Development of a Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) for Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to Aid in Finding Safe and Accessible Paratransit Services

This project was for the development and distribution of a Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) for individuals with the Autistic Spectrum Disorder to understand the skills necessary to ride various paratransit and community transportation services. These services include fixed route, complimentary Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit, special transportation, community transportation, employment transportation and/or Medicaid transportation. The TSAT will evaluate transportation services frequently used by individuals with disabilities for competitive and non-competitive employment sites, education services, shopping, Medicaid/Medicare transportation, non-emergency medical appointments (including any therapies), social and recreational activities, etc. While these services are available to individuals with disabilities, they are often underutilized by individuals on the autism spectrum. Providing a tool to understand necessary skills for various transportation services offered will allow for a larger segment utilize these existing services, some of which are mandated for individuals with disabilities. The TSAT will also furnish individuals as well as educators, caregivers and professionals in the field the skills that are necessary to utilize the least restrictive type of transportation services available. The TSAT can help focus on the current service that matches the current skills the individual has while also determining the requisite skills needed for less restrictive types of transportation. The ability to access safe and appropriate transportation will aid in understanding and training individuals to access various types of transportation options. The development of the TSAT will allow for an increase in access to transportation, which can in turn lead to access to employment, housing and community life opportunities thus increasing the quality of lives for individuals on the spectrum.

• Record URL:
  • http://cait.rutgers.edu/files/OAR-RU3363_1.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation

  Rutgers University
  100 Brett Road
  Piscataway, NJ  United States  08854-8058

  Organization for Autism Research

  2000 N. 14th Street, Suite 710
  Arlington, NJ  United States  22201

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Szary, Patrick
  • Feeley, Cecelia
• Publication Date: 2012-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 45p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Paratransit services
• Identifier Terms: Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Autism; Community transportation; Employment transportation; Fixed route services; Medicaid transportation service; Special transportation services; Transportation access
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01678581
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: OAR-RU3363
• Files: UTC, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2018 1:26PM