ITN AMERICA - INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK PROGRAM
Headquarters inWestbrook, ME, U.S.A.
Founder - Katherine Freund.
Program runs across the U.S.A
Program Description
"With safe transportation, older adults remain vital to the economic and social health of their communities. Mobility empowers seniors. They stay connected to family, friends and community. Businesses retain their valuable customers, and more importantly, adult children find relief from a daunting and complex problem."
- itnamerica.org
ITN America affiliates provide senior transportation and also allows volunteer drivers to store transportation credits for their own future transportation needs. The program is an innovative solution to alternative senior transportation.Seniors members of ITN America pay dues to a non-profit organization committed to their independence and mobility. Seniors call in to schedule a ride and are provided with a transportation alternative that help keeps them in control of their lives.
Features of the ITN America Program include:
Affordable senior fares that are typically lower than a comparable taxi ride.
Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day for any purpose.
Not 'just a taxi' - drivers provide seniors with arm-through-arm, door-through-door service and help with packages.
No money is exchanged in the vehicle, and tips are not accepted.
Riders pre-fund a personal transportation account and a monthly statement details all payments and charges.
Uses automobiles, rather than vans or buses.
Rides may be booked at any time, with discounts for advance notice.
Senior Riders may travel alone or with others, with discounts for shared rides.
Membership based - seniors people 60 years and older (age eligibility varies by affiliate), and visually impaired adults are eligible to join.
Community based affiliates are supported by private, rather than public resources.
The Independent Transportation Network addresses the issue of seniors who can no longer drive and affordable senior transportation. Alternative transportation can be difficult to organize, it may be difficult to recruit enough volunteer drivers, car and liability insurance issues may not be handled properly, and the high expense of operating volunteer driver program may be a deterrent.
The Road Scholarship Program converts volunteer credits into a funds for low-income riders, and the gift certificate program helps adult children support their parents' transportation needs by purchasing senior transportation gift certificates.
Volunteer drivers provide rides for seniors a few hours during the month. Volunteers receive training, and ITN arranges driving assignments and routes around volunteer schedules.
ITN Country - Training and set up support for rural communities that would like to start their own senior transportation program is available to those who are interested.
ITN America holds webinars on 'How to start an Independent Transportation Network (ITN) in Your Community.' The training is appropriate for:
- Non-profit leaders; foundation program officers, philanthropists, legislators, planners, policy makers, Rotarian's, Lions and other service organization members.
- Area Agencies on Aging, United Way affiliates, church groups, synagogues, other faith-based organizations, and existing transportation providers.
- Any government organization (municipality, county, or state), such as a Mayor's Office, or Task Force on Aging.
- A private individual or a team of private citizens, willing to raise awareness, organize the effort, and gather resources necessary to start and maintain an ITN affiliate.
ITN America is the first and only national non-profit transportation system for America's aging population. The aim is to create an efficient and financially sustainable solution to the transportation needs of seniors and their families worldwide.
Rides in Sight lists transportation services for older adults or visually impaired people. A toll-free number with trained customer representatives is also available to help find affordable transportation.
source:itnamerica.org
Senior Safety
Elderly Driver and Senior Transportation
WATCH VIDEO ON HOW ITN AMERICA INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK PROGRAM WORKS |
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