We are pleased to announce that Carol Wright has joined NCST as co-director at Easter Seals. Wright comes to NCST from the Small Urban and Rural Transit Center at the North Dakota State University where she was the associate director of training and outreach. With her guidance, NCST will continue to help increase senior transportation options and enhance the ability of older adults to live independently in their communities. Welcome, Carol!

NCST has released an information brief on CarFit, an educational program designed to help older drivers improve how well their personal vehicles fit them and provide them with the opportunity to discuss driver safety and mobility. This is the second information brief released as part of the NCST Modes and Services Series. Download the brief from the NCST library.

NCST’s series of webinars addressing risk, liability and insurance for volunteer driver programs are now available for download online:

• Session 1: What’s the Risk?
• Session 2: Insurance 101
• Session 3: Examples from the Field
• View resources from the webinars online under the “Transportation” tab.

Aging News

A new paper released by AARP explores emerging trends as older workers extend employment. For instance, compared with younger workers, older workers leave home later in the morning, return earlier in the afternoon, and are more likely to commute in the middle of the day. Download the paper, Work Related Travel in an Era of Extended Employment.

In the article Serving the Needs of Seniors: Solutions in practice, Hazel Borys discusses the different needs and current options for older adult residences--both within traditional, multi-generational housing areas and in housing specifically designed for older adults. Borys states, “Accessibility for seniors -- with the addition of some universal design interior features -- has the same requirements for just about everybody: walkable proximity to daily needs and transit.” Read the article online.

May is Older Americans Month. The theme this year, “Unleash the Power of Age,” draws attention to the value older adults bring to our communities. The month-long celebration provides an opportunity to celebrate older adult volunteers involved in transportation as volunteer drivers, advocates, peer mentors/travel ambassadors, and in other capacities. It’s also a great time to recruit new volunteers for your transportation programs!

Transportation News

Call for Inclusive Coordinated Transportation Catalysts! As part of the Administration for Community Living’s project to support inclusive coordinated transportation partnerships, an invitation has been issued to join the project’s Knowledge Sharing Network. If you have an inclusive approach to working with older adults and people with disabilities, including people with intellectual disabilities, to improve transportation and want to share tips and how-to’s with others, please consider responding to this opportunity at http://transitplanning4all.org.