Intro to Specialized Transit

Build Skills in specialized transit services

This course will introduce learners to the basics of specialized transit service by covering a wide range of areas of focus. These topics include disability awareness and sensitivity; legislation on accessibility; determining eligibility for specialized transit; an introduction to specialized transit operations; and specialized transit practices and service specifications used within the industry.

Learning Outcomes

Confidently engage in discussions about specialized transit services.
Distinguish between key elements of specialized transit within your agency-and others.
Evaluate your operations to identify areas of improvement.
Understand disability awareness, and how to appropriately interact with your customers.
Recognize potential legal implications and barriers in your operations.

Target Audience

This program is designed for transit professionals who are working in or adjacent to specialized transit and are unfamiliar with its operations, terminology, or customer base. This program is most suitable for new hires working in specialized transit such as drivers, dispatchers, call center employees as well as senior staff who are newly taking on duties related to specialized transit and wish to know more or relate better to their team. This program can also serve as a refresher to senior staff who are interested in updating their understanding of accessibility and specialized transit from a modern perspective.

Course Structure

Modules:

Introduction to Specialized Transit
Disability Awareness
Disability and the Law
Determining Eligibility
Specialized Transit Operations
Service Standards (optional)

This course is delivered through a series of six modules, each designed to be completed at your own pace. The completion of the first five modules is required to receive a completed standing in the course. The final module, Service Standards, covers benchmarking service performance and standards for additional study.

Our Reach

Join the growing number of professionals who have advanced their careers and contributed to the evolution of public transportation through our esteemed training course.

90+ Registrants to date

Participants come from transit systems and companies from across North America.

Testimonials

“Introduction to Specialized Transit is easily among the most valuable training courses I’ve taken since joining the industry. The information presented in the modules is concise yet very well-articulated. While the modules that examine the history, present, and future of specialized transit provide an excellent foundation for anyone in the field, I found that the sections about barriers and compassion for our ridership resonated with me the most. This enhanced understanding and empathy will be an asset to the continual improvement of my direct communication with riders and staff coaching sessions. I’d recommend adding this course to the new-hire training process across all specialized transit agencies and for it to be reviewed by veteran staff annually.”

"As I am relatively new to the industry, I took this course because I have had numerous specialized transit questions with relation to small system operations. This course was straight-forward as it’s sectioned into easy-to-understand modules about everything from eligibility to booking trips and typical organization structure for this type of service. My overall knowledge of paratransit service has improved drastically, and I look forward to applying the lessons learned, such as the different guide animals that may be used for support services, into my current role. Thank you!”

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