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

Travel Training for Young RidersOh, its so much more….

Judy Shanley, Ph.D.Asst. Vice President, Education & Youth Transition

Co-Director, National Center for Mobility ManagementEaster Seals

Chicago, IL

Learning Objectives

Recognize connections across travel training, mobility, and lots of other learning areas

Identify important roles for school transportation Leverage community and national resources Have fun, network, and reflect

What is Travel Training?

It’s Not About….

It is About….

Creating Opportunities for Children & Youth

It is About…

Working Together

It is About….

Building a Foundation for Student Learning & Independence

What is Travel Training?

“Travel training” means providing instruction, as appropriate, to children with significant cognitive disabilities, and any other children with disabilities who require this instruction, to enable them to: (34 CFR 300.39(b)(4))

1. Develop an awareness of the environment in which they live; and2. Learn the skills necessary to move effectively and safely fromplace to place within that environment (e.g., in school, in thehome, at work, and in the community).

A Narrow Approach to Thinking about Travel Training

Travel training is the professional activity of teaching people to independently travel on public transportation. – Travel training practice - application of a code of ethics,

guiding principles, methods and strategies. – Individuals who successfully complete a travel training

program will demonstrate the skill level needed to travel independently and without support.

Travel Instruction

Travel instruction is the array, continuum, or family of services offered to individuals with disabilities,

seniors, and others who need assistance to increase their mobility and travel on public transportation

independently. Association on Travel Instruction (ATI) - http://www.travelinstruction.org/index.html

• Travel Orientation• Travel Familiarization• Travel Training

Travel Instruction – Multi-tiered Process

Travel Orientation– Individual or group activity conducted for the purpose of explaining the

transportation system.

Travel Familiarization– Individual or group activity to facilitate use of transportation systems with a

travel trainer accompanying experienced traveler(s) on a new on a new mode of transportation or route to point out/explain features of access and usability.

Think about your role, how can you contribute to:

Travel Training One-to-one short-term instruction provided to an individual who has

previously traveled independently and needs additional training or support to use a different mode of travel, a different route, mode of transit, or travel to a new destination - or –

One-to-one comprehensive, specially designed instruction in the skills and behaviors necessary for independent travel on public transportation provided to an individual who does not have independent travel concepts or skills to go from point of origin of trip to destination and back

http://www.travelinstruction.org/forms/ATIAugust2011DefinitionOfTravelTraining.pdf

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

How are you Involved in Travel Instruction?

A. Co-deliver travel instruction services with colleaguesB. Use school buses as a venue for trainingC. Collaborate with public transit colleagues to support travel

trainingD. Other waysE. Not involved at all

Why Provide Travel Instruction?

A. Oh gosh, we have so much time, we just need another thing to do

B. Our buses don’t get enough use – lets find other things to do with them

C. It’s the law!

(2) Special education includes each of the following, if the services otherwise meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section--

(i) Speech-language pathology services, or any other related service, if the service is considered special education rather than a related service under State standards;(ii) Travel training; and(iii) Vocational education.

Legal Reasons….

IDEA 2004: Regulations: Part 300 / A / 300.39Sec. 300.39 Special education

Legislation & Policy Across School and Community Reinforce a Focus on Inclusive Transportation

Least Restrictive Environment Inclusion IDEA Access to the General Education Curriculum

Americans with Disabilities Act Higher Education Opportunity Act State Employment First Initiatives Olmstead Act Workforce Innovation and

Opportunity Act

Why Travel Instruction?Student Outcomes

Enhance student mobility skill and independence

Create mobility options for children & youth– Least Restrictive Environment, Inclusive

practice Develop a platform for greater learning

Benefits/Outcomes

20

Student Outcomes

Professional (educators, transportation Outcomes

Wheel of Learning

Mobility Management

A Wheel of Learning Opportunity

Social Skills Decision-making

Safety Physical health

Geography Distance-spatial relations

Social norms Self-discipline/regulation

Time

Small Group Discussion

10 Minutes – Small group - Use the template to jot down your thoughts in response to each question – share ideas and strategies

10 Minutes – Large group discussion/reflection on thoughts

Voices from Youth

I feel like I am independent. I don’tneed to depend on my mom and dad to

take me places. Now I can ridethe bus to get to my job and to the movies

with my friends

Spontaneous Choice

http://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/183/183.pdf23

Travel InstructionBenefits to School Professionals

Offers opportunities for transportation-classroom connections – working together

Provides forums for community engagement– Collaboration with transit

Positions program for potential funding support– Federal Transit Administration– PROMISE Grants– IDEA Funding

