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RDS is part of the |
100 General Services, Fort Collins,
CO 80523-8002
(970) 491-6385 (V/TDD), (970) 491-3457 (Fax) |
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RDS is part of the |
100 General Services, Fort Collins,
CO 80523-8002
(970) 491-6385 (V/TDD), (970) 491-3457 (Fax) |
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Karin Bright/Jackie Charlesworth - Co-Coordinators
(970) 491-6385
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POLICY STATEMENT
(updated 8/2003) |
Resources for Disabled Students (RDS) provides limited accessible transportation services for students with motor or visual limitations or other conditions that would significantly affect the ability to travel to and from campus. Accessible transportation services are designed to supplement other transportation resources that may be available to a student, including personal arrangements and public transportation systems. RDS accessible transportation services are not required by statutory regulation; they are offered merely as another option, or as supplement, for students in addition to campus and community support. Students should attempt to exhaust all other means of transportation prior to the provision of these services.
Eligibility for these services is determined by an assessment of a student's individual needs by an appropriate RDS Staff member. Students must have appropriate documentation of a disability as determined by the appropriate RDS Staff member. The affects, or limitations, of the disability must also support the need for transportation services as assessed and verified by the RDS Staff member.
Accessible transportation services may be requested by a student or be recommended as an accommodation by the RDS Staff member. Approval as an accommodation is made by one of the RDS Transportation Services Coordinator.
All students who request accessible transportation services for the first time must meet with an appropriate RDS Staff member. Once approved, transportation services must be requested for a student each semester in order to continue this service. All student requests for transportation services are submitted to one of the RDS Transportation Services Coordinators. Approval and continuation of services will be provided in written format directly to the student.
Students who are temporarily disabled due to injuries affecting their ability to travel may also be eligible for transportation services. Students who are temporarily disabled due to injuries or other acute conditions may be granted conditional status through their recovery but no longer than one semester of service.
Once initially approved for services, students will receive information regarding their responsibilities and obligations for requesting rides from a RDS Transportation Services Coordinator. Due to limited availability of drivers, specific times for pick up from any location are not guaranteed. Assigned rides will be scheduled so that a student arrives on campus prior to the time needed for a class or other academic commitment. Trips home may need to be arranged to fit the availability of drivers.
To request transportation service for the semester, a student must complete a Request for Transportation Services form that indicates the number of rides needed, the days the rides are needed, the location and destination of each ride and the time preferred for each. This form can be filled out by the student or the student may ask assistance from RDS Staff.
Students with temporary mobility limitations (conditional status) must indicate how long they intend to use the transportation service. Appropriate documentation must be presented to verify the need.
Students are to submit their requests for daily services no later than the second week of classes, or as soon as they are aware of the need. RDS will implement the service no later than the following week from the time the request was submitted. One time rides may be requested by phone with at least three (3) days advanced notice. These requests and emergency requests will only be fulfilled based on the availability of drivers.
Requests for rides will be honored as close as possible to the original request time without jeopardizing a student's class schedule. Due to driver and rider schedules, however, it may be necessary for students to adjust their requests for rides in terms of time and locations.
Transportation schedules are difficult to change due to driver availability, so users are requested to make as few changes as possible during the semester.
Service is not provided for students who live on campus. Cross campus travel is not provided. Rides are limited to one trip to campus and one trip home per day. Exceptions to these arrangement can only be approved by the RDS Director as recommended by an RDS Transportation Services Coordinator.
Priority of riders is given to students with permanent mobility disabilities. Students with other needs for transportation will be scheduled for rides dependent upon the availability of drivers and established commitment to students with mobility impairments.
The priority of rides is associated with a student's class schedule and other academic commitments. Other requests may be considered dependent upon the availability of drivers. Rides for personal use, however, are not provided.
The campus area occasionally experiences severe weather caused by snow storms. In accordance with university policy concerning snow emergencies, RDS reserves the right to cancel rides on days deemed unsafe for travel to, from, and on campus. Riders will be notified of the cancellation via telephone.
