STS FAQs
Q: What is STS?
A: CATS' Special Transportation Service (STS) provides door-to-door transit services within ¾’s of a mile of all local fixed route buses routes during each individual route’s hours and days of operation for individuals with disabilities certified as eligible according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) .
Q: How do I become certified to ride STS?
A: Individuals certified to use STS must meet a three-step certification process that includes:
- An application with professional verification
- In-person interview; and
- A functional assessment
Q: How do I apply for certification?
A: Contact the STS Certification Coordinator at 704-336-5055 to receive an application via the mail, fax, or e-mail. Applications are also available online. Complete your application and then have it verified and signed by a medical, rehabilitation or healthcare professional and then mail it back to STS at 901 N. Davidson Street Charlotte, NC 28206.
Q: What happens after I return my application?
A: You will be contacted by our certification coordinator to complete your in-person interview and functional assessment.
Q: Why do I have to participate in an in-person interview? Is it required and who will conduct it?
A: Yes, an in-person interview will be required by all applicants. An in-person interview provides an opportunity to get more detailed information about travel abilities than may be possible using only a written application. The interview will be conducted by Carolinas HealthCare System's Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation Vocational Services.
Q: What are functional assessments? Are they required and who will conduct them?
A: Functional Assessments provide an objective and independent appraisal of abilities to perform the tasks necessary to use fixed route services. While every customer applying for STS will have to participate in an interview, a functional assessment may not be required. The results of the interview will determine if an assessment is necessary. Carolinas Rehabilitation will also conduct the assessments.
Q: When will I find out if I'm eligible?
A: After your interview and assessment are complete, STS will notify you of your eligibility within 21 days after we receive your completed application. Those considered as eligible to ride STS will be sent a letter of determination stating their eligibility to use the service.
Q: What if my application for recertification is denied?
A: An individual who has applied for certification and is denied or has conditions placed on their use has the right to appeal their evaluation. An independent panel has been established to hear appeals and the panel includes a person with a disability. All appeals must be in writing and received within 60 days after you have received written notice of your eligibility determination decision.
Q: What if I am no longer eligible to ride STS?
A: CATS fixed route service is accessible, and we do offer training to teach you how to use the fixed route system.
Q: Can my STS eligibility change?
A: Yes. If the nature or severity of your disability changes or the accessibility of your transit service changes, then your eligibility status could change.
Q: What is fixed route?
A: Transit services where vehicles run on regular, pre-determined, pre-scheduled routes.
Q: How can travel training help me?
A: People with disabilities who take advantage of travel training gain the freedom to choose what kind of transportation they wish to take. The training also makes traveling more flexible and trips no longer need to be scheduled in advance as in the case with STS.
Q: Are there designated seats for people with disabilities on the fixed route service?
A: Yes. There are designated locations on the bus for people with disabilities and securements for wheelchairs.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: You may contact STS at 1.833.656.7699 between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to midnight Monday – Saturday and 6:00 a.m. to midnight on Sunday and holidays .
Q: What do I do if I am a visitor and have ADA eligibility in my home town?
Visitors' use of STS
-
Eligible visitors will be served for a period of 21 days - during any 12 month period
- Individuals from outside CATS' service area will be served by CATS STS service as ADA Visitors if they are unable to use accessible, fixed route transportation services due to disability related functional limitations.
- According to ADA regulations, an individual residing outside of the area served by CATS STS service is eligible for complementary paratransit service as a visitor.
- If the individual presents documentation of ADA paratransit eligibility from his or her home jurisdiction.
- If the individual has no such documentation (of ADA paratransit eligibility), then the individual is to provide documentation of residence outside of CATS' service area and, if the individual's disability is not apparent, proof of the disability. This might include, for example, a letter from a doctor.
- To request visitor status, contact CATS STS Certification Coordinator by:
- Calling by 704-336-5055
- Mail to:
STS Certification Coordinator
901 North Davidson Street
Charlotte, N.C. 28206
- Fax: to STS Certification Coordinator – 704-336-5119
- Please be prepared to give:
- Information verifying eligibility as an ADA eligibility from outside of CATS' service area, or
- Evidence of disability as described in 2.a and 2.b above
- Expected dates when visitor desires to use Access
- Access Customer Service will process the application promptly.
- The visitor will be notified of the determination regarding status as an ADA eligible visitor within 24 hours and if eligible, information will be entered into the rider database.
Right of Appeal
Q: What if my application for recertification is denied?
A: An individual who has applied for certification and is denied or has conditions placed on their use has the right to appeal their evaluation. An independent panel has been established to hear appeals and the panel includes a person with a disability. All appeals must be in writing and received within 60 days after you have received written notice of your eligibility determination decision.
P: ¿Qué pasa si mi solicitud de recertificación es denegada?
