1. A Ride Away Project - By Danielle McGill

2. A Ride Away Project
Ann Storck Center was my host organization. It is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities
Ann Storck Center has an FDOT funded Mobility Management Facilitation Program, called “Community Transportation Connections” – Enhancing Mobility for Every Ability!
A Ride Away Project was created by myself and the ASC team because it had the same mission
A Ride Away Project was made as a way to help to individuals with disabilities in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
2. Community Transportation Connections team to enhance transportation options
3. This is done through peer to peer instruction and travel experiences from a riders point of view.
4. who use transportation options to look at the challenges and find another way to use the resources that are already there.

3. Taking on the Transportation Challenge
MISSION
A Ride Away Project is to help individuals with disabilities and the transportation disadvantaged on their journey to independence. The Project educates individuals with disabilities about different transportation services within their county while promoting safety when traveling.
VISION
Educate individuals about different transportation options to increase their freedom and accessibility.
Educate individuals on self-advocacy on their journey to independence.
Promote and spread awareness about safety when traveling.
Create a community of inclusion by inspiring others by traveling on the different transportation options through the use of the A Ride Away Guide and A Ride Away Travel Training Workbook.

4. Goals and Objectives for the Journey!
Identify public and private transportation challenges in Broward and Palm Beach Counties
1. Create an End-User Survey
Peer to peer instruction to
empower individuals with disabilities
2. Create Travel Training Tools
1.Create an End-user Survey-to serve as research and to give data findings to Florida Department of Transportation
The end users are individuals with disabilities, seniors, veterans, low income.
-They can give personal insight and experiences of the types of needs they have.
They can share information about the current transportation services being offered.
Create Travel Training Tools that Empower Individuals with Disabilities
-Create educational tools for Individuals to learn about and practice self-advocacy through a peer to peer resource, including, blog, social media, e-newsletter.
3. Create Self-Advocacy Workshops to Empower Individuals with Disabilities.
I was invited to participate and give speeches on self-advocacy and how it relates to transportation
During these presentations I provided materials in several formats: including power point presentations, a brochure, and social media to gain the attention of stakeholders and service providers.
-A Ride Away Project shared my personal experience using the different transportation options. In my presentation, I shared my early years as a youth attending special education classes, and being excluded from the main stream classes, even in recreational activities in the community. At the conclusion of the presentation clients/students were asked to complete the transportation questionnaire (end-user).
3. Self- Advocacy Workshops
Create material power point presentations, brochure, and social media to gain the attention of stakeholders and service providers.

5. A Ride Away Project’s Plan of Action
Fixed Route Bus
Taxi/Uber
Tri-Rail
Community Bus
- A Ride Away Guide is a resource with instructions (from my experience) on how to use different transportation options.
- Rider Insider Transit Diary is where I share my personal daily travels on the various transportation options.
Riders can post comments, give advice, and inspire others.
GOAL:
Help people on their journey to independence through transportation access.
COMMUNITY INCLUSION
&
INDEPENDENCE

6. A Ride Away Project’s Resources
End User Survey (Advocacy Tool)
ASCRiderInsider Online Community (Social Media) (Peer to Peer Forum)
Rider Insider Transit Diary Videos (Peer to Peer Instructional Tools)
2.workbook to reinforce what is instructed in A Ride Away Guide with lessons and activities.
3. is a smaller version of the guide that gives an overall summary of steps when traveling
4. My personal traveling experiences on the different modes of transportation. The diary is on Facebook, for riders or future riders to share their experiences and advice, in order to inspire other people.
5. Rider Insider Travel Training Instruction- Real life peer-to-peer instruction of a riders journey!

7. A Ride Away Project’s Resources Continued
A Ride Away Guide Advocates Guide to Getting to places!”
“A Ride Away Travel Pocket Guide”
“A Ride Away Guide” Travel Training Workbook
Ann Storck Center, Inc. Community Transportation Connections & A Ride Away Project Transportation Challenge
2.workbook to reinforce what is instructed in A Ride Away Guide with lessons and activities.
3. is a smaller version of the guide that gives an overall summary of steps when traveling
4. My personal traveling experiences on the different modes of transportation. The diary is on Facebook, for riders or future riders to share their experiences and advice, in order to inspire other people.
5. Rider Insider Travel Training Instruction- Real life peer-to-peer instruction of a riders journey!

8. Resources from a Rider’s Perspective
A Ride Away Travel Training Workbook reinforces the material in the guide by strengthening individuals self-advocacy skills as they learn how to navigate different transportation option
For example it teaches safety while traveling- Safe Place, Safe Stranger, the different modes of transportation, Places to travel, Preparing to travel to a destination using trip planning.
A Ride Away Pocket Guide provides the overall basic process of traveling with contact information of different transportation options
Rider Insider Travel Training videos are instructional real experiences from a peer-to peer perspective.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK!

