is limited. Please register online.
Read more about the new ACAA Rules issued this week.

Give it up!

2013-11-05T08:47:00.000-05:00

By Lucinda Shannon

Sometimes it is hard for transit personnel to persuade passengers to yield their seats for people with disabilities and older adults, especially on a busy route. To ensure accessibility and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all fixed-route vehicles must have designated seats for people with disabilities and older adults[1], though the operator cannot require a person with a disability or older adult to sit in that area[2]. Operators are required to request that passengers vacate priority seats if the seats are needed. They cannot, however, force a person to move from his seat. In addition to posting signs and holding driver trainings, some transit agencies are developing creative solutions to encourage passengers to yield their seats.

Screenshot from The Muni Mash

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Lane Transit District have found simple solutions to bring attention to reserved seating for people with disabilities and older adults. The San Francisco MTA Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) created a three-minute music video to encourage passengers to yield bus seats to people with disabilities and older adults. MAAC produced the video in house with volunteers, including by having committee members, SFMTA staff, and students from the Access SF Unified School District program for transitioning students with developmental disabilities as actors. Annette M. Williams, manager of the SFMTA Accessible Services Program, shared the video with ESPA staff for Halloween.

The Muni Mash (full length, three minutes)
The Muni Mash (short version, two minutes)

Priority seating on an LTD bus

Another strategy to reserve seats for people with disabilities and older adults is to incorporate a sign in the transit seat or seat cushion. Lane Transit District, serving the areas of Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, reports that this is an effective way of reminding people to reserve those seats for people with disabilities and older adults. Through a little creativity and some community involvement, cities and towns can ensure that all transit riders are aware of their ADA responsibilities.

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[1] 49 CFR 38.27: “(a) Each vehicle shall contain sign(s) which indicate that seats in the front of the vehicle are priority seats for persons with disabilities, and that other passengers should make such seats available to those who wish to use them. At least one set of forward-facing seats shall be so designated. (b) Each securement location shall have a sign designating it as such.”

[2] 49 CFR 37.5(c): “An entity shall not require an individual with a disability to use designated priority seats, if the individual does not choose to use these seats.”

Engaging People with Disabilities in the Kansas Health Impact Assessment Project

2013-11-01T14:42:00.000-04:00

Inclusive coordinated transportation planning efforts help to ensure that all voices in a community are heard, which is especially important for people with disabilities, people with low income, older adults, and others who depend on public transit. In preparation for a decision about the future Wichita transit system, the Kansas Health Institute in collaboration with local partners and the community of Wichita, Kansas, undertook a massive health impact assessment (HIA) of transit services for various groups of people. Below, Catherine Shoults, health analyst at the Kansas Health Institute (KHI), details how people with disabilities were engaged in the process.

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One of the basic tenets of HIA is engaging the community and incorporating the community voice in the assessment. Additionally, community engagement is critical for understanding the potential effects of the policy or legislation on the local population. This is especially true for people who do not drive, such as those with disabilities, as they might be disproportionately affected by policy changes. In order to engage people with disabilities and other non-drivers in the transit HIA process, KHI partnered with the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita (KU). Our KU partners had relationships with local disability organizations, such as the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging and the National Federation of the Blind.

During the HIA process, we learned a few lessons regarding how to maximize the disability community’s experience and engagement in the HIA. For instance, we learned that the best way to work with one of the representatives from the blind community was to send her the materials in advance whenever possible and to make sure that one of our team members was nearby during in-person meetings to verbally describe the visuals. We were also very fortunate because one of our stakeholders worked closely with the representative for the blind community and he was very comfortable describing visual elements to her. He would also pick her by car up to come to our meetings, which was invaluable.

Tatiana Lin, project director and strategy team leader at KHI,
presenting the results of the HIA to the Wichita City Council

The insights provided by people with disabilities, older adults, people with low-incomes, and other non-drivers helped us to shape the HIA findings and recommendations and make sure that they focus on the needs of those who do not drive. For example, one of the recommendations focused on the need to locate bus stops near service locations and connect them to sidewalks and pedestrian paths in order to improve access to buses.

We also have to commend the Wichita Transit agency for working very hard to keep the needs of non-drivers in mind. Often a representative from Wichita Transit would point out what they were doing and how they hoped to improve their service to the disability or older adult community.

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By engaging the disability community in their HIA, Wichita is better able to create a coordinated transit plan that serves all members of the community. See the results of the full analysis published in the online report, Potential Health Effects of Proposed Public Transit Concepts in Wichita. For more examples of Health Impact Assessments, see the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, through which Wichita received a grant for their project. For more resources on inclusive coordinated planning efforts, visit ESPA’s webpage, Planning and Public Participation.

