Background

The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 mandates public transportation agencies to transport persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services define IDD as differences that are usually present at birth and that uniquely affect the trajectory of the individual’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development.

Transportation access to essential services is important for persons with IDD, and many public transit agencies are struggling with supplying adequate ADA paratransit services. Moreover, this demographic requires accommodations above ADA paratransit minimum requirements. Several public transit agencies across that nation have undertaken a variety of approaches to enhance safety procedures for when transporting persons with IDD between their place of residence and essential destinations. While some transit agencies have provided hand-to-hand connections, sometimes with a fare surcharge, others have taken approaches that provide a separate service more tailored to the needs of individuals with IDD. 

There is no research identifying the extent to which IDD and HCBS trips are served by ADA paratransit services; the challenges that public transit agencies encounter in serving these types of trips; the shortcomings of ADA paratransit’s delivery of these trips; and how transit agencies have responded to the shortcomings. 

Synthesis Objective

The purpose of this synthesis is to document the successes and challenges of public transit agencies serving IDD customers with ADA paratransit service. At a minimum this synthesis should:

• Provide examples of ADA paratransit accommodations within the ADA paratransit service structure.
• Provide examples of premium, tailored services separate from the ADA paratransit structure to include the service/program design, scheduling/dispatching parameters and driver vetting/training needs.
•  Document customer/caregiver/human service agency awareness and education of service expectations and responsibilities.
•  Present implications for ADA paratransit fleet mix.
•  Identify the benefits of these service models and programs.

This research will provide ADA paratransit managers with an eye-opening and, hopefully, will trigger their own deep-dive into how their ADA paratransit service is accommodating – or not -- the needs of this sub-population of their ADA paratransit eligible riders.

Information to be Gathered

At a minimum, the contractor shall gather on the needs, challenges and best practices associated with serving HCBS/IDD individuals.

How the Information will be Gathered

• Literature review and internet research
• Survey of transit systems
• Case examples (minimum of five of the surveyed transit systems)