Cancellation of rides may also be made due to the mechanical difficulties or scheduled maintenance of the accessible vehicle (bus). In such cases, riders will be notified as soon as possible so that alternative means of transportation can be arranged if possible.
Drop off and pick up locations are agreed upon between the student and the RDS Transportation Services Coordinator. These locations should remain as consistent as possible throughout the semester.
Riders are responsible for canceling their rides by calling the RDS office a minimum of one (1) hour prior to the scheduled ride. Other than for emergencies, regularly scheduled rides should be canceled no later than 24 hours before the scheduled time. Students who consistently (more than three consecutive times) fail to notify RDS of canceled rides may be subject to a discontinuation of service. Students will be notified in writing prior to discontinuation, indicating the reasons for discontinuation and conditions for reinstatement.
If discontinued for services, the student must meet with one of the RDS Transportation Services Coordinators and be recommended for reinstatement for approval of the RDS Director.
All passengers are required to wear safety belts. All wheelchairs will be tied down and riders must wear safety belts while the vehicle is in motion. A safety belt will be provided to any wheelchair rider who does not have a belt already attached to his/her chair.
Although all attempts are made to be on time, there may be circumstances that cause a driver to be late. Drivers or another RDS representative will call the rider if it is known the ride will be delayed. Riders are requested to wait at least 15 minutes before finding alternative transportation and/or contacting the RDS office.
Riders are expected to wait at, or near, the scheduled pick up point until the vehicle arrives. Drivers will not be expected to "search" for riders. If a driver does not find a rider at the appointed pick up location, he/she is allowed to leave after 15 minutes.
Only a student approved by RDS is eligible to be a passenger on the vehicle. Friends/family cannot accompany a rider due to university insurance requirements.
All drivers hired must have a valid Driver's License and a good driving record. Driver's licenses will be checked through CSU Police Department prior to allowing any person to drive the vehicle.
Drivers are expected to obey all traffic laws, use only the approved travel patterns of the campus, and to know where the vehicle is allowed and is not allowed to park on campus (i.e., where service vehicles go, the RDS vehicle should be allowed; parking in designated disabled parking).
No driver will be allowed to transport any student without training which will include: operation of the accessible lift, a test drive, an orientation to the safety requirements of passengers and drivers, and being driven as a rider sitting in a wheelchair. All drivers must wear a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.
Drivers may be expected to assist riders to and from the bus at a designated location. This may require assisting a rider from his/her home or to a particular class. If a driver assists a rider to a class, he/she is to turn off the vehicle and lock it before leaving the vicinity of the vehicle.
Drivers are not allowed to do tasks beyond the scope of their responsibility as a driver for any student rider. Drivers are not expected to physically lift any rider in order to assist him/her.
Drivers are required to wait 15 minutes from the scheduled time for passengers to be ready. A driver is not required to "search" for a rider. Consistent delays on behalf of a rider should be reported to one of the RDS Transporation Services Coordinators.
If a driver knows he/she will be late, or unable, to pick up a rider, the driver is to notify the rider and/or the RDS office as soon as possible so that an alternative method of transportation can be arranged if feasible.
Drivers must notify one of the RDS Transportation Services Coordinators as soon as possible if involved in any accident or incident with the RDS vehicle. Drivers are not allowed to use the RDS vehicle for personal reasons unrelated to RDS functions. Friend/family of drivers are not allowed as passengers in the vehicle due to university insurance requirements.
Drivers are also responsible for keeping the vehicle clean and full of gas. Any mechanical defects noticed by drivers must be reported to one of the RDS Transportation Services Coordinators as soon as possible.
Exceptions to the above policies may be made based on individual student need and circumstances only through the approval of the RDS Director. Exceptions may be requested from the RDS Director by the student, RDS Counselor, and/or one of the RDS Transportation Services Coordinators.
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