A Guide for Transit Operators

Who Needs Transportation
A Changing Attitude
What Are Their Needs?
Understanding Is the Key
Tips for Transit Operators
For More Information

What would you do if you had no means of transportation available to you?...You would probably lose your job rather quickly. And what about groceries? You'd have to rely on good friends to deliver them to you. And when they do, you can ask them about the concert-in-the-park you had to miss because you had no way to get there.

Children with developmental disabilities are attending public schools and riding local school buses. Studies show that their non-disabled peers better accept them when they attend the same school and participate in the same activities.

All of us need some kind of transportation to get by in today's society and most of us have some form of it available to us. However, people with developmental disabilities may have difficulties gaining access to and using different transportation services available to other members in their community.

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There has been a steady improvement in the way people with developmental disabilities have been viewed by professionals and the community.

Research shows that others better accept students with developmental disabilities when they attend the same school as students with no disabilities.

Other studies show that property values of the surrounding community remain the same when people with developmental disabilities live in local neighborhoods.

Neighbors typically accept people with developmental disabilities when they move into local neighborhoods.

Increased training and direct on-the-job supports give people with developmental disabilities opportunities to become productively employed.

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What Are Their Needs?

Like many of us, people with developmental disabilities have complex needs. Basically, they need:

• An opportunity to make friends and to develop relationships with others.
• An opportunity to receive an education which will prepare them to be contributing members of society.
• An opportunity to receive the necessary community services, which will support them in becoming valued members of their community.

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Understanding Is the Key

When meeting a person with a developmental disability for the first time, you may not be sure how to interact with them. However, once you get beyond this "barrier", you will be able to see the individual as a person who has particular needs and interests.

• Talk to the person who has the disability, not just the person who happens to be with them.
• Don't be embarrassed to ask them to repeat themselves if you cannot understand what they are saying.
• If you cannot make yourself understood, use shortened sentences, single words and gestures to help them understand.
• If the person has a physical disability, they may need some assistance. Feel free to ask them if you can help.
• Remember: we're all PEOPLE first!

As an individual, you can fight against the negative stereotyping of people with developmental disabilities. You can correct any misunderstandings by giving accurate information to your friends or relatives.

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Tips for Transit Operators

• Don't be embarrassed by their disability. RELAX! Their very presence indicates their desire to utilize your service.
• Make boarding, riding and leaving the transit vehicle a pleasant learning experience for all.
• Some people with developmental disabilities may need training to ride in your vehicle. Offer your expertise to those doing the training.
• Allow adequate time for all passengers to board your vehicle and pay their fare.
• Inform passengers who have visual difficulties of empty seats and/or obstacles to avoid when leaving your bus.
• Count change out to your customers who have visual or other difficulties.
• If requested, call out all bus stops and transfer points prior to reaching them.
• Recognize the importance of transit use to all individuals who use your service.
• As an individual, you can fight against negative stereotyping of people with developmental disabilities. You can correct any such misunderstandings by giving accurate information to other riders or friends.

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For More Information

Metropolitan Council On Developmental Disabilities
821 E Admiral Blvd
PO Box 4125577
Kansas City, MO 64141
(816) 889-3422
(816) 883-3326 TDD
(816) 889-3325 Fax
mcdd1@kcnet.com

Prepared by Metropolitan Council on Developmental Disabilities. Paid for through a grant from Ewing M. Kauffman Fund and Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

Our thanks to the A R C of Oregon for providing the model for this series of brochures.

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