9. Community Inclusion is Only a Ride Away!
Changing perceptions and stigma
Building confidence in an individual’s abilities
Individuals with disabilities have an active role in their communities. .
Individuals with disabilities in the past have faced ridicule, shame, disgrace, isolation, and rejection. Now, society is changing their perspectives about disabilities. Transportation allows a person to have freedom and self-determination to make better choices in their lives.
A Ride Away Project gives a individual confidence in their abilities when trying and using different transportation options. A person’s abilities then can be seen and inspire others when having access to opportunities like employment, secondary education, and in recreational activities. The more society sees us in our communities, the stigma will fade away.
A Ride Away Project’s Future
1. That will help organizations and individual with disabilities locally
2. learn how to travel safely on the different transportation options.
3. Riders will be empowered by becoming their own self-advocates that will create more opportunities in life

10. Self-Advocacy Efforts Community Presentations
A Ride Away Project’s Participation
Outreach
Self-Advocacy Efforts
Community Presentations
Human Services Transportation Summit
Disability Expo 2017
Teens Transition Summit
Inclusion Showcase
Palm Beach Resource Fair
Family Care Council
Nonprofit Executive Alliance Workshop
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Advisory Board Meeting in Broward
Transportation Disadvantaged Task Force member
National Self- Advocates Council of the Arc
CIL Leadership member
Transportation Disadvantaged Legislative Awareness Day
Center Independent Living
Arc of Broward
Dan Marino Foundation
JAFCO
Children Services Council
Seven largest school districts
Palm Beach Local Coordinating Board for Transportation Disadvantaged
As a result of the needs for transportation self-advocates for individuals with disabilities, I have attended events in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, some of which I made presentations about the A Ride Away Project or invited to speak as an advocate on community inclusion or an individual who is transportation disadvantaged. Here are several of the activities/events I have participated in over the year.

11. A Ride Away Project Testimonials!

12. Transportation Disadvantaged Legislative Day
Advocacy Highlights
Transportation Disadvantaged Legislative Day
SB 1086 and SB 770
To amend the Transportation for the Disadvantaged services authorizing the use of uniformed fare payment system to be used by individuals with disabilities while traveling cross-county boundaries to their destination.
As a transportation advocate for individuals with disabilities, I had the opportunity to meet with various Florida Legislators who took the time to listen and offer support of individuals considered to be transportation disadvantaged.
9,900 steps, 952 miles, 75 new connections, 15 legislator meetings, 10 photo opportunities, 6 new ambassadors = 1 successful Transportation Disadvantage Legislative Awareness Day. Our advocacy and conversation on transportation is just beginning! Having the opportunity to mutually learn about transportation policy and our legislators being inspired by the efforts of Ann Storck Center's Community Transportation Connections and A Ride Away Project, has made advocating become a reality.

13. Transportation Disadvantaged Taskforce of Florida
Advocacy Highlights
Transportation Disadvantaged Taskforce of Florida
As a transportation advocate for individuals with disabilities, I was appointed by Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) to participate on a state wide taskforce that aimed to support individuals considered to be transportation disadvantaged.
9,900 steps, 952 miles, 75 new connections, 15 legislator meetings, 10 photo opportunities, 6 new ambassadors = 1 successful Transportation Disadvantage Legislative Awareness Day. Our advocacy and conversation on transportation is just beginning! Having the opportunity to mutually learn about transportation policy and our legislators being inspired by the efforts of Ann Storck Center's Community Transportation Connections and A Ride Away Project, has made advocating become a reality.

14. Lessons Learned as a Fellow
How to separate my advocacy at work and my personal self-advocacy
Learning the difference between non-profit and government ways of getting things done
Learning the process of management
Learn how to ask for accommodations at work
As a self-advocate you can become a role model
-My role as a Leadership Fellow, I had to change the way I represent myself to agencies and people in the community now only see me as transportation advocate. However I can advocate for other areas like education.
-Ways of how things are done. I had to ask for accommodations like giving me clear cut guidelines to follow. A white board to write down my tasks so I can remember what to do throughout the day. These things help me to be more successful at work.

15. Lessons Learned as a Fellow
The Community Transportation Connections team and Ann Storck Center leadership supported me on my journey to independence by letting me discover my abilities. During my year long journey, I learned to utilize different transportation options within the local community and across county lines. With this in mind, our team approached this project to not only help others on how they see themselves on their journey to independence, but help change lives… like mine!
I am a valued Community Transportation Connections team member at Ann Storck Center, Inc. As person with a disability it is important to be respected who we are. I am honor to say that this team fostered my personal growth by challenging me as I tried and use the different transportation options. Ann Storck Center believes in the mission of A Ride Away Project and what it means for individuals with disabilities in Broward County, Palm Beach Counties, and other counties across the United States.
I would like to say thank you to the Ann Storck Center for hosting A Ride Away Project. I want to say a special thanks to my colleague Jayson P. Babel and CEO of Ann Storck Center Charlotte M. Taylor

16. A Ride Away Project Leads to a Career In Advocacy
A Ride Away Project is giving me the independence and opportunities to start my own business.
Through this project I now want to do public speaking to help others on their journey!
People expressed interest in my life story not just A Ride Away Project. I have begun to write a book.
I have made new contacts throughout the year and have invited me to come speak at events locally and nationally.
Since May 2017, at the start of this fellowship, I have been employed for over a year.

17. A Ride Away Project’s Future
Travel Training Program: One-to-one or small group peer to peer instruction.
Rider Insider Ambassadors: Expanding the Project to have more skilled and knowledgeable riders, increased use of all modes of transportation, and more community inclusion

18. Facebook: @ASCRiderInsider Twitter: @ASCRiderInsider
Toll-Free Telephone: TRIP (8747)
Danielle McGill Transportation Advocate Ann Storck Center, Inc.