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Welcome to the Massachusetts
Employment First E-Newsletter
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In this issue...
- CBDS Corner
- Upcoming webinars
- Tools and resources
- Stay in touch
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| A neighborhood with people talking to each other on the sidewalk and children playing in a park. (Graphic) |
Transportation is a key component of community based day supports. As services transform, we need to think differently about transportation options.
Here are a few tips from providers who have increased opportunities in the community for individuals they support:
- As vehicle leases expire, replace the 15-passenger van with smaller vehicles. One provider transitioned to smaller vehicles and increased the use of public transportation and occasionally, staff vehicles. With these changes and careful scheduling, the transition has gone smoothly. These smaller vehicles are more normalizing, and make it clear to everyone associated with your program that things are changing.
- Consider developing satellite program sites that are more local to where people served live. A provider whose services covered a large geographic area found that people were spending too much time on the van coming to the program, only to get in another van to go out. Now individuals travel to smaller sites located closer to their homes. These sites have been located near libraries, One-Stop Career Centers, and other community resources, and in some cases, are on public transportation routes. The program now needs fewer vehicles, and individuals are learning to navigate their communities.
- Talk with your local transit authority to see how they can help. For example, Work Inc. in Dorchester arranged for the MBTA to bring an out-of-service bus to their site. This provided an opportunity for individuals and family members to get on a bus for the first time, learn how the fare box works, see how they can sit and stand safely, and just become more familiar with the bus in a safe and comfortable environment. Sometimes the barriers are attitudinal, and a strategy such as this can make all the difference.
Need help with program development? Contact Cindy Thomas at
[email protected]
to learn more about opportunities for technical assistance.
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Transportation: Expanding the Possibilities
January 31,2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
This webinar, presented by David Hoff from the ICI and
Rachel
Fichtenbaum
and
Jenna Henning from
MassMobility
at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services,
will provide practical and creative ideas for addressing transportation issues:
- Integrating transportation within overall efforts to increase employment and community inclusion
- Changing the transportation mindset among individuals, families, and staff
- Considering the full range of transportation options
- Developing partnerships to address transportation needs
And coming soon...
Strategies for Discovery and Career Planning
February 27, 9:30 am to 11:00 am
The 30-Day Placement Plan: Putting the Career Plan into Action
March 29, 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Financial Wellbeing: Reframing the Benefits Conversation
April 24, 9:30 am to 11:00 am
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Mass Mobility
works to increase mobility for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, low-income commuters, and others who lack transportation access. Sign up for their newsletter to get up-to-date information about transportation initiatives in MA, including travel training resources.
This packet of travel training forms developed by the ICI's David Hoff includes an information sheet, tools for skill assessment, and a task analysis form to help you build individuals' travel skills.
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