Press Release.pdf

Kessler Foundation Awards Community Options $50,000 for Transportation Study

PRINCETON, NJ (November 9, 2015) — Community Options was awarded a $50,000 grant from Kessler Foundation to implement Autobility, a one-year project aimed at increasing transportation options for people with disabilities. Molly Buckwalter Fairfield, the Grant Writer who shepherded the application process, will be serving as the Autobility Project Coordinator.

The main collaborator for this project is Uber, a technology company that connects riders and drivers through a mobile app. Community Options will work with Uber to explore how to improve access to transportation for individuals with disabilities so that they can become more self-sufficient.

Autobility is evaluating implementation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Austin, Texas, where both Community Options and Uber have regional offices. The goal will be to streamline the process for individuals with disabilities to sign up for Uber and create avenues for human services agencies to contribute wheelchair accessible vehicles and drivers into the Uber system.

Many people with disabilities have difficulty maintaining employment, going to the doctor’s office, and participating in activities of daily life due to a lack of transportation options. With the use of smart-phone technology to make ride arrangements, doing spontaneous things like picking up a gallon of milk will become a reality for millions of Americans with disabilities.

Reliable transportation will allow individuals with disabilities to live and work more conveniently and comfortably. Stay tuned for more updates!

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About Community Options

For over 25 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment programs for people with disabilities. Community Options operates with a budget over $107 million and serves thousands of people with disabilities through 38 offices across 9 states. Providing advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities, Community Options believes that all people –regardless of disability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice, and self‐determination. A registered PVO with USAID, Community Options is also the pioneer of innovative programs for people with disabilities in the Middle East, Russia, and South America. Please visit our website at www.comop.org.