Travel Training Considerations Specific to Rural Settings

1. Travel Training Considerations Specific to Rural Settings Krystian Boreyko and Kristi McLaughlinEaster Seals Project ACTION

2. Easter Seals Project ACTION Mission To promote universal access to transportation for people with disabilities under federal law and beyond by partnering with transportation providers, the disability community and others through the provision of training, technical assistance, applied research, outreach and communication. • Functions • Training • Technical assistance • Outreach • Applied research

3. Our Contact Information www.projectaction.org www.seniortransportation.net www.easterseals.com Please view one of our websites and create a customer profile or call us at 800-659-6428.

4. Today’s Session will Include: • A discussion on each Introduction to Travel Training Module focusing on special considerations for travel training in rural settings • A group exercise that will allow you to learn from and teach your peers on trip planning in a rural setting • A time for open Q&A at the end of the session

5. About the Introduction to Travel Training Course • 3 day in-person course • Introductory level (target audience new travel trainers) • 7 module course • Includes hands-on exercises and practice building skills in trip planning, teaching street crossing and access to a transit vehicle

6. Introduction to Travel Training Modules • Travel Training Assessment Process • Trip Planning • Assessing the Path of Travel • Task Analysis • Street Crossing • Riding the Bus • Preparing for Unforeseen Incidents and Emergencies

7. Module 1 Travel Training Assessment Processes

8. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • Assessment should determine if student has the minimum level of ability or skills to participate in travel training. • Skills/abilities to be considered in rural settings include: • Scheduling a trip (phone and communication skills) • Transferring from provider to provider • Ability to take long transit trips • Navigating to pick up location with less than ideal path of travel

9. Module 2 Trip Planning

10. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • What trip planning tools could be used to ensure the following issues are considered prior to travel training: • Scheduling a trip • Getting to pick up location could be more difficult and possibly more dangerous • Coordinating more than one provider • Trip times are often long • Things to consider regarding your trip can be very important

11. Group Exercise Instructions • Break into groups • Receive vignette assignment from facilitators • With your group, complete the exercise • Your group will have 15 minutes to complete this exercise

12. Group Exercise Debrief • Group 1 • What information was missing from the guide provided for Jean’s trip? • What special considerations did you need to make to plan this trip? • What did you learn about rural travel training?

13. Group Exercise Debrief • Group 2 • What additional information might Ted need to safely complete the trip? • What special considerations did you need to make to plan this trip? • What did you learn about rural travel training?

14. Module 3 Assessing the Path of Travel

15. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • Lack of sidewalks, paths and/or shoulders • Lack of visibility of traffic • Lack of crosswalks • Vehicle speeds on rural roads • Distance to pick up location

16. Module 4 Task Analysis

17. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • No determined differences in developing a task analysis for urban or rural settings

18. Module 5 Street Crossing

19. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • Intersections without signals • Intersections without crosswalks • No intersections for long distances • Faster traffic flow on rural roads

20. Module 6 Riding the Bus

21. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • Different types of vehicles may be utilized • Vehicle features vary by type of vehicle • Process for paying fare varies by provider • Assistance provided by operators could vary by provider • ADA requirements could vary by mode of transportation

22. Module 7 Preparing for Unforeseen Incidents and Emergencies

23. Special Considerations for Rural Settings • Developing an emergency plan could be considered even more urgent in rural areas because of lack of availability of alternate routes to destination and/or lack of assistance available to students while traveling • No determined differences in developing an emergency plan for urban or rural settings

24. Module 1 Travel Training Assessment Processes

25. Module 1 Revisited – Travel Training Assessment Process • Assessment should determine if student has the minimum level of ability or skills to participate in travel training. • Skills/abilities to be considered in rural settings include: • Scheduling a trip (phone and communication skills) • Transferring from provider to provider • Ability to take long transit trips • Navigating to pick up location with less than ideal path of travel

26. Assessment Questions • What’s the farthest distance you walk on a regular basis? • If you were to have to wait somewhere for an hour, how would that make you feel? • What activities might you do to pass the time on a long bus ride?

27. Upcoming Introduction to Travel Training Courses • October 29-31 in Denver, CO • See us following the presentation for more information

28. Questions

29. Thank You! Easter Seals Project ACTION Email: projectACTION@easterseals.com Phone: 800-659-6428 TTY: 202-347-7385 Twitter: @projectACTION