Walking Equity: Including People with Disabilities in Planning and Programs

2013-10-29T14:15:00.000-04:00

By Whitney E. Gray

Flickr.com/photos/lejaz

Many transit agencies have well-developed coalitions or advisory committees focused

on accessibility that include representatives from the disability community. As communities across the U.S. expand transportation options beyond fixed-route buses and trains to incorporate new or updated bicycling and walking facilities, one important thing communities can do is include people with disabilities in planning and project discussions. Listening to the comments and suggestions of future users is one way to make sure that transportation modes are accessible to as many people as possible.

Walking is a form of transportation which can be overlooked but is especially important as Americans’ daily lives have become more sedentary than those of past generations. At the recent Every Body Walk! Walking Summit held in Washington, D.C., October 1-3, walking advocates from across the country gathered "as part of a movement to boost the prevalence of walking and increase the ease of walking or walkability" (Oct. 1 Press Release). Participants included professionals from the fields of advocacy, development, business, education, and government.

www.pedbikesimages.org / Dan Burden

Walking equity was a main point of conversation, and many participants emphasized the need to consider the abilities of all members of a community when planning walking paths and trails. In her AARP Blog posting, The Infrastructure of Inequality, senior strategic policy adviser Jana Lynott acknowledges the Summit for their focus on equity. “[W]e, as a society, need to put pedestrian accessibility on equal footing with funding for other transportation improvements,” Lynott writes.

At the Summit, Easter Seals Project ACTION was pleased to take part in the discussion of how communities can increase the amount of walking that people do for fun, for exercise, and to get around. At the Community Share Fair on October 2, ESPA staff spoke with Summit participants about walking projects in their communities. One participant was looking to expand a walking program for older adults to include the use of indoor spaces in cases of rain. ESPA staff also spoke to two featured guest speakers, Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray, who will be videotaping their 500-mile trek across northern Spain (visit www.IllPushYou.com). As Skeesuck uses a wheelchair, the friends seek to promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness through the documentary. Overall, participants at the fair seemed motivated to making walking a reality for everyone regardless of age or ability.

ESPA encourages cities and towns to help make their communities walkable/navigable for all, and perhaps most importantly, make sure children both with and without disabilities understand the importance of access to and participation in outdoor activities. Together, we can create livable cities that are inclusive for all. For more information, see ESPA’s webpages on Accessible Pathways, Livability, and Wayfinding.

Greenville, NC Increases Inclusive Transportation Options with the Purchase of an Accessible Taxi

2013-10-17T09:40:00.000-04:00

By Whitney E. Gray

To meet the transportation needs of all residents, communities must consider a variety of options and taxis can be an important part of that mix. Taxis can not only provide support as part of paratransit services but also increase services to all community residents regardless of ability. Many cities and towns across the country are looking to expand their taxi services for these reasons but may need help with acquiring accessible vehicles. With perseverance, community partnerships, and technical assistance from Easter Seals Project ACTION, Journey Transportation of Greenville, North Carolina purchased its first accessible taxi this summer―and their story is an example for other areas of how to work with taxi providers and the city to accomplish this goal.

Bob Thompson, Advocacy Coordinator for

Disability Advocates and Resource Center and
chairman of the Pitt Area Transit System, and
Monica Hunter, owner and manager of Journey
Transportation Services (2013)

In March 2005, a team of people from Greenville, N.C. traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in ESPA’s Mobility Planning Institute (See Retrospective from the event). Mr. Bob Thompson, Advocacy Coordinator for Disability Advocates and Resource Center and chairman of the Pitt Area Transit System, was part of the group as was Rhonda Phillips the manager of Pitt Area Transit System (PATS), Nancy Harrington, the manager of Greenville Area Transit System (GREAT) City of Greenville, and Mickey Boykin, another advocate. At MPS Institute, advocates and service providers from Greenville worked together to see what their community’s needs were and how they could work to meet those needs.

Taxis and ADA compliance remained an issue for Greenville, N.C., however. In 2009, a man who used a wheelchair called Mr. Thompson to report that he had been charged $150 to take a taxi to work roundtrip on a Sunday. He could have easily rolled to work if the street had a sidewalk, but it didn’t. At different points, Mr. Thompson himself had been charged around $25 for a 3-mile trip. These high prices most likely included extra charges that are not allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

With great determination, Mr. Thompson started working to get an ordinance passed for ADA compliance. Bill Little, the city attorney, provided him with legal assistance and Ken Thompson, veterans transportation community living initiative and technical assistance coordinator at ESPA, helped by providing technical assistance. In 2010, the ordinance was successfully passed, and the local police department now inspects taxis and looks for compliance issues. Going one step further, the city of Greenville hosted a mandatory meeting on March 26, 2013 and required transportation providers to attend or else forfeit their licenses. At the meeting, ESPA technical assistance specialists Kristi McLaughlin and Krystian Boreyko presented on ADA and taxi service via webinar. ESPA also provided packets on ADA and taxi service, helping to clearly explain how taxi drivers should interact with customers with disabilities.

