SEPTA Partnership

Helping our students on the route to success

Siobhan Ideishi, CORA’s Occupational Therapy Director, partnered with Lois Rosage, an Occupational Therapist at SEPTA, to help students at Mastery Charter Simon Gratz High School to utilize public transportation. The goal was to increase the students’ independence in taking public transportation to and from school, as well as places of work. With the help of interns from Temple and University of the Sciences, the occupational therapists worked with the students on a variety of skills in preparation for the trips including mapping out the trip, money management, and social skills.

How does CORA impact these students?

• Lafese, who took the yellow school bus to school last year, now takes public transportation on his own. When the Temple interns called his mother about his progress, she cried and said she was so proud of him.
• Laron has learned how to travel to his new home by talking with the bus driver.
• Keiante has learn to travel to school with her younger brothers which enriches her daily activities in the community.

Programs such as this are evidence that CORA School Services Division is preparing students with an education beyond the classroom. Siobhan Ideishi expresses her pride when she speaks of her staff and students. Her team supports families, help students increase independence and build confidence as they feel more comfortable riding public transportation on their own.