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Rockwall ISD transition specialist urges expansion of transit for adults with disabilities
Summary
Amber Wagner of Rockwall ISD described families and students who rely on Star Transit, saying unmet demand forces job losses and reduced independence; she urged officials to improve predictability and add capacity to serve day habilitation and employment trips.
Amber Wagner, a transition specialist with Rockwall ISD, told the consortium that community transportation is a key predictor of success for adults with disabilities and their families. "I'm Amber Wagner, and I've served Rockwall ISD for the last 20 years of my life," she said, and described how demand for transit has risen in recent years as the adult transition program grew from nine to about 30 students. She said missed trips to day habilitation and work can force caregivers to quit jobs and create safety concerns for vulnerable riders.
Wagner recounted examples: one family could not get their student to the Sunshine Center this month because a ride was not available, and another student has lost shifts at local employers because transportation was unreliable. She urged partners to consider fixed routes to high‑demand destinations and more predictable scheduling for employment trips. Wagner framed the ask in human terms: "I am going to have to quit my job," she said is what some parents have told her when transportation is not available, underscoring both the personal and economic costs of service gaps.
Consortium members responded by acknowledging the need and discussing targeted solutions—more hours, an additional vehicle and better outreach to coordinate day‑habilitation runs so they do not occupy an entire vehicle for most of a day. Star Transit and the county agreed to continue the dialogue and supply data to help prioritize service expansions.
