This document summarizes a plan to create a transportation training program for people with developmental disabilities in Rock County, Wisconsin. It notes that approximately 2-3% of the county population have disabilities, but many live independently. The goal is to help the 122 clients of KANDU Industries who rely on agency transportation to gain skills to use public transportation. A five-step plan is outlined: 1) Create a classroom and hands-on training program, 2) Obtain funding and volunteers to implement it, 3) Select appropriate candidates, 4) Provide the training, 5) Evaluate the results and refine the program. The hope is that participants will gain greater independence and KANDU can reallocate transportation funds to help more people.

1. Mobility of Persons with
Developmental Disabilities
May 5, 2006
Paul Carney, Leo Carrillo, Dave Holterman, Kerri
Parker, Jeannie Randles and Mary Wendel

2. Rock County statistics
 Approximately 2-3% of the general
population of Rock County are people
with developmental disabilities (i.e.
mental retardation, cerebral palsy,
epilepsy, autism, brain injury, etc), or
approximately 2,800 people.
 The large majority do not require
institutional care, and in fact, are able
to function and live comparatively
independently. (8% of KANDU client
workers live independently.)
 Services – such as development and
training – have been considered
instrumental in maintaining these
levels of independence.
 People with
disabilities have just
as much desire to be
active citizens as
anyone else.
 People with
disabilities deserve
to be treated with
dignity and respect.

3. Rock County statistics
 Rock County contracts with 84
agencies providing services to
persons with disabilities:
 Janesville Schools
 Riverfront Inc.
 YWCA
 ECHO
 KANDU Industries, Inc.

4. Case Study: KANDU Industries,
Inc.
 KANDU provides serves to
195 persons with barriers to
employment. 50% of clients
live in Janesville, 27% in
Beloit and the remaining in
rural areas.
 Ages range from 18-84 with
most between the ages of
30-50, 34% live at home,
66% live in other settings
(29% in group homes, 17%
in foster homes, 8%
residential facility, 6%
supervised apartment and
6% independent).
 KANDU transports 61%
(122) of its clients.

5. Without your car how would you …
 Get to work?
 Go to a movie?
 Buy groceries?
 Get to see your doctor?
 Have come to this meeting today?

6. Times are changing
 The Past
 Funding has
provided door-step to
door-step
transportation for
workers at KANDU.
 The Present
 Budgets are
shrinking. Services
provided need to be
evaluated.
 The problem is:
Either /
Or – providing
transportation limits
the opportunity to
provide services to
additional persons.

7. This need is not an isolated
problem.
 There are122 KANDU workers that are in
jeopardy of potentially losing their mode of
transportation to and from work/home.
 These persons with disabilities
 Are geographically dispersed through out
Rock County
 Lack some of the transportation options
we take for granted

8. Our Goal:
 Create a training program to aid persons with
disabilities gain independence
 Provide resources to implement program
(both financial and volunteer)
 Identify candidates and test program
 Evaluate the training’s effectiveness and
adapt changes
 Open the training to all eligible candidates

9. Step 1: Create a Training Program
 Create a classroom style educational
program
 Computer program
 Instructional flash cards
 Create a hands-on, real-world
simulation
 Borrowed bus
 Sample trip

10. Step 2: Acquire Resources
 Financial
 Receipt of Community
Foundation of Southern
Wisconsin, Inc. Grant
for $2,000.00
 KANDU has purchased
training tools
(Attainment Co)
 City of Janesville will
provide buses and a
trainer to discuss bus
routes, transfers, etc.
 Volunteer
 Curriculum
creation
 Curriculum
implementation
 Classroom
training staff
 Real-World
training staff

11. Step 3: Selection criteria
 Candidates:
 Living within the city limits where
transportation is available and
homes that do not provide a mode
of transportation
 Demonstrating the goal of greater
independence
 Skill sets:
 Multi-step directions
 Little or no need for
supervision
 Demonstrates appropriate
behavior
 Ability to detect risky
situations
 Guardians:
 Wanting to
help client-
workers gain
independence
 Willing to
authorize
entrance into
the training
program

12. Step 4: Selection process
 Narrow down candidates eligible to
training group
 Provide informational meetings to
guardians or care providers to gain
authorization
 Provide classroom and real world
training

13. Step 5: Test Program
 Provide classroom training
 Test for knowledge to know they are equipped
with the necessary skills
 Provide real-world training
 Give candidates a chance to use their training in a
controlled environment that will mock real life
situations in the community
 Evaluation
 What worked?
 What can be done better?

14. How will we know if we have
been successful?
 Persons with disabilities will gain additional
transportation options before budget cuts
negatively impact lives
 Persons with disabilities will gain greater
independence and the quality of their lives will
improve
 KANDU will be able to provide additional work
opportunities with the reallocated
transportation money

15. Summary
 Community need
 Plan to address need
 Outcome
 Future opportunities
 Thank you