Travel Training Program

1. Travel Training Program

2. Background • Travel Training Services provided by Contractor (R&D Transportation) • R&D is a transportation management firm with various contracts throughout California • A staff of six manage, supervise and provide travel training services

3. Background • Travel Training is an extensive course of training and assessment to ensure Access customers can safely and confidently use public fixed route transportation • Contract requires a maximum of 250 trainings per fiscal year • Travel Training Services are free to eligible customers

4. Eligibility • Applicants who complete the Access eligibility process could be potential candidates for travel training • Customers with Unrestricted eligibility status are given priority • Customers with Denied or Temporary eligibility status are considered for travel training after review of eligibility evaluation reports

5. Eligibility • Travel Training is not provided to children under the age of five years old • Minors who receive travel training must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or PCA • Participation in travel training will not affect the eligibility status of Access customers

6. Assessment • Assessment Interview • Before initial training, the Travel Instructor will interview potential candidate to ensure he/she has the basic skill set to participate in training • Abilities to be assessed • Ability to safely cross the street • Ability to remain focused on assigned tasks • Ability to identify landmarks • Appropriate social interaction

7. Instruction • Specialized training is patterned after the Easter Seals program curriculum • Each training is customized to the strengths and needs of the individual • Length of trainings vary based on the daily assessments of the progress of the trainee

8. Training Modules • Accessing Public Transportation • Appropriate Social Interaction • Asking for Help • Dress for Weather Conditions • Identify Landmarks • Reading Transit Schedules • Street Safety • Stranger Safety

9. Budget • Three year contract worth $1.3 million plus option years • Average rate per person = $914 • Average rate per person (option year) = $1,029

10. Benefits • Since contract start in May 2008 through March 2011, 668 Access customers completed travel training • Of the 668 customers, 63% (424) were still using public fixed route transit

11. Benefits • It is estimated that travel trained customers have taken 71,564 trips on fixed route • Estimated cost savings to the region is approximately $2.5 million

12. Benefits • Learning to use public transportation gives individuals many benefits: • Increased Self-Esteem • Self Assurance • Broadened Job, School, and Social Options • Increased Self-Reliance

13. Customer Independence • Travel Training opens doors to new opportunities through greater mobility and independence • Travel Training allows people with disabilities to gain life enriching experiences and the confidence to pursue an independent and gratifying life