Welcome to Update, Easter Seals Project ACTION's bimonthly newsletter.   

The current issue is:

June 2008
Volume 19 Number 2

Project ACTION celebrates 20 years of improving access to transportation. This issue also features an update on the MPS teams and announcement of new projects.

This issue is available in the following formats:
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Previous Issues of Update:

February 2008
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The teams selected for the 2008 Mobility Planning Services Institute are announced in this issue. Other features include Metro's accessibility forum in Washington, D.C., APTA’s Universal Accessibility Standards Program, a celebration of independent living in Hampton Roads, Va., and Maryland Transit Administration's accessibility initiatives.

December 2007
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This issue introduces Mary A. Leary, the new Senior Director of Project ACTION & Transportation Initiatives at Easter Seals. Also highlighted are the 2006 Mobility Planning Services Institute Team Santee-Wateree's ongoing planning efforts for improved mobility, and an interview with J. Barry Barker of Transit Authority of River City. ESPA's new Introduction to Travel Training course is announced, as are 2008 People on the Move and distance learning events.

October 2007
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ESPA Director Al Abeson's retirement is announced in this issue, as is that of Executive Vice President Joe Romer. Other highlights include coordination efforts underway in Louisville, Ky., five ways to take “action” and benefit from the project, and news on the ESPA clearinghouse and contract awards.

August 2007
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Features in this issue included the 2007 Mobility Planning Services Institute teams, new National Steering Committee members, three new ESPA requests for proposals, upcoming ESPA learning opportunities, a new ESPA brochure on passenger rights and responsibilities, and an Americans with Disabilities Act dialogue in northern New England co-sponsored by ESPA.

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June 2007
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Initiatives related to accessible taxi service are featured in this issue, including a recent dialogue summit sponsored by the Office of Civil Rights, Federal Transit Administration. ESPA conducted an interview with Susan Unger, travel trainer with Special Transit in Boulder, Colo. Also spotlighted is an accessible signage demonstration of Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni) of San Francisco, Calif., called Push-to-Talk.

April 2007
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This issue features several articles related to travel training. The cover story introduces ESPA's new travel training curriculum, currently being piloted by five faculty members from across the U.S. Also highlighted are travel training programs developed in Palm Beach County, Fla. and Mission Viejo, Calif., both of which incorporate ESPA materials, as well as the Transit Host and Travel Training Program in Eugene, Ore. The second cover article announces the official launch of the National Center on Senior Transportation..

February/March 2007
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The January meeting of the National Steerting Committee, announcement of the 20 teams selected for the 2007 Mobility Planning Services Institute and graduate research projects selected for funding by ESPA and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) are featured in this issue.

December 2006/January 2007
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Three teams of the 2006 Mobility Planning Services Institute are spotlighted in this issue: those from Genesee County, Mich., Washburn County, Wis., and North Country, N.H./Vt. Other items include ESPA's distance learning event on assessing path of travel and the release of “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals.” 

October/November 2006
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This issue introduces the National Center on Senior Transportation, an initiative awarded to Easter Seals by the Federal Transit Administration, in partnership with the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), the U.S. Administration on Aging, and several other organizations. Articles also feature Sound Transit's regional Remote Infrared Audible Signage project, an AARP pilot training program to prepare older adults for involvement in regional planning, and service dog transit training activities in North Texas. 

August/September 2006
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Featured are FTA's ADA 16th anniversary event, Metrobus (Washington, D.C.) full fleet accessibility milestone, ESPA's newest RFP and contract award, a visit by a Japanese delegation from Eco-Mo Foundation, the automated bus stop enunciators in Charlotte, N.C., the launch of the Taxis For All - North America advocacy Web site, and New York legislation to provide taxi accessibility.

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June/July 2006
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Feature articles include the pathway review program of King County ACCESS paratransit, 2005 MPS Team Guam's milestones in improving transit, plan implementation activities of other MPS teams, ESPA's next Distance Learning event on service animals, an announcement of ESPA's upcoming office move, and a report on ESPA's expert panel meeting on taxi services.

April/May 2006
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This issue features two new ESPA publications, San Diego County's post-MPS coordination success story, accessible taxis in Miami-Dade County, and North Dakota State University student projects to design accessible transit projects. Announcements are made of new ESPA National Steering Committee officers, faculty for the 2006 MPS Institute, and solicitation of Statements of Need.

February/March 2006
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Feature articles include Transit Authority of River City's inclusive process to select a paratransit contractor, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living's "Traveler’s Cheque" voucher demonstration program, and New Jersey Transit's new travel training program. Announcements include a request for proposals on a project to identify effective fixed-route stop announcements and an audio conference on accessible rural and small urban transportation.

December 2005/January 2006
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This issue announces teams selected for the 2006 Mobility Planning Services Institute, the publication of two new accessible taxi resources, student research projects sponsored through the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and the contractor selected for the pedestrian environment project. Reports are included on the current rural transit and bus stop toolkit contract projects, ESPA's role in a recent transition Policy Academy of the National Governors Association, Sound Transit's FindARide.Org and an ESPA consensus conference on development and retention of paratransit managers.

October/November 2005
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Feature articles include highlights of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), audible stop announcements on Utah Transit Authority's fixed-route bus services, ESPA's continued work in the area of secondary education transition, and bus stop and pedestrian safety and accessibility improvement programs in Montgomery County, Md.

