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2008 ESPA-AUCD Sponsored Project: Transportation for People with Disabilities

September 24, 2007

Easter Seals Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation In Our Nation), ESPA, in cooperation AUCD, announces an opportunity to conduct research that relates to transportation for people with disabilities.

Sponsored Project Highlights

  • Awards of $3,000 for up to four project grants to post-baccalaurreate trainees in the AUCD network.
  • Produce a project report in APA style or product on a topic of significance related to public transportation from the disability community perspective.
  • ESPA will review the student's final draft document and make recommendations so the resulting report will be publication-ready for its clearinghouse.
  • ESPA will offer the project report in its clearinghouse and website.

Sponsored Project Announcement

    Easter Seals Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation), in cooperation with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), announces a student grant opportunity to produce a report or product that relates to public transportation for people with disabilities. Please note: proposed projects may NOT be related to airline travel.

 

Through this program, ESPA awards sponsored project grants to a selected group of post baccalaureate students participating in LEND or UCEDD programs. Grant awards are for $3,000 for each project and payment of stipends will be distributed in four increments: one-fourth of award amount at date of agreement, one-fourth with receipt of each progress report, and one-fourth once final product is received.

The intent of ESPA is to fund projects to create report in APA style or product on a topic of significance related to public transportation from the disability community perspective. The project topic should address issues related to transportation challenges that people with disabilities encounter in their communities. ESPA will review the student's final draft report or product and make recommendations so the resulting document will be publication-ready for the ESPA Clearinghouse. In addition, this sponsored project seeks to increase the involvement of university students in the issues that surround accessible transportation and the impacts and implications on the lives of people with disabilities.

Some sample topic areas for consideration:

    • Travel training and other customer supports for using transportation
    • Accessibility issues related to paying fare on public transportation
    • Ways to increase fixed-route ridership for people with disabilities
    • The role of Personal Care Assistants on public transportation
    • An overview of the issues faced by people with mental illness and public transportation use
    • ADA transportation options through coordinated private networks
    • An exploration of the issues related to environmental barriers in the pedestrian environment
    • Importance of incorporating the concept of universal design in transit projects
    • A discussion on the topic of transitioning youth and the integration of public transportation as part of an IEP

Eligible Applicants

Current post baccalaureate students/trainees/fellows of AUCD network programs: University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LENDs). Read more in the PDF below.

Application Guidelines

Applicants have considerable flexibility for submitting potential research projects. Examples of final products might include, but are not limited to, research reports, articles prepared for submission to academic journals or professional publications, tools/instruments or curricula. Proposed projects must be completed by August 30, 2008. Read more in the PDF below.

Proposal Requirements

Applicants must submit a letter of interest, letters of support, and a proposal of no more than four pages. Within the Letter of Interest, applicants must delineate how their project meets the criteria and use the format outlined in the pdf below. In addition the applicant must submit a current resume and letter of reference from the director of their UCEDD or LEND and, if any partners are proposed, a letter of support from those partners. Read more in the PDF below.  All applications must be submitted online; new users must create an account before they will be able to upload any documents.

Application Procedures

Additional Information

About ESPA

ESPA is a national technical assistance program funded through the US Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration. Established by Congress in 1988, ESPA facilitates cooperation between the transportation and disability communities and works to increase the availability and use of accessible transportation for people with disabilities of all ages. ESPA provides a variety of training, technical assistance, and products, and supports research opportunities and projects.

About AUCD

AUCD is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes and supports the national network of university centers on disabilities, which includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD), Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Programs and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (DDRC). AUCD envisions a future where all persons, including those living with developmental and other disabilities are fully integrated and participating members of their communities and where culturally appropriate supports are available across the life span to individuals and families that leads to independence, productivity and satisfying quality of life.