Transportation Disadvantaged (TD): Individuals who because of a mental or physical disability, income status, or age are unable to transport themselves or to purchase transportation and are, therefore, dependent upon others to obtain access to healthcare, employment, education, shopping, social activities, or other life-sustaining activities, or children who are handicapped, or high risk or at risk (as defined in § 411.202). In addition, the individual’s trip origin and/or destination must reside outside the ADA corridor.

For Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) Non-Sponsored Paratransit Service (also known as CAT Connect) in Collier County the following criteria are used for determining Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) eligibility by the Mobility Manager:

1. The individual is unable to transport themselves or to purchase transportation:

1. If public transit is available, applicants must show why it cannot be used;

2. The Mobility Manager will perform a functional assessment to determine if the applicant is not able to use public transit.

2. There are no other funding sources available to pay for the requested trip (i.e., Agency sponsored, Senior Services (Older Americans Act), Medicaid for Non-Emergency Medical Trips).

3. The individual meets one or more of the following criteria:

1. Physical or mental disability, as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); or (staff will refer to the physician diagnosis and guidance for qualifying);

2. The individual falls under “children-at-risk” as defined in F.S. 411.202;

3. Individual and household income status is 150% of the federal poverty level or less; or (staff will use approved documents to verify income for qualifying)

The eligibility process does not provide for self-declaration. The Applicants will sign the application attesting the information they provide is truthful and accurate. If a TD applicant is determined to be ineligible for TD services, due to an incomplete application, additional processing time will be given until the required or missing information is received. If the application is determined to be ineligible after a complete review, the applicant may appeal this determination by following the appeals process outlined.