Transportation

Transportation services are the provision of rides to and from the recipient’s home and community-based waiver services, enabling the recipient to receive the supports and services identified on both the support plan and approved cost plan, when such services cannot be accessed through natural (i.e., unpaid) supports.

Transportation services funded through the DD waiver shall be used only for recipients who have no other means to get to a service identified on the support plan and approved cost plan. Family members, neighbors or friends who already transport the recipient, or who are capable of transporting the recipient at no cost to the APD, shall be encouraged to continue their support of the recipient. Recipients who are capable of using the fixed route public transit system to access services on their support plan shall be encouraged to use that method of transportation.

This service is not available for transporting a recipient to school through 12th grade. Transportation to and from school is the responsibility of the public school system. For other transportation needs not identified on the recipient’s support plan and approved cost plan, the recipient should be directed to the local Community Transportation Coordinator or, if available, the local area’s fixed route fixed schedule public transit (bus system).

Vehicles shall not carry more passengers than the vehicle’s registered seating capacity. Driver and driver’s assistant(s) are considered passengers.

Fifteen passenger vehicles that are not lift-equipped shall not carry more than ten passengers at any given time and shall reference the National Highway Transportation Safety Board guidelines for loading such vehicles.

Boarding assistance shall be provided as necessary or as requested by the recipient being transported. Such assistance shall include opening the vehicle door, fastening the seat belt, securing a wheelchair, storage of mobility assistance devices, and closing the vehicle door. Recipients shall not be carried. Drivers and drivers’ assistants shall not assist passengers in wheelchairs up or down more than one step, unless it can be performed safely as agreed by the recipient, recipient’s guardian, or recipient’s representative. Drivers and drivers’ assistants shall not provide any assistance that is unsafe for the driver, the driver’s assistant, or the recipient.

Drivers, drivers’ assistants or escorts provided by the provider to accompany the recipient shall be trained in CPR, disease transmission, and use of the on-board first aid kit.

In accordance with section 316.613, F.S., children five years of age or younger must be transported in a federally-approved child restraint device. The provider must have the installation of the child restraint device and the positioning of the child checked at a local authorized child safety seat fitting station or by a certified child seat safety technician. For children from birth through three years of age, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. For children from four through eight years of age, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a booster seat with appropriately positioned safety belt, as appropriate for the child’s size and age, may be used. In Florida, every county sheriff’s office and city police station serves as a fitting station and every traffic law enforcement officer has been trained to provide assistance.

In vehicles with passenger-side air bags turned on, children under the age of 12 and any adult or child less than 100 pounds must be transported in the back seat. In vehicles that also have side-impact air bags, children and adults less than 100 pounds must be transported as close to the middle of the back as possible.

A first aid kit equivalent to Red Cross Family Pak #4001 and an A-B-C fire extinguisher shall be carried on board the vehicle at all times when transporting recipients.

When the vehicle is in motion, all mobility devices (wheelchairs, scooters, etc.) shall be secured with appropriate tie-downs, regardless of whether or not a person is physically positioned in the mobility device; and cell phone, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and any other such items that could become airborne in the event of a sudden stop or accident must be secured.