Recent grant awards result in four new, accessible vans to provide critical transportation for Employment Services participants as they prepare for employment.
People with disabilities make excellent employees – if they’re given the chance.
One of the many barriers to employment is safe, reliable transportation. Thankfully, our Employment Services program can help! The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and KOVAR recently awarded funding to SOAR365 for four accessible, five-passenger vans with ramps.
“DRPT administers funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA),” explains Jess Maffey, DRPT Statewide Transit Program Manager. “The 5310 program provides funding for human services transportation, or on-demand transportation for people with disabilities and older adults, age 65 or older.”
We’re so thankful for DRPT, and for our good friends at KOVAR who made a gift of $20,000 to help fund the match. They have been a true partner to SOAR365 for over 20 years, awarding us grants totaling $240,000.
“KOVAR’s mission is to assist Virginians with intellectual disabilities,” explains Eddie Whitlock, President, KOVAR. “We’re pleased to partner with great organizations like SOAR365. Over the years, we’ve provided several grants to SOAR365, and we look forward to a continued partnership of service!”
The vans will be used by both students and adults with disabilities. SOAR365’s Pre-Employment Transition Services program helps young people prepare for adulthood through career exploration and training. Meanwhile, Supported Employment helps adults identify their skills and interests, try different work environments, apply for jobs, and succeed in the right job for them.
Both programs require a lot of on-demand travel to and from training sites and potential employers. Having transportation “allows people with disabilities to feel confident,” says Collin, a SOAR365 pre-ETS participant. It also provides important support to caregivers. “My mom is a very busy woman and does a lot for me, so having the ability to be transported around places like Richmond or Mechanicsville greatly helps my family.”
“We are excited to award SOAR365 vehicles to support their Supported Employment program,” says Jess. “We don’t have many grantees who provide job training for people with disabilities, but it’s an important service that helps fulfill our agency’s mission to improve the quality of life for all Virginians. We look forward to seeing the impact this program makes on the SOAR365 clients!”
You can help make a difference, too! Support SOAR365’s work today at soar365.org/donate. If you like to learn more about Employment Services and our Supported Employment and Pre-ETS programs, please contact us or visit our website at soar365.org.