We want to hear from you!
Join us for a virtual meeting on September 16, 2024 from 12:30 pm – 2 pm that will include a discussion on current transportation needs and volunteer opportunities to increase these resources in our communities.
The discussion will include special guest ITNAmerica, who will share their national community-based volunteer model, ITNCountry, and the impact it has had in building out transportation access, as well as a roundtable discussion with local volunteer transportation providers on their perspectives.
Webinar participants will also have an opportunity to join the discussion about transportation needs and volunteer opportunities in their communities.
Why transportation issues need attention
Access to health care is a critical need for everyone. While there are many barriers to health care access, transportation is one of the most persistent and has a disproportionate impact on individuals who are poor, older, or have chronic conditions or a mobility impairment. People in communities across our country struggle to travel to care appointments, leading to a decline in health, decreased opportunities for socialization, and increased social isolation.
Transportation is a systemic issue that does not have an impact only on the individual. It also affects the viability of those that serve and care for them, including health systems, community-based organizations, businesses, and caregivers. Previous research has shown that more transportation services are needed across western and central New York.
About ITN
ITNAmerica is the first and only national, nonprofit transportation network for older adults and people with mobility challenges. Founded in Portland, Maine, in 1995 as the Independent Transportation Network (ITN), ITNAmerica’s mission is to promote lifelong mobility through research, technology, policy analysis and education. ITNAmerica built ITNRides transportation software on the Salesforce platform to empower nonprofit services to provide transportation for older adults. ITNRides manages ride schedules, routing, volunteers, finances, community outreach, reporting, fundraising, and data for social research and evaluation. To date, ITNRides has helped facilitate more than 1.6 million rides for some of America’s most vulnerable populations. ITNAmerica also built and maintains Rides in Sight, a free, searchable online national database of all transportation services for older adults and people with mobility challenges. Currently, ITNAmerica is planning a national public information campaign to change the way Americans think about and support transportation for older adults by volunteering to drive.