Gateway Services Inc

Programs: Access johnson county public transportation provided 85,670 local passenger trips during 2016, and added 460 new first-time registered passengers, in addition to 'walk-ons' boarding at bus stops. Of these trips, 39,891 were on the fixed route service which had increased frequency in 2012 through a system redesign made possible by the jobs access/reverse commute grants from indot and indygo/indianapolis public transit corporation, 2016 was the second. 16,993 different individual registered passengers have used access since its onset, plus an unknown unregistered number of bus stop walk-ons. In addition, access dispatched volunteer drivers' trips for veterans to the va hospital, coordinated public transit services for 3-county service areas including purchased services from local providers, plus helped facilitate networking of central indiana regional rural transit services with indianapolis transit system and central indiana regional transit authority. To absorb the losses from the successful conclusion of several temporary (2008-2014) federal 'special projects' grants, a phased-in transit service redesign and system restructuring in 2014 focused on keeping critical services operational with minimal disruption to passengers, and with no employee layoffs. 2015 was the first full year of implementation.

community employment services served 63 new referrals and assisted 114 individuals with disabilities, including 18 who are deaf or hard of hearing with their job search, training, and ongoing employment/career support, including sustaining average individual job retention success for supported employment which ranged up to the current highest individual continuous job retention of 30 years despite the difficult economy. There were 22 new job placements made during 2016. One deaf individual is now training for a management position and another 'graduated' from our services needing no further assistance. In 2016 gateway also became a social security ticket to work employment network.

habilitation services provided in 2016 to individuals with disabilities included service coordination (229); individualized community-based activities with staff support (47); and scheduled day program group activities (62), a 32% increase; and emphasized meaningful community participation, access to community opportunities and local resources, volunteerism, handling of life events with support from staff, skill development, inclusive recreation/leisure and personal enrichment. 23 individuals participated in the franklin college best buddies chapter, and the kiwanis 'aktion club' celebrated 20 years.