School Programs

Using yellow bus as a learning venue for mobility Establish ride buddy program Share vehicles (as States/districts permit)

Encourage integrated multi-modal mobility options– Bus, cars, walking, bicycles, shared ride

School participation in mobility management & community coordinated transportation planning

Yellow School Buses as a Learning Venue

Relationships with Pupil Transportation (National Association for Pupil Transportation www.napt.org and National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services http://www.nasdpts.org/)

Simulate public buses• Establish fare cards• Use public transit signage• Invite public transit drivers on school grounds• Develop schedules and route maps• Provide students/clients computer route maps• Mimic driver alert systems on buses• Replicate social variance on bus

Share Vehicles

Not surprisingly, in many states — 14 to be exact — the yellow school bus remains the only

allowable transportation mode for transporting all students to and from school. But then things

get complicated. National Association for State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services – article in STN

http://www.stnonline.com/index.php/news/latest-news/item/6524-survey-shows-which-vehicles-states-allow-for-student-transportation?utm_source=eNews+02.04.15&utm_campaign=STN+EXPO+052814&utm_medium=email

What is Mobility ManagementMobility management is an approach to designing and delivering

transportation services that starts and ends with the customer. It begins with a community vision in which the entire transportation network—public transit, private operators, cycling and walking, volunteer drivers,

and others—works together with customers, planners, and stakeholders to deliver the transportation options that best meet the community’s

needs.

Goals of Mobility Management• Creating partnerships between a diverse range of

community organizations (public, private, non-profit, for-profit, etc.) to ensure that transportation resources are coordinated effectively.

• Using these partnerships to develop and enhance travel options for customers in the community or region.

• Developing ways to effectively communicate those options to the public to inform customers’ decision-making, focusing on enhancing customer service.

http://www.apta.com/resources/hottopics/mobility/Pages/default.aspx

Mobility Management focuses on YOU and your individual transportation needs – whether you are currently driving, need transportation, or are somewhere in-between.

Like a travel agent coordinates air, hotel and car rental, mobility managers, or specialists, help

you coordinate the services you need to get you where you need to go, for your whole trip.

Mobility Management Makes Sense…• Demand. Numbers of riders increasing.• Flexibility. Public transit recognizes the importance

of multi-modal services.• Quality of Life. Connections with health,

employability, and livability – especially for Veterans.• Economic. Market-driven services, improves

efficiency. • Customer-Focused. Involving riders and other

community members in the design of services results in services community members want and will use.

Economic Impact• Denver, CO RTD: mobility mgmt savings

-Vanpool programs: $690,000-Taxi user side subsidy: $1,483,000

• Southeastern Michigan: SMART-Community Partnership Program saved $ 2.7 million(2002 figures)

• Portland, OR: Tri-Met & Ride Connection-As mobility manager for special needs riders, Ride Connection saved Tri-Met $ 1.973 Million in FY 2001

From J. Burkhardt http://www.apta.com/resources/hottopics/mobility/Documents/Business-Case-for-Mobility-Management.pdf

Why?

Why is Coordination Important?

And This is Why…

Leverage Resources through Mobility Management & NCMM

How Can School Professionals Connect with Mobility Management Systems?

Contact your local Metropolitan Planning Organization – Transportation department to learn about coordination in your community

Find out about grant programs through which your school may participate and collaborate with mobility managers

Learn about whether your students can access any of the transportation services provided by participants in the mobility management-coordinated transportation system

Attend meetings, meet people, join transportation committees Use resources offered by mobility managers to orient students to

transportation options Invite mobility managers into your school

The National Center for Mobility Management

The mission of the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) is to facilitate communities to adopt transportation strategies and mobility options that empower people to live

independently and advance health, economic vitality, self-sufficiency, and community.

www.nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org

About the NCMM

• National Technical assistance center• Launched in early 2013• Jointly operated by three national organizations:

– Easter Seals– American Public Transportation Association– Community Transportation Association of America

• Through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. DOT

Communications and Outreach Website that integrates current mobility

management work across partners Listservs – LinkedIn Newsletters Targeted articles and informational pieces in

related publications

Stay Current with NCMM

• Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nc4mm or @nc4mm • Sign up for NCMM’s e-newsletter and regular email updates on

important topics. • Read our latest blog entry or newsletter, or listen to a podcast or

recorded webinar –

www.nc4mm.org

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.

In Fierce Conversations, By Susan Scott

Judy Shanley, [email protected]