Hop on the Bus to Independence Workshops

About the Program

Using public transportation is an essential skill for people with disabilities to live and work in the community. Pace Suburban Bus has partnered with JJ's List to offer a free, hands-on, interactive workshop to help Chicagoland students learn to use public transportation for safe and independent travel.

What happens during the 90-minute Workshop?

• The JJ's List Training Team works with participants in a classroom setting to learn how to plan a trip using a variety of methods including the telephone, route maps, RTA's (Regional Transportation Authority's) online trip planner, Google maps, and other digital apps and resources. (45 minutes)
• A Pace trainer and bus operator along with an RTA representative and an experienced self-advocate then take participants on a real Pace bus to explore how everything works and what participants need to know. Students learn where and how to safely wait for a bus, safe boarding, paying fares, where to sit, on-bus and off-bus safety, using landmarks and other ways to know when to get off the bus. Accessibility features of the bus including wheelchair ramps, electronic signs, and audio announcements are also covered. (45 minutes)

Who can participate?

Hop on the Bus workshops are open to any public or private school, agency, or service provider that works with individuals with disabilities ages 14 and older within the six-county area serviced by Pace Suburban Bus (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will).