Advocates press for practical transportation fixes to keep people with IDD employed
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Summary
Futures Inc. and council members urged the Human Services Committee to prioritize low‑cost transportation solutions — vetted school vehicles, prepaid/restricted cards, trackers and partnerships — after witnesses described how transport gaps jeopardize competitive, integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Pam Donnaroma, CEO and founder of Futures Inc., told the Human Services Committee that transportation remains a primary barrier to sustaining competitive employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who work in stores, kitchens, cafes and other community jobs.
"Transportation remains one of the most significant barriers to sustaining this employment," Donnaroma said, describing how retail and food-service schedules, regulatory requirements and insurance concerns make employer-provided transport impractical and risk job loss if transportation fails.
Donnaroma outlined solutions used elsewhere and suggested Connecticut consider voucher programs, prepaid or restricted-use cards to avoid reliance on personal credit cards, leveraging school-approved vehicles with vetted drivers, and building partnerships with nonprofits or transportation providers that can be contracted to provide insured, scheduled trips.
Committee members and witnesses also discussed a Department of Transportation study funded under HB 5001 that identified gaps in nonmedical transportation for people with IDD and recommended improved tracking and coordination; witnesses said $250,000 in study funds had been removed from the budget at the last minute and urged the committee to pursue implementation of the study’s recommendations, including tracking apps and a DOT staff point person to coordinate rides in real time.
What happens next: lawmakers said they would follow up with DOT, DSS and DDS staff on how to implement low-cost improvements and to explore pilot programs to test vouchers, tracking and use of vetted school vehicles.