FAQ
The National Center for Senior Transportation welcomes questions about transportation services for older adults. Staff from NCST answers questions about ADA rights and responsibilities, directs callers to additional resources, and helps members of the aging services and transportation communities address diverse accessibility issues.
If your question is not answered here, or if you would like more information, please call our toll-free line or contact us by email (ncst@easterseals.com). Information and resources are available Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET) at (866) 528-NCST (voice), or (202) 347-7385 (TDD). We also encourage you to visit our page of links to other resources (Publications & Resources (NCST)).
A few of links below are to documents in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view PDF files. If you do not have the reader, you may download it for free at: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
About NCST
For Older Adults & Caregivers
For Transportation Providers
For Aging & Human Service Providers
About NCST
Does NCST provide transportation services?
While many partners of the NCST do provide transportation for program participants, the National Center for Senior Transportation does not provide transportation. Rather, our role is to provide information to increase mobility for older adults. We offer various resources, as well as training and technical assistance to service providers.
What are the current plans and future initiatives of the center?
You may use our Projects & Funding page (Projects & Funding (NCST)) to find out what the NCST is planning over the next few years.
For Older Adults & Caregivers
I am worried about what will happen to me when I can no longer drive. How do I get started learning about available transportation options in my town?
In order to find transportation services in your state, use our Transportation Directory. (Transportation Directory (O)), a clearinghouse of information connecting you to transportation options nationwide. If there is nothing listed in your area, you can call the department of transportation in your state, commonwealth, or territory to request information.
Is funding available for individuals to purchase or modify accessible vehicles?
A number of resources are available to assist individuals in financing the cost to modify or purchase an accessible vehicle or adaptive equipment. Easter Seals Project ACTION has published a list of these resources, downloadable in PDF*
(http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/
DocServer/vehicle_funding.pdf?docID=10203 ) and text (http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/
DocServer/vehicle_funding.txt?docID=10204) formats. This list is included among the Fact Sheets in the ESPA Clearinghouse.
*The Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view PDF files. If you do not have the reader, you may download it for free at: (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).
I have the early onset of glaucoma, which may render me blind within a few years. How can I research transportation options for this condition?
You or a caregiver can visit our Accessible Transportation page and learn more about the options available. (Accessible Transportation (O)) The page will give you information about accessible transportation options in your area.
I provide in-home assistance for an older adult. Some of the paratransit in our area is door-to-door, and other times it is door-through-door. What is the difference?
Utilize our page of definitions (Definitions (T)) which will explain some of the most frequent terms in senior transportation.
My father drives about once a week, but I worry about his eyesight. What can I do to educate myself as to transportation options? How can I convince him of the benefits of senior transportation initiatives?
Consider asking him to take a driver safety course, like the ones offered by AARP. The NCST Senior Support Resources (Senior Support Resources (O)) and (Tips and Facts (O)) pages will also help you find local resources as well as learn about the growth of senior and public transportation in the past two decades.
How do I subscribe to the NCST email newsletter?
The NCST's electronic newsletter, (New Name), is distributed on the (day and/or week) of each month to registered subscribers. Our privacy policies prevent us from signing you up directly, but it's easy to do yourself. Visit http://www.seniortransportation.net/ and follow the instructions in the left margin where there are two fields for providing your email address and Zip code. Then click "Subscribe."
How do I change my subscription to the newsletter from HTML to plain text email?
To change your subscription to plain text email, first, log in to your account through our Web site. The login page can also be accessed by clicking the word "Login," which appears in the upper center of our home page. Once logged in, click on "My Profile" in the upper right hand corner. On the page that follows, click on "Edit Your Profile." On the page that appears next, you can change the format of emails you receive from us in the section headed "Email." After clicking the button for "Plain Text," scroll to the button of the page and click "Save" as the final step.
My aging parent is frail and does not drive very much. Who can I contact if I have a specific question not covered here?
If your question is not answered here, or if you would like more information, please call our toll-free line or contact us by email (ncst@easterseals.com). If you do not have a dedicated email address, you may also contact our office using our contact page (Contact us (NCST)). Technical assistance is also available Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET) by calling 866-528-NCST (voice), or (202) 347-7385 (TDD).
For Transportation Providers
Our city needs more bus drivers with knowledge of what to do in many different situations involving customers who need extra assistance with riding. What kinds of professional development programs are available for our personnel?
The NSCT, in association with our partners, offers webinars and other training programs throughout the year. Check often with us on our Training Classes (Training Classes (T)) page to find out when the next session takes place.
Our drivers often need training when a training class is not scheduled. Do you offer training materials for download?
Our Training Resources (Training Resources (T)) page allows you to download a number of manuals for your staff, and tipsheets on how to implement the information in them. Additional software such as Acrobat Reader may be required. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view PDF files. If you do not have the reader, you may download it for free at: (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).
What is the best way to disseminate information to older adults in need of our transportation services?
Our Senior Support Resources page (Senior Support Resources (S)) serves to tie-in information from difference sources. It has tips, facts, and training classes to allow your staff to more effectively inform the public about the availability and benefits of your services.
For Aging & Human Service Providers
Our community center needs to subcontract with a rental agency to form a vanpool to bring seniors to our programs. Who in our area can we contact?
You may be able to use our Transportation Directory for this purpose. The Directory is a comprehensive database of information which will help you find transportation and transit options nationwide. If you do not find a suitable provider in your area, call you local transportation director.
We'd like to provide therapeutic recreation services by transporting older adults to an indoor mall for the morning walking program. What kinds of people do we need to hire?
Use our Human Services Provider index to find organizations in your area that may be able to staff your therapeutic recreation services program, or you might be able to find out information about required staffing levels and accreditation.
Visit the definitions page to learn more about transportation and aging terms.
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