Para 104 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 20
About This Presentation
Title:

Para 104

Description:

... don't have a formal program, ask for one-on-one support from your transit provider. ... What Advocacy Services Can I Use? Local and State Resources ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:25
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 21
Provided by: timb214
Category:
Tags: centers | para

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Para 104


1
Para 104
Paratransit 104Travel Training
2
Definitions Paratransit
  • Paratransit Services
  • Paratransit service grew in the United States
    following the Americans with Disabilities Act
    which required complementary paratransit be
    provided alongside most public transit services
    in the United States which receive funding from
    the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). ADA
    complementary paratransit service is for people
    who are unable to ride buses by virtue of a
    disabling condition. (Wikipedia)

3
Definitions Fixed Route
  • Fixed Route
  • The term ''fixed route system'' means a system
    of providing designated public transportation on
    which a vehicle is operated along a prescribed
    route according to a fixed schedule.

4
Definitions Demand Response
  • Demand response
  • Paratransit (also called demand response or
    dial-a-ride) is comprised of passenger cars, vans
    or small buses operating in response to calls
    from passengers or their agents to the transit
    operator, who then dispatches a vehicle to pick
    up the passengers and transport them to their
    destinations.  A paratransit operation is
    characterized by the following (a) The vehicles
    do not operate over a fixed route or on a fixed
    schedule except, perhaps, on a temporary basis to
    satisfy a special need and (b) typically, the
    vehicle may be dispatched to pick up several
    passengers at different pick-up points before
    taking them to their respective destinations and
    may even be interrupted en route to these
    destinations to pick up other passengers.

5
Definitions Travel Training
  • Travel training or travel instruction, is
    one-to-one individualized instruction designed to
    teach seniors and people with disabilities (other
    than blindness or visual impairment) to travel
    safely and independently on fixed-route public
    transit. This type of transit includes buses
    operating on regular routes and commuter rail
    systems.
  • Participants learn travel skills for following a
    specific route, typically to a school or a job
    site. Travel instruction professionals determine
    how different disabilities affect a person's
    ability to travel, and they develop methods to
    teach travel skills tailored to each persons
    needs.

6
Why Travel Training?
  • The benefits of successfully completing a travel
    training program include
  • Increase Your Independence
  • More choices and flexibility for travel
  • Have greater self-esteem and independence
  • Better access to employment, job training,
    post-secondary education and recreation
  • Set your own schedules
  • Move safely around the streets
  • Save money
  • Call PEAC for more information about travel
    training
  • 1-877-542-5101

7
Getting Travel Training
  • Travel Training is not available in every area of
    Texas.
  • Find out if your public transit provider provides
    travel training.
  • If they dont have a formal program, ask for
    one-on-one support from your transit provider.
  • Talk to Local your local Center for Independent
    Living or the Special Education Department of
    their Independent School District about
    partnering to create a Travel Training Program in
    your area.

8
Conditional Eligibility
  • This term typically becomes relevant when the
    local transit authority makes someone who has a
    disability eligible only for specific paratransit
    trips because he or she cannot use the
    fixed-route system to reach those destinations at
    certain times. However, for other destinations,
    or at other travel times, with better
    temperatures, for example, the transit authority
    may decide not to provide paratransit service
    when fixed routes are indeed accessible to that
    individual at that time.

9
El Paso Travel Training
  • Jose Lara
  • Works for VOLAR as a Independent Living Counselor
  • 6 years experience conducting travel training in
    the El Paso area for people with disabilities

10
Travel Training Basics
  • Learn to read bus schedules and identify buses
    and routes in a classroom setting
  • Peer Trainers build confidence through the
    training, so they are not alone
  • Learn to use bus passes, tickets, and transfers
  • Learn to use the bus lift, if needed
  • Learn to handle emergencies
  • Learn your rights and responsibilities
    as a rider.

