Supporting the Transition of Students with Disabilities with Inclusive Transportation Practices Accessible Transportation for Students Practice Group Transition Community of Practice IDEA Partnership

Inclusive Transportation Means The tenets of Least Restrictive Environment pertain to transportation services students receive in school and also across school settings as students transition Students with disabilities use the same transportation as their peers without disabilities Families, students, and educators learn about transportation options through content embedded in instruction Educators, pupil and public transporters work together to develop inclusive transportation supports and options for students

Legislation & Policy Across School and Community Reinforce Inclusive Transportation Least Restrictive Environment Inclusion IDEA Access to the General Education Curriculum Americans with Disabilities Act Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Higher Education Opportunities Act State Employment First Initiatives Olmstead ACT

What is Not Inclusive… When students with disabilities are not considered for transportation services that their peers without disabilities use When the only transportation option for students when they leave high school is paratransit services

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

Strategies to Integrate Accessible Transportation and Transition Services Engage families, students, and colleagues – hold a transportation summit –Invite students who use transit, businesses, Voc Rehab Conduct resource mapping of transportation resources & travel training services – shared services (church, school, business) Connect with transit organizations and mobility management systems –Federal United We Ride – Contribute to IEP goals around accessible transportation Invite transit professionals into events

Strategies to Integrate Accessible Transportation and Transition Services Use & visit transit – field trips Embed transportation content into curriculum and instruction Look for grant opportunities to focus on accessible transportation Connect with local teacher education and rehabilitation preparation programs Integrate transportation content into professional development Understand travel instruction and its components Consider offering travel instruction services –Partner with human services organizations, transit agencies, State agencies

Engaging Students Students are critical informants to transportation education –Integrating transportation content into academic standards and curriculum (Module 5) will help students become more involved in transportation content and discussions about transportation options as they move across grades –Providing students with opportunities to express their preferences and interests in transportation options will better ensure that choices are aligned with student needs –Using tools, such as the social and sensory scans, can help engage students –Assisting students in developing a self-advocacy plan teaches self- determination

Engaging Families Families may be fearful or hesitant to let their children explore a continuum of transportation options –Providing forums for families to express their concerns is important –Facilitating connections across families whose children have successfully received a continuum of services, with those families who may be fearful, can demonstrate the positive outcomes related to transportation education –Organizing events such as a summit is one way to engage families Scroll here to click forward arrow

Engaging Your Local Transit Agency Most public transportation agencies have an ADA Compliance Officer that would be a good initial contact Transit agencies are invested in increasing fixed route use while reducing paratransit ridership costs –Highlight your efforts in increasing the use of the fixed route system rather than paratransit Ask your transit system how you can partner with their Travel Training Program if they offer a program Ask transit professionals about local transit policies and fare programs for people with disabilities

Resources Easter Seals Project ACTION –Transportation Education & Travel Instruction CurriculumTransportation Education & Travel Instruction Curriculum –Judy Shanley, Director Student Engagement, Easter Seals, IDEA Partnership-Transition CoP - Accessible Transportation for Students Practice GroupIDEA Partnership-Transition CoP - Accessible Transportation for Students Practice Group United We Ride –Federal effort to facilitate collaboration across Federal agencies that have a role in transportation