Senior Resource Association – Developmental Mobility Advantage Ride Program
Senior Resource Association’s Advantage Ride program provides specialized training for transportation operators and staff working with developmentally disabled individuals on the Treasure Coast, and it leverages funds to offer zero-fare trips across a four-county area. It improves the lives of those with developmental disabilities by offering mobility options.
The Advantage Ride program involves collaboration between two community transportation coordinators and four transportation operators, and everyone involved—drivers, call takers and administrators—receives specialized training to work with individuals with developmental disabilities. Funding has been acquired from four sources including the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Commission for Transportation Disadvantaged, the Florida Department of Transportation and St. Lucie County.
What makes this innovative?
The program offers riders access to transportation during times when fixed route and demand response services are not available, and it alleviates rider concerns about having affordable and reliable transportation to employment, educational programs and medical services. The program provides safe, reliable transportation to allow individuals with disabilities to be more independent.
One key aspect of the program is that each staff member, ranging from the driver to dispatcher, undergoes specialized training to work with individuals with developmental disabilities. The result is a safer and more friendly experience for riders. To make the eligibility process more inclusive and less confusing for riders, the program is fare free and involves contacting only one office. This streamlines the services, makes sure all residents on the Treasure Coast have equity and does not add an additional layer of complexity to a process that can be overwhelming to individuals with developmental disabilities. Without the zero-fare and no co-pay transportation service, individuals with developmental disabilities on the Treasure Coast would have to pay up to $50 per trip. The average number of daily trips is 237.
Lessons Learned and Replication Advice:
› Provide basic IDD training to all transportation providers and staff, including the following:
› The Introduction to Developmental Disabilities Guide by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities
› The Vulnerable Adult Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation video by the US Department of Health and Human Services
› Five Tips for Working with People with Disabilities by Paraguad
› Training from Rutgers’ Developmental Disabilities Training Series: Understanding Behavior and Managing Behavior
› Watch your budget allocations carefully. Senior Resource Association spends 82 percent of budgeted funds on transportation provider payments; 13 percent on staff wages, benefits and taxes; and five percent on marketing and postage.