11
Travel Training Steps- Get Ready, Organize, and Go
  • Make sure to be on time.
  • Bring personal items ( photo identification,
    medicine, proper clothing, money, etc. )
  • If you need assistance, let the driver know.
  • If you have a cell phone, take it with you.
  • Dont be a passive rider
  • Have emergency numbers with you
  • Develop a rapport with the driver
  • Show appreciation for good service
  • Observe bus/lift conditions

12
According to the ADA, you have the right to
  • Use any public transit system
  • Have route and service information provided to
    you in a accessible format (such as Braille, TTY,
    symbols or easy-to-read print.)
  • Expect all lifts and other accessible equipment
    to be kept in good working order.
  • Travel independently, with or without an
    attendant.
  • Have your wheelchair properly secured.
  • Request a driver to stop at any designated bus
    stop
  • Have the major streets and intersections
    announced.
  • Have enough time to get on and off a bus.

13
Your responsibilities are
  • Use fixed route transit instead of paratransit,
    when you can.
  • Get to the bus stop at the correct time.
  • Know how to get to your destination.
  • Control your service animal.
  • Ask for the lap/shoulder strap when in a
    wheelchair.
  • Tell the driver to stop at a designated stop or
    signal for the bus to stop.

14
Your responsibilities are
  • Pay your fare with exact change .
  • Show the operator and other passengers respect by
    demonstrating appropriate behavior.
  • Know if your mobility aid meets the requirements
    of a Commonly Used Wheelchair.
  • Does not exceed 30 inches wide.
  • Not more than 48 inches long, and
  • Does not weigh more than 600 lbs. when occupied.

15
Local Resources
  • Find info about your local transit authority at
    www.paratransittexas.org/provider-list
  • Contact your local transportation provider to
    find out about
  • Bus schedule and routes.
  • Special fares.
  • Travel Training availability
  • How to report your service complaints or comments

16
What Advocacy Services Can I Use?
  • Local and State Resources
  • Independent Living Counselors can help at your
    local Center for Independent Living for local
    info call 1-877-371-7353 or www.txsilc.org
  • Advocacy, Inc.s mission is to advocate for,
    protect, and advance the legal, human, and
    service rights of people with disabilities. For
    local info call 1-800-252-9108 or
    www.advocacyinc.org/index.cfm
  • PEAC offices In Austin, Tyler, Fort Worth, and El
    Paso for local and statewide info call
    1-877-542-5101
  • or www.paratransittexas.org

17
What Services Can I Use?
  • National Resources
  • National Council on Disabilities
  • Independent federal agency making recommendations
    to the President and Congress on disability
    policy. www.ncd.gov/
  • Easter Seals Project Action
  • promotes cooperation between the transportation
    industry and the disability community to increase
    mobility for people with disabilities
    ...http//projectaction.easterseals.com/
  • Federal Transit Administration
  • FTA's mission includes ensuring
    non-discriminatory, equitable, accessible and
    safe public transportation, enhancing the social
    and economic quality of life for people
    with disabilities... www.fta.dot.gov/civil_rights.
    htm

18
What Services Can I Use?
  • Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)
  • Committed to the development of competent travel
    skills for people with disabilities and seniors
    so they can establish the independence to freely
    elect to use all modes of public transportation
    anywhere in the world. http//www.travelinstructi
    on.org/
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • (202)366-2285 (Voice)1-888-446-4511
  • (202)366-0831 (TTY)

19
Funding for Travel Training Program
  • New Freedom Funds - helps individuals with
    disabilities by providing both new public
    transportation and public transportation
    alternatives beyond those required by the
    Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA),
    including transportation to and from jobs and
    employment-support services.
  • Potential partnerships include
  • Centers for Independent Living
  • Local Independent School Districts

20
Closing
  • Paratransit 104 Travel Training
  • Please evaluate this training on Paratransit
    Self-Advocacy Tools at www.paratransittexas.org/pr
    esentations-0
  • Thank you
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com