ExceptionalOPS, an advocacy group for the developmentally disabled and Fayette Senior Services, a non-profit organization that provides a broad scope of life-enhancing services to Fayette County’s senior population, collaborated in 2007 to launch the first Fayette County Alternative Transportation Initiative. Today, the program continues to successfully provide a solution to the transportation challenges their respective audiences face.

Through a grant awarded to ExceptionalOPS by The United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the two agencies joined forces and developed a program that expanded the services of Fayette Senior Services’ existing senior voucher program to include Fayette County residents between the ages of 18 to 59 with developmental disabilities or adults whom, through no fault of their own, do not have the ability to drive. The pilot program was met with much success and it continues to address a specific transportation need in the community.

Without public transportation available in Fayette County, the independence of individuals who cannot drive is severely limited. Through the transportation voucher program, participants can purchase vouchers for a nominal fee though Fayette Senior Services and arrange their own transportation and negotiate the payment for service with one of the program’s many registered drivers.

Vouchers for people with developmental disabilities are still widely available; however, an increased demand for low-cost transportation service for senior citizens has resulted in limited availability for eligible participants age 60 and better. Program administrators are optimistic that future funding will become available that will enable the agency to meet the increasing demand for service.

Individuals interested in participating in the program as passengers or as drivers should contact Fayette Senior Services Case Manger, Marie Doyle at 770-461-0813 or mdoyle@fayss.org. Fayette Senior Services is located at 4 Center Drive inFayetteville. For more information about the agency visit www.fayss.org.

People with developmental disabilities who require assistance in obtaining day support services, information about Medicaid waiver funding or any other related questions should visit www.exceptionalops.com or contact ExceptionalOPS Executive Director, Janet Smola, at 770-631-1035 or janetsmola@numail.org.

login to post comments