HELLER SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT: Driving inclusion: Advancing transportation coordination and access to support community living and wellness for disabled people and older adults
This report examines transportation as a persistent barrier to community living for disabled people and older adults, despite its central role in fulfilling the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. Drawing on a policy workgroup of transportation and community living experts, the report proposes a "Transportation Follows the Person" framework — a "no wrong door" model combining consistent eligibility, coordinated funding, and person-centered planning to ensure accessible transportation regardless of where someone lives, including those transitioning out of nursing homes and other institutions. Topics covered include legal policy frameworks, Medicaid-funded transportation examples, mobility management, and standardized data collection.
