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Travel Training Services

VIA’s Travel Training program is a free, comprehensive one-on-one program designed to teach people with disabilities how to safely travel by fixed route regular city bus. Travel training on public transportation can provide broader individual travel options with greater freedom to travel spontaneously and independently.

Customers who would like to try to use VIA’s fixed route bus service can schedule a training session with VIA’s travel trainer. The travel trainer will meet with the customer, family members and health care providers to discuss the travel instruction program. Before actual travel instruction begins, the customer’s mobility skills are assessed by the mobility assistance specialist to determine the level of assistance the customer will need. The travel trainer will then design a program to meet the customer’s specific needs. Each individual who is referred for travel training is seen for a travel-training assessment to determine what he or she would like to learn. The assessment is used as a tool for the trainee and trainer to set goals and develop an individual training plan. Once the individual training plan is developed, various training methods and evaluation techniques are used to assist an individual in learning to use fixed route buses. Generally, the travel trainer will accompany and/or assist the customer on fixed route bus trips until the customer has attained the proposed goal or has achieved maximum benefit of travel training program.

VIA understands that due to varying circumstances, many customers will not be able to use fixed route bus service for all of their travel needs. It is hoped, however, that the customer who participates in travel training can use fixed route services for at least some of their trips. Anyone who is interested in participating in VIA’s travel-training program, can contact the travel trainer at the VIA Accessible Services Office (210) 362-2154.