August/September 2005
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This issue features a report on the ADA anniversary forum on universal design hosted by ESPA, an introduction to universal design as it pertains to public transportation, the 2006 Mobility Planning Institute, a report from the International Transport Association in Rome, and ESPA-sponsored courses on the accessible pedestrian environment.

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June 2005
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Feature articles include participation of customers in designing Lane Transit Distict's new vehicles and a report on ESPA's consensus conference on Bus Rapid Transit and accessibility.

April 2005
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This issue features reports on the disability awareness day in Washington, D.C. hosted by the Access for All Advisory Committee National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, as well as the the 2005 Mobility Planning Services Institute.

December/January 2005
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This issue features Houston METRO's student travel training program, introduces ESPA National Steering Committee members, and announces teams selected for the 2005 Mobility Planning Services Institute. 

October/November 2004
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This issue features Nashville's taxi driver training program developed in partnership with the Center for Independent Living in Middle Tennessee, the second part of a two-article series on wheelchair securement, and integrating paratransit and fixed-route services.

August/September 2004
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This issue features the first part of a two-article series on wheelchair securement, information on ESPA's travel training program development, and a report on a July workshop on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) that included a demonstration of audible signage.

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Spring 2004
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Feature articles include the launch of the federal United We Ride program at the National Leadership Forum on Human Service Transportation Coordination, the role of taxis in accessible transportation, an update on ESPA's the 2003 planning grant projects, and a demonstration project on accessible bus stop information using GPS technology conducted by in Charlotte, N.C.

Winter 2003/2004
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Feature articles include a report on speech delivered by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta at the Easter Seals National Convention in Washington, D.C., a report on the 2003 Mobility Planning Services Institute, and introduction of the Transit Facility Accessibility Assessment System as well as Determining ADA Paratransit Eligibility: An Approach, Guidance and Training Materials developed under ESPA planning grants.

Summer 2003
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Feature articles include information on the 2003 Mobility Planning Services Institute, ESPA's publication Innovative Practices in Providing Paratransit Services, the National Dialogue, Transportation Policy and Research Forum Celebrating the 13th Anniversary of the ADA, an introduction to the ESPA-funded in-depth database of the Characteristics of ADA Paratransit Services in America (CAPS) database, and Lane Transit District’s Transit Host and Training Program.

Spring 2003
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Feature articles include ESPA's invitation of statements of need for project funding, FTA Administrator Jenna Dorn's discussion of the FY 2004 budget proposal, Rhode Island’s Peer Travel Training Program, and introduces ESPA's new Taxicab Pocket Guide as well as the University of Michigan's ‘Ride Safe’ on Wheelchair transportation safety.  

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Winter 2002
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Feature articles include a message from new ESPA Director, Alan Abeson, Ed.D., using public transportation when you travel, new government Web site with resources for people with disabilities, an interview with Rachel Simon, author of Riding The Bus With My Sister, and a research study of the benefits and impacts of travel instruction and training.

Fall 2002
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Feature articles include a report on a national summit on employment and transportation for people with disabilities, a remembrance of Justin Dart, Jr., a description of a project research accessible taxicabs nationwide, ESPA Director testifies before Congress, and the American Council of the Blind's new guide to producing accessible materials.

Summer 2002
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Feature articles include DOT Secretary Mineta's launch of a national dialogue meeting on accessible transportation, a Indianapolis summit to discuss disability awareness, the Transportation Solutions for Caregivers project, guidelines for communicating with Congress, and development of a prototype database for ADA complementary paratransit.

Spring 2002
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Feature articles include ESPA's 2002 contract awards, a report on a German-American workshop on transit accessibility, a report on the 2001 Mobility Planning Services Institute, a new Access Board bulletin on traffic roundabouts, and ESPA's solicitation of problem statements for future research projects. 

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Fall 2001
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Feature articles include introductions of new FTA Administrator Jenna Dorn and Director of the FTA Office of Civil Rights Michael Winter, the new Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Wheelchair Transportation Safety, CTAA's new Passenger Service & Safety Training (PASS), Adaptive Environments and Walk Boston's conference on pedestrian environments, the National Association of ADA Coordinators (NAADAC), safe evacuation for people with disabilities, and the new Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program.

Summer 2001
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Feature articles include an introduction to ESPA's "ADA…The Bus Stops Here" train-the-trainer consumer education program, the first National Mobility Planning Services Institute, Buses and Trains for Everyone, a program to introduce children with disabilities to the use of public transportation, and the New Freedom Initiative.

Spring 2001
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Feature articles include the Community Inclusion Driver Strategy, flexible routes in rural communities, serving customers with disabilities on America’s motorcoaches, ESPA hosts meeting on training strategies for the motorcoach industry, a report a meeting of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), and video description as a means of accessibility.

Winter 2001
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Feature articles include a message from new ESPA Director Bryna Helfer, accessible taxicabs, stop announcements as a universal design feature, and the 2000 National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) / Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities. 

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... and further into the archives, in HTML format:

Winter 2000 | Summer/Fall 1999 | Fall 1998 | Spring/Summer 1998 | Fall 1997/Winter 1998 | Summer 1997