R: Una persona que ha solicitado la certificación y es denegada o tiene condiciones para su uso tiene derecho a apelar su evaluación. Se ha establecido un panel independiente para escuchar apelaciones y el panel incluye a una persona con una discapacidad. Todas las apelaciones deben presentarse por escrito y deben recibirse dentro de los 60 días posteriores a la recepción de una notificación por escrito de su decisión de determinación de elegibilidad.
H: Điều gì sẽ xảy ra nếu đơn xin tái chứng nhận của tôi bị từ chối?
Trả lời: Một cá nhân đã nộp đơn xin chứng nhận và bị từ chối hoặc có các điều kiện được đưa vào sử dụng của họ có quyền khiếu nại đánh giá của họ. Một hội đồng độc lập đã được thành lập để nghe các kháng nghị và hội đồng bao gồm một người khuyết tật. Tất cả các kháng nghị phải bằng văn bản và nhận được trong vòng 60 ngày sau khi bạn nhận được thông báo bằng văn bản về quyết định xác định đủ điều kiện của bạn.
問：如果我的重新認證申請被拒絕，該怎麼辦？
答：申請認證並被拒絕或有條件的個人有權對其評估提出申訴。 已設立獨立小組聆聽上訴，小組成員包括殘疾人。 所有上訴必須在收到書面通知後60天內以書面形式收到。
Q: Que se passe-t-il si ma demande de recertification est refusée?
R: Une personne qui a présenté une demande de certification et qui est refusée ou qui a des conditions d'utilisation a le droit de faire appel de son évaluation. Un panel indépendant a été établi pour entendre les appels et le panel comprend une personne handicapée. Tous les appels doivent être faits par écrit et reçus dans les 60 jours suivant la réception d'un avis écrit de votre décision d'admissibilité.
В: Что делать, если мое заявление на повторную сертификацию отклонено?
Ответ: Лицо, подавшее заявку на аттестацию, отказано или имеет условия, связанные с их использованием, имеет право обжаловать их оценку. Для рассмотрения жалоб была создана независимая комиссия, в состав которой входит инвалид. Все апелляции должны быть в письменной форме и получены в течение 60 дней после того, как вы получили письменное уведомление о своем решении о принятии права на участие.
પ્ર: પુનર્નિર્માણ માટેની મારી અરજી નકારી કાઢવામાં આવે તો શું?
એ: એક વ્યક્તિ જેણે પ્રમાણપત્ર માટે અરજી કરી છે અને નકારી છે અથવા તેના ઉપયોગ પર મૂકવામાં આવેલી શરતોને તેમના મૂલ્યાંકનને અપીલ કરવાનો અધિકાર છે. અપીલો સાંભળવા માટે સ્વતંત્ર પેનલની સ્થાપના કરવામાં આવી છે અને પેનલમાં અપંગતાવાળા વ્યક્તિનો સમાવેશ થાય છે. બધા અપીલ લેખિતમાં હોવા જોઈએ અને તમારા પાત્રતા નિર્ધારણ નિર્ણયના લેખિત નોટિસ પ્રાપ્ત થયાના 60 દિવસ પછી પ્રાપ્ત થવી જોઈએ.
प्रश्न: अगर पुनर्वितरण के लिए मेरा आवेदन अस्वीकार कर दिया गया है तो क्या होगा?
ए: एक व्यक्ति जिसने प्रमाणीकरण के लिए आवेदन किया है और इनकार किया गया है या उनके उपयोग पर रखी गई स्थितियों को उनके मूल्यांकन की अपील करने का अधिकार है। अपील सुनने के लिए एक स्वतंत्र पैनल स्थापित किया गया है और पैनल में विकलांग व्यक्ति शामिल है। सभी अपीलों को लिखित रूप में होना चाहिए और आपके पात्रता निर्धारण निर्णय के लिखित नोटिस प्राप्त होने के 60 दिनों के भीतर प्राप्त होना चाहिए।
Q : 자격 갱신 신청이 거부되면 어떻게합니까?
A : 인증을 신청하고 거부 당하거나 사용 조건이있는 개인은 평가에 항의 할 권리가 있습니다. 이의 제기를 청문 할 수있는 독립 패널이 설립되었으며 패널에는 장애인이 포함됩니다. 모든 이의 제기는 귀하의 적격 여부 결정에 대한 서면 통보를받은 후 60 일 이내에 서면으로해야합니다.
Q: Kini o ba jẹ pe a ko fi elo mi silẹ fun igbasilẹ?
A: Olukuluku ẹni ti o lo fun iwe-ẹri ati pe a sẹ tabi ni awọn ipo ti a gbe sori lilo wọn ni eto lati tayọ imọran wọn. A ti ṣeto iṣeto ominira lati gbọ awọn ẹjọ apanijajọ ati pe apejọ naa pẹlu eniyan ti o ni ailera. Gbogbo awọn ẹjọ ẹjọ gbọdọ wa ni kikọ ati ki o gba laarin awọn ọjọ 60 lẹhin ti o ti gba akiyesi akọsilẹ ti ipinnu ipinnu ipinnu rẹ.