Quick summary
Paratransit is public transportation service for people with disabilities. It can be a lifeline for someone who can no longer drive or take the bus. Usually cheaper than a taxi and more convenient than asking for rides, it's an important tool to help people keep their independence. Many seniors are eligible for paratransit.
Back to TopWhat is paratransit?
Paratransit is the term commonly used for transportation services for people who can't take standard public transportation due to disability. The word literally means alongside of, or next to, transit -- an alternative. People with disabilities are legally entitled to paratransit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if they can't use regular public transportation.
Paratransit includes buses, vans, trains, and cars. People in wheelchairs, for example, may be able to use buses with wheelchair lifts. Frail or disoriented people may require door-to-door service.
Back to TopHow to sign up for paratransit
Before your parents can sign-up for paratransit, they must be found eligible, based on the ADA. To find out if your parents are eligible contact their local transportation provider. The local provider -- the bus or rapid transit company -- is the link to paratransit service, from determining eligibility to providing the service. Most have websites with paratransit information, including online applications.
In the broad sense, the
For detailed information on paratransit eligibility, take a look at this guide from the Disability Rights Education Fund, a nonprofit advocacy organization.
Back to TopHow to identify the local public transportation company
You can find your parents' transportation providers through the local telephone directory (usually in the government pages). Or look online, using search terms such as bus company , public transportation , or rapid transit service and your parents' hometown.
A couple of online tools can also help. The AARP's website offers this handy State-by-State Guide to Transportation Assistance. Another good state-by-state transportation finder is offered by the American Public Transportation Association Agencies.
Back to TopHow much paratransit costs
Paratransit costs the same as -- or sometimes more than --regular public transportation. It's not a reduced-fare program; it's an accessibility program. The
However, many transportation agencies offer reduced "senior fares." This applies to any senior, disabled or not.
Also, if your parents are Medicaideligible, Medicaid may pay for some paratransit service. Check with their Medicaid case manager.
Back to TopCan caregivers accompany my parents on paratransit?
Yes, personal aides or assistants can escort a paratransit user for free. The
How your parent can use paratransit
Using paratransit depends on a rider's needs. If your parent can use the local bus as long as it has a wheelchair lift, he would wheel himself to his bus stop and board with help from the driver. If your parent is too frail to ride a bus, he (or a caregiver) would call (usually in advance) to order door-to-door service. Your parent will get detailed instructions on how to use services from the local transit company.
Back to TopWhat to do if your parent isn't eligible for paratransit
If your parent has been denied paratransit service and you feel he really can't use regular public transportation, he can appeal the denial. He would do this through the same public transportation company that handled your parent's application. Appealing is your parent's legal right.
What's more, most communities have other transportation options for seniors. In some areas, the same paratransit service used for people with disabilities is available to nondisabled seniors, for an extra fee.
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