From Isolation to Integration: Rideshare Pilot for People with Disabilities

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

Dakota County Social Services provides case management services to approximately 7,000 adults with disabilities. Transportation has long been a barrier and has limited individual’s ability to obtain employment and access their community. With support from a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Innovations grant, Dakota County entered into a partnership with Lyft, Inc. in March 2019 to offer an on-demand transportation option for those receiving case management services and bill the rides to the individual’s Medicaid Waiver. Medicaid Waivers are used to provide long term care supports, including transportation services, for individuals with disabilities. As of March 2020, 352 individuals are utilizing Lyft to get to employment and access their community with tremendous overall positive results. For those riders, employment opportunities, community engagement and quality of life indicators have increased.