SCOOT APP

Sertoma Star (Formerly New Star)identified transportation as a significant barrier for people with IDD to fully participate in their community. This is especially true outside of Chicago where public transportation is more limited. As a result, Sertoma Star began developing a ridesharing application called SCOOT (Stronger Community Opportunities through Organized Transportation).  The SCOOT app will function like a ride share app (similar to Uber or Lift) but will have features designed to support people with Developmental Disabilities who want to request transportation from vetted and trained drivers employed by Sertoma Star. The goal, long-term, is to see the SCOOT app utilized by other provider agencies across the state and nation. The App is currently in testing stage. Sustainability ideas that include the possibility of developing a Transportation Collaborative (probably regional and would include the area Sertoma Star serves). Benefits of such a collaborative would be shared costs and shared driver pool. Once app is fully functional, Sertoma Star is looking at a possibly a Statewide Rollout where they package the App with samples of marketing materials, policy & procedure manual, and information on how to create a transportation collaborative.