Helping seniors and people with disabilities get around town
by Beth
My Seeing Eye dog Whitney and I value the importance of public transportation, and with that in mind I am happy to introduce Lucinda Shannon, MPA, the Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for the National Center on Senior Transportation, as a guest blogger today.
Supporting people who need assistance with transportation
by Lucinda Shannon, MPA
Transportation for people with disabilities and older adults is a priority for Easter Seals. In addition to the variety of transportation services provided by many of our affiliate offices, Easter Seals’ Transportation Group administers two federally-funded training and technical assistance centers to support people who need assistance with transportation.
The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) works to improve and increase transportation services for older adults, and Easter Seals Project Action (ESPA) collaborates with the disability community, transportation providers and human service providers to improve transportation options for people with disabilities.
Both training and technical assistance centers are funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, and they both focus on providing services in the following areas:
- Training online or in-person, where individuals can learn how to strengthen accessible transportation within their own community
- Outreach that includes resources and publications available on a variety of topics (things like accessible transportation, customer service, ADA regulations, and livable communities) plus staff presentations and participation at conferences, and staff participation on advisory committees
- Technical assistance activities through a toll-free hotline that allows customers to connect with us Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm ET
- Research on various key topics that helps fill research gaps, and helps staff develop useful materials by engaging with scholars and partner organizations to increase greater understanding of issues and best practices associated with accessible transportation across various modes, both public and private.
You can visit the NCST website to learn more about senior transportation, and ESPA’s website to learn about transportation for people with disabilities. Browse both sites for publications and resources, and while you’re there, check our calendars for upcoming training events and online courses. If you have questions, you can reach ESPA at 800-659-6428 and NCST at 866-528-6278.