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Strategies for Sustaining Independent Travel for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities Marie Rooney. Strategies for Sustaining Independent Travel. 14-19 Post 16 FE Adults Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities. How is Independent Travel Training defined?.
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Strategies for Sustaining Independent Travel for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or DisabilitiesMarie Rooney
Strategies for Sustaining Independent Travel 14-19 Post 16 FE Adults Learning Difficulties and or Disabilities
How is Independent Travel Training defined? • Individualised Programmes • Providing training and support to achieve maximum potential • Self / safety / danger awareness • Focus on required skills • Delivered by competent trainers • Clear assessment procedures
Why Travel Training? • Vulnerable Young People • Students with a Learning Difficulty and or Disability • All age groups / all areas • Public transport, buildings and services more accessible • Equal access required by law
The need for travel training • Taxi Culture • Years of inaccessible transport • Lack of knowledge / confidence • Limited Skills • Restrictions imposed by practicalities • Low aspirations • Work Experience / Employment
Society is changing • DDA • Attitudes, Aspirations, Expectations • Equal Opportunities / Equal Rights • Levels of mobility rising • Access to Employment • Access to Further Education • DDA protects against discrimination
The Missing Link? • Accessible transport? • to make the journeys it is necessary to have the skills: • to plan journeys, timetables and maps • to travel safely and with confidence • to respond to and cope with unexpected circumstances
Involving others • Parents and Carers • Friends and family • Peer Mentoring • School and College staff • Social Workers and Key workers • Outreach buddies • Work Experience / Employment Links • Transition Officers
Wider Involvement • LA Transport staff • LA Highways Dept • PTEs • Police Community Officers • Transport Staff/ Operators • Mobility Officers • Training into Employment Agencies • Community Transport
Review Progress • Record Programme • Monitor and Evaluate progress • Checklist • Scenarios • Emergencies • The Benefits and the Costs
Sustaining and Improving theTravel Training Scheme • Review the programme regularly • Provide ways and opportunities for feedback from staff, students, • trainees. trainers, • carers, parents, • bus operators • Tackle complaints or grievances promptly
Success • Value success • Publicise success • Promote good training • Share good practice • Consult all participants • Develop and improve your programme
Funding • Costs are high • Staff costs and overheads • Supply Cover • Staff training • Transport fares, staff petrol • Home visits • Two schemes in tandem
Sustain or abandon? • Short term funds or ongoing revenue • Recruitment • Continuity of training • Guaranteed funding leads to sustainability • Parents, students, Schools, Colleges, • Employers, Transition Officers, Connexions Service, LA transport managers • ALL ABOARD for success
Strategies • Who is responsible for the provision of Travel Training? • Is local level enough? • Who provides the financial support? • Commitment – top down? • Accreditation • Starting points – Schools / Colleges • Partnership working
Effective Partnership • Every Child Matters Agenda • Transport Policy Statements • Transition Planning • Education Pathfinders • Learning for Living and Work • School reviews • LDD Partnership Boards • Equality and Diversity • Direct Payments / EMA • Valuing People
Subsequent Elements withinthe strategy • SEN Code of Practice • DDA 1995 2005 • Education Inspections Act • CYP and Adult Soc. Services Planning • Pathways to Work • Integrated Transport Units • Local Strategic Plans
Workshop Activity • In group 1 we will identify the needs for a strategy to sustain Travel Training, who would be involved and how we can implement them.
Workshop Activity • In group 2 we will address and identify the issues: • for quality provision, continuity and progression at relevant stages of transition. What can we do to implement these? • Is an identified and appointed Travel Training Advisor within specific areas a solution?