Getting There: Including Transportation in a Future Plan

November 17, 2015

Access to reliable, affordable and safe transportation promotes independent, community living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). People with IDD can receive training on how to use public transportation to get to and from work, to visit friends and family, and participate in community activities. A future plan should consider how a person with IDD will access public transportation and what training will be needed to learn to use it. Join The Arc’s Center for Future Planning® to learn more about accessible transportation and travel training.

Our presenters will include Donna Smith, Director of Training for Easter Seals Project ACTION, and Robyn Bernardy, Director of Travel Training for Medical Transportation Management.

Watch “Getting There: Including Transportation in a Future Plan” on YouTube

Speaker Bios

Julie Dupree

Julie Dupree is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for Easter Seals Transportation Group in Washington, D.C. She promotes accessible community transportation strategies through a variety of initiatives including the National Center for Mobility Management, where she facilitates coordination and provides customized training to communities and individuals throughout the United States. She also facilitates Easter Seals Project Action Consulting’s three-day Introduction to Travel Training workshop in communities across the country. Prior to joining Easter Seals, Julie was the Travel Training Program Manager for Central Maryland Regional Transit, where she built community partnerships that promoted safe and independent travel, coordination and bus stop accessibility. Julie got her start in the disability field by working as a Vocational Counselor for The Arc of Howard County in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Robyn Bernardy

Robyn Bernardy is the Director of Travel Training for Medical Transportation Management (MTM); she oversees the company’s nationwide travel training operations. In particular, Robyn provides direct oversight for MTM’s Our On the Move assessment and travel training activities in the District of Columbia, Minnesota, Houston, Wisconsin, WMATA, KCATA, and PRTC contracts. Her Masters of Social Work degree has helped tailor her expertise in working with older adults and individuals with disabilities. For the past twelve years, Robyn has worked in a variety of settings, all focused on increasing the independence of individuals with disabilities.