Mr. Thompson enters Journey
Transportation’s accessible taxi (2013)

More than simply wanting to improve customer service and ADA compliance, Bob Thompson saw taxis as an alternative transportation mode that riders could access 24 hours a day. After the meeting with taxi providers, Mr. Thompson started working with Journey Transportation Service, owned and managed by Monica Hunter, to attain accessible taxis. Journey Transportation was an ideal company to work with as they were well-acquainted with the area’s transit needs: they already provided Medicaid transportation for Pitt County and the NC Department of Social Services and assisted PATS with overflow paratransit rides

In 2013, the city started working to apply for a grant to get accessible taxis. Not wanting to wait to obtain the grant, Journey Transportation went ahead and purchased an accessible van. On July 21, 2013, the day of Greenville’s ADA celebration during “Sunday in the Park,” Mr. Thompson took the first ride in the new vehicle. Acquisition of the accessible taxi was monumental for the city and its residents with disabilities.

Now those who use larger wheelchairs and other mobility devices from which the user is not able to transfer to the seat of a vehicle can get wherever they need to go in Greenville at any time of day. Thanks to an ADA advocate’s perseverance, the city’s efforts to work with providers, and a private company’s initiative to purchase a vehicle, the community of Greenville has become more inclusive for all. Partnerships and a willingness to work together were key to the success of improving taxi service in Greenville. The city and Journey Transportation are working to attain more accessible vehicles in an effort to make transportation in Greenville inclusive for all.

WMATA Recognizes ESPA for Serving the Disability Community

2013-10-11T14:22:00.001-04:00

By Whitney E. Gray

Dr. Rosalyn Simon

Over the past 25 years, Easter Seals Project ACTION has worked to make accessible community transportation a reality for all. ESPA’s third director, Dr. Rosalyn Simon, was one of the many champions who pushed for the empowerment of people with disabilities through inclusion in public transportation. From 1992 to 1996, Simon guided ESPA’s activities at a pivotal time when the Americans with Disabilities Act was still new yet dramatically opening up public transportation access to people with disabilities. As Simon stated, “Everybody in transit was surprised that the numbers were growing. I don’t think anybody was prepared for the cost and the demand” (The Road More Traveled, 2008).

After leading ESPA’s service to communities across the country, Simon worked at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to help make the system more accessible. After she passed away in 2011, WMATA dedicated its Transit Accessibility Center in honor of her and presented the first Dr. Rosalyn Simon Award to Simon’s daughter, Monica Simon. The award is presented each year “to an industry professional or organization serving the disability community” (Event program). At the Center’s dedication in 2011, Christian T. Kent, WMATA’s assistant general manager for access services, stated, “Dr. Simon was a friend, mentor, and an inspiration to many in the field of transportation, and her renowned expertise enabled the transportation industry to provide safe, accessible, and quality transportation to people with disabilities” (WMATA Press Release, 2011).

This year at the Second Annual Accessibility Excellence Awards, held October 8th in Washington, D.C., WMATA chose ESPA to receive the Dr. Rosalyn Simon Award. Monica Simon presented the award to Mary A. Leary, PhD, vice president of the Easter Seals Transportation Group, and Randall Rutta, chief strategy officer at Easter Seals. Upon formally accepting the award, Rutta spoke about Simon’s impact on the field of accessible transportation, and Easter Seals commitment to continuing to support increases in accessible transportation both through ESPA and Easter Seals’ advocacy efforts. In addition, Leary acknowledged the work of Michael A. Winter, who passed away this summer, and his efforts to achieve equal rights for people with disabilities, including in access to transit. Winter was awarded the Richard W. Heddinger award, which is presented each year to an advocate and member of the disability community who has significantly helped increase WMATA’s accessibility, and his family accepted on his behalf.

ESPA was honored to receive the Dr. Rosalyn Simon Award and would like to thank and acknowledge those across the country working to further accessible transportation. Countless community leaders, disability advocates, and transit professionals have greatly increased accessible transportation options in their local areas since the passage of ADA. ESPA looks forward to continued support of and partnership with communities as they to push ahead and become fully-inclusive for all regardless of ability.

ESPA staff receive the Dr. Rosalyn Simon Award. From left to right, Carol Dillon Kissal (WMATA), NiKette Banks (ESPA), Ken Thompson (ESPA), Whitney E. Gray (ESPA), Judy Shanley (ESPA), Rachel Beyerle (ESPA), Donna Smith (ESPA), Carol Wright & Marie Maus (ESPA - not seen), Mary A. Leary (Easter Seals), Monica Simon (Simon and Simon Consulting), Patrick Sheehan (WMATA), Randy Rutta (Easter Seals), and Christian T. Kent (WMATA). In foreground, Atsuko Kuwana (Wife of Michael Winter).