Transportation

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Thinking of Moving?

Families moving to a new location face many considerations - quality of local schools, distance to work, shopping and recreational facilities. But one often overlooked factor is availability of public transportation or paratransit service for their young adult with a disability. The child may be in school when the family moves, but parents need to look ahead and ask, "How will my child get to an after-school job or to a full- or part-time job after he or she finishes school? What kind of transportation is available for recreational or social activities if I can't always be the chauffeur?"

Depending on their home's location, families may discover that SEPTA paratransit service doesn't come to their door. In suburban counties, SEPTA provides paratransit service only within 3/4ths of a mile on both sides of bus or light-rail routes. (Service is provided throughout Philadelphia.)
So here's a tip when house-hunting: Look to the future. How the location will affect your child's opportunities down the road? Ask your realtor to provide information not only about local schools but also about possible transportation, recreational, and other community considerations.

People with a PA Disability Identification Card are able to pay lower fares for system-wide travel on SEPTA during off-peak hours on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays. For an application, call SEPTA Customer Service at 215-580-7800; TDD/TTY 215-580-7853.

For other information about SEPTA services, go to septa.org or call its Customized Community Transportation office at 215-580-7145; TDD/TTY: 215-580-7712 (for Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties; in Chester County the TDD/TTY number is toll-free: 1-800-4225.)

New fact sheets about transportation services have recently been produced by United We Ride, a federal interagency initiative aimed at improving the availability, quality, and efficient delivery of transportation services for older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with lower income.

The fact sheets found online include United We Ride, Mobility Management, Family of Transportation Services, and Transportation Services Coordination Plan.