TITLE PAGE
THE RIDE
Eligibility Center
Opening Dec. 10, 2012
Operated by T (logo)
Innovative Paradigms (logo)
SLIDE1
INNOVATIVE PARADIGMS
a Division of Paratransit, Inc.
•Philip McGuire
Chief Executive Officer
707-318-3646 cell
•Marilyn Cole
Program Manager
THE RIDE Eligibility Center
425-343-8526 cell
` 617-932-9242 office
SLIDE2
INNOVATIVE PARADIGMS
a Division of Paratransit, Inc.
•5th decade providing paratransit
services
•Operator of
•Paratransit services since 1978
•ADA service in Sacramento
•ADA eligibility programs
•Travel training programs
•Mobility management programs
SLIDE3
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Public transit systems must have
•Complementary ADA service for
people who, because of their
disability, cannot use the fixed
route system
•An eligibility process that uses
federal criteria strictly applied to
identify those people who qualify
for ADA service
SLIDE4
The ultimate goal of the paratransit
application process is to ensure that
only people who meet the regulatory
criteria, strictly applied, are regarded
as ADA paratransit eligible.
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
SLIDE5
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Part 37
•ADA eligibility is a transportation
decision, not a medical decision
•Eligibility decisions must be based on
applicant’s functional ability to use
fixed route public transit
SLIDE6
American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Part 37
•While evaluation by a physician (or
professionals in other relevant fields)
may be used as part of the process,
“a diagnosis of a disability is not
dispositive”
•Eligibility process does not require
paper application or medical
personnel to conduct interviews
SLIDE7
THE RIDE Eligibility Process
is based on
•Regulatory guidelines in 49 CFR, FTA
guidance, Easter Seals Project
Action, and National Transit Institute
materials
•Innovative Paradigms methods
audited, reviewed and found to be
compliant by the FTA Office of Civil
Rights
•Innovative Paradigms material used
by FTA as example for other transit
authorities
SLIDE8
Advantages of the
In-Person Eligibility Process
•Free transportation on THE RIDE,
arranged by the Eligibility Center, will
be provided to and from interview
•Determinations will be made faster,
often within 2 -3 business days of the
interview
•Incomplete applications will no longer
be sent back to the applicant
SLIDE9
Advantages of the
In-Person Eligibility Process
•No application will be required to
schedule an interview
•No medical verification will required at
the time of the interview, but may be
provided if applicant chooses
•If medical verification is needed,
Mobility Coordinators will contact
heath care providers on behalf of the
applicant
SLIDE10
Advantages of the
In-Person Eligibility Process
•Applicants will have a real person to
guide them through the process.
•Less applicant confusion about how
to answer questions and what
information is required
•In-person interviews provide more
complete understanding of applicant’s
needs and abilities than short paper-
based answers. Applicants can
explain fully their circumstances with
help from family, friends, caregivers
SLIDE11
Advantages of the In-Person
Eligibility Process
NEW SERVICE!
•Immediate Service for Medical
Necessity - provides 30 days of full
service to individuals when requested
by hospitals, dialysis or cancer
centers, doctors, rehabilitation
facilities, etc.
•Service can begin less than 1
business after request is submitted
SLIDE12
Advantages of the In-Person
Eligibility Process
NEW SERVICE!
•Ability to book groups of applicants
from care homes, agencies, etc. to
the Eligibility Center for interviews
•Avoids multiple trips for care
providers
•Reduces the number of THE RIDE
trips to the Eligibility Center
SLIDE13
How will the Eligibility Process work?
Pre-Interview
•Applicant calls for appointment or
submits an application
•Interview appointment is scheduled
•Need for translation services is
determined
•Free transportation on THE RIDE is
arranged
•Free parking is available for people
arriving by car
SLIDE14
How will the Eligibility Process work?
During the Interview
•Current information reviewed
•Medical information release form
signed
•Private interview with Mobility
Coordinator
•Transit skills functional assessments
conducted, as needed
•Information provided during interview
reviewed and signed
•Opportunity to ask questions and
learn about transportation options
SLIDE15
•The in-person interview can take up
to approximately 90 minutes.
•If necessary, Mobility Coordinators
will contact the applicant’s health care
provider for information regarding
disabilities that prevent the use of
public transit.
•Written notification of eligibility
determination will be sent to
applicant.
•Our average notification time is 2 – 3
days after the interview.
SLIDE16
•Letters to applicants who receive a
determination of Conditional,
Temporary or Not Eligible contain
instructions and forms for appealing
the decision.
SLIDE17
Who will conduct the Interviews?
Mobility coordinators, who have been
fully trained to analyze and evaluate
functional transit skills, assist
individuals through the interview
process.
They also may administer functional
transit skills tests, which have been
specifically designed to measure
balance, gait, endurance and other
skills necessary to use MBTA’s public
transit system.
SLIDE18
Who will conduct the Interviews?
•Mobility Coordinators have experience
working with individuals with
disabilities and with elderly persons.
•Mobility Coordinators receive over 80
hours of intensive initial training on
ADA regulations, transit skills
assessment, interview techniques,
sensitivity, data management, MBTA
policies, and the MBTA system.
•On-going education and training is
provided
SLIDE19
Verification of Psychiatric
or Vision Conditions
Applicants with psychiatric or vision
disabilities will need to provide
professional verification of their
disability, including an explanation of
how it prevents their ability to access
and/or navigate the fixed route bus
system.
If needed, Mobility Coordinators can
contact health care providers on behalf
of applicants to obtain this information.
SLIDE20
Types of Eligibility
•Unconditional
•Conditional
•Temporary (less than 12 months)
•Not Eligible
•NEW - Immediate Service for Medical
Necessity (30 days of unconditional
eligibility during which an interview is
scheduled)
SLIDE21
A determination of NOT ELIGIBLE
indicates a higher level of functional
transit skill ability than unconditional or
conditional eligibility.
A NOT ELIGIBLE determination
requires the ALL of the following:
•In-person interview
•Demonstrated ability to complete
all transit skills functional
assessments successfully
•Indication from health care
provider that applicant has no
disabilities or conditions that
prevent use of fixed route public
transit
SLIDE22
THE RIDE Eligibility Center
617-932-9242
Hood Business Park
500 Rutherford Avenue
Third Floor
Boston (Charlestown), MA 02129
THE RIDE
Eligibility Center
Operated by T (logo)
Innovative Paradigms (logo)
Photograph of the building at 500 Rutherford St. Charlestown, MA, the location of THE RIDE Eligibility Center
Long distance view of the building at 500 Rutherford St. Charlestown, MA, the location of THE RIDE Eligibility Center