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TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. DATA, CHALLENGES, AND WORKING TOGETHER… Thursday, September 10, 2009. Judy L. Shanley, Ph.D. Education Program Specialist US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

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TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

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  1. TRANSPORTATION AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DATA, CHALLENGES, AND WORKING TOGETHER… Thursday, September 10, 2009 Judy L. Shanley, Ph.D. Education Program Specialist US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Co-Chair, Education and Technical Assistance Workgroup, United We Ride No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity, service or enterprise referred to in this presentation is intended or should be inferred. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Education.

  2. Beliefs Activity I believe that establishing a coordinated transportation service plan with schools is like….

  3. Data…the Need… • Prevalence of Students with Disabilities • Ages 3-21 – 6,718,203 • Ages 18-21 – 335,311 • National Longitudinal Transition Study2 (2007) Parent/Youth Survey • 67% of students held paid job. Sources: Table 1-1. Children and students served under IDEA, Part B, by age group and state: Fall 2007

  4. Providing Support • Approximately 5% of students expressed needing support for transportation following school (NLTS2 Data Brief, April 2005 • Vol. 4, Issue 1). • Approximately 11% of students with disabilities were provided transportation services (http://www.nlts2.org/reports/2004_05/index.html, May 2004.

  5. How in- or out-of secondary school youth got to his or her current or most recent job

  6. Carl’s Story … Working with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation…

  7. The Needs of Children & Youth in Schools… • Q: What types of transportation services for students with an IEP are eligible under IDEA? • A: Students with an IEP are eligible to receive transportation services in order to participate in school related activities. Section 300.34 (c ) (16) (iii) <http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cregs%2C300%2CA%2C300%252E34%2Cc%2C16%2Ciii%2C> of IDEA outlines that transportation services should include specialized equipment (such as special or adapted buses, lifts, and ramps), if required to provide special transportation for a child with a disability.

  8. Transportation as a Related Service Services to increase access and mobility • Transportation because of a disability • Assistive technology services or devices, such as help getting or using any kind of equipment that helps people with a disability, such as a tape recorder or reading machine • Audiology services for hearing problems • Orientation and mobility services

  9. The Needs of Children & Youth in Schools… • Q: Are students with an IEP are eligible for any other transportation-related services under IDEA? • A. Students with an IEP are also eligible to receive orientation and mobility skills and/or travel training. • Related service • Travel to and from school and between schools; • Travel in and around school buildings, and within the community.

  10. Stephanie’s Story… School – Community Partnerships

  11. Challenge… However, IDEA does not require students to be transported in separate and isolated vehicles from their peers. School districts are encouraged to integrate students to the extent possible on both small and larger buses that circulate through neighborhoods. What is your experience with inclusive transportation for children and youth with disabilities?

  12. What is your experience with working with school orientation and mobility specialists? Challenge….. • Qualified Orientation and Mobility Professionals to Work in Schools Defined as ‘services provided to blind or visually impaired students by qualified personnel to enable those students to attain systematic orientation to and safe movement within their environments in school, home, and community’ [Section 300.24(b)(6)(i)].”

  13. Connect with Orientation & Mobility Specialists in Schools Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals - http://www.acvrep.org/

  14. Project Action • ESPA held an April 2008 grant competition for school districts • Six school districts from four states received grant funding • Form teams with key stakeholders, convene meetings, and identify challenges and potential solutions. www.projectaction.org

  15. Challenge One: Obtain information about transportation resources. Solutions: Establish a coordinated process to obtain information about transportation services and communicate information about these resources to students, families, and school personnel. School Challenges & Solutions

  16. Challenge Two: Train students to use public transportation. Solutions: Obtain, adapt or create a curriculum to familiarize students with community transportation services. Identify or establish a travel training service to teach students how to travel independently. School Challenges & Solutions

  17. Challenge Three: Limited public transportation service on nights and weekends. Solutions: Host an ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders to identify strategies for expanding service hours. School Challenges & Solutions

  18. Challenge Four: Absence of student and school transportation issues in the local coordinated transportation plan. Solutions: Commitment from personnel to participate in local or regional coordinated transportation planning activities, allowing them to provide and receive information, and become active members in the planning process. School Challenges & Solutions

  19. Challenge Five: Lack of information about the family of transportation services, eligibility criteria and funding streams Solutions: Learn about the family of transportation services, identify existing service providers, consider new service providers, identify existing funding sources, support and participate in local partnerships to provide transportation for students for trips that occur outside the regular school day. School Challenges & Solutions

  20. Working Together… • What suggestions to you have for OSEP to address these challenges? • What can you do when you get back to your communities? • Can you apply anything you learned about the change process? • What tools can you use?

  21. LEVERAGING EDUCATION RESOURCES • Access education funding opportunities • www.ed.gov • http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/agency-summary&agency_code=91 • Collaborate with State and local education agencies and organizations • http://www.nichcy.org/Pages/StateSpecificInfo.aspx?State=WI&PrintMode=true

  22. Resources • Department of Education • www.ed.gov • United We Ride • www.unitedweride.gov • National Resource Center • http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/anmviewer.asp?a=73&z=39 • Project Action • www.projectaction.org

  23. Resources • US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy • http://www.dol.gov/odep/

  24. Thank you – I look forward to future opportunities to work with WI Mobility Managers Judy Shanley, judy.shanley@ed.gov; 202-245-6538

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