During the 2017 National Regional Transportation Conference, Rachel Beyerle shared information about the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center's outreach efforts.

1. Using Twitter Chats and Podcasts
to Mobilize Engagement
Rachel Beyerle
Communications Director

2. A Technical Assistance Center of the Federal Transit
Administration hosted by Easterseals and the National
Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) established
in October 2015.
www.nadtc.org 2
National Aging and Disability
Transportation Center (NADTC)
Offering resources, training and
Information & referral to:
• Older adults
• People with disabilities
• Caregivers
• Professionals serving older adults
and people with disabilities

3.  Twitter Chats
• Advocacy and Conversation
• Awareness and Marketing
• Growing Your Stakeholder Engagement
• New Partners
 Podcasts
• Training and Information Sharing
 Tips, Tools & Your Experience
• What’s Working Well
www.nadtc.org 3
Engagement & Outreach

4. www.nadtc.org 4
Twitter Chats
Credit: blog.sumall.com

5. Twitter is an active part of our communication plan!
We use Twitter to:
www.nadtc.org 5
National Aging and Disability
Transportation Center (NADTC)
• Announce events
• Engage with fellow
organizations
• Raise awareness of who we
are and what we do
• Share news, research, articles

6. 2016: Getting Started
 Easterseals Transportation Group Twitter Chats
• Participated in March 16, 2016 Safe Routes
Partnership’s first #MoveEquity Twitter Chat
• Hosted June 29, 2016 travel training-focused
#AllCanRide Twitter Chat
• Co-hosted July 27, 2016 #MoveEquity Twitter Chat
with Safe Routes Partnership, National Complete
Streets Coalition, League of American Bicyclists
www.nadtc.org 6

7. Getting Started
www.nadtc.org 7

8. 2016 Participation
www.nadtc.org 8
 We crossed paths with organizations and resources
not always on our radar! (e.g., Salud Today, 20-20-20
Movement, Streets Blog USA, FL Safe Mobility)

9. We Can Do This!
www.nadtc.org 9
Partnered with Via Mobility
Services (CO), CUTR at USF,
Easterseals Chicago,
Easterseals North Texas,
Dallas Independent School
District, and First Transit
June 29, 2016 travel training-focused
#AllCanRide Twitter Chat

10. 2016 Participation and Hosting Results
www.nadtc.org 10
Twitter Profile Visits New Followers
May 2016 141 --
June 2016 (6/29 host) 1,511 --
July 2016 (7/20 co-host) 411 21
August 2016 110 -4
September 2016 131 6
October 2016 159 10

11. Two-Line Title for Alternate Slide
Format Looks Like This
www.nadtc.org 11
 NADTC (@NADTCmobility) hosted a #SafeWalking Twitter Chat on
April 12, 2017
• Hosted by NADTC only (this can limit reach)
• Contacted national organizations to ask them to help advertise
event (e.g., NADO, CTAA, AARP, Safe Routes Partnership)
• Announced via News from NADTC e-news, Facebook, LinkedIn,
postcard at ASA Annual Conference
• Save the Date tweeted March 17
Fast Forward: 2017 Twitter Chat

12. Two-Line Title for Alternate Slide
Format Looks Like This
www.nadtc.org 12
#SafeWalking Promotion
Save the Date Postcards
and Welcome Message

13. Two-Line Title for Alternate Slide
Format Looks Like This
www.nadtc.org 13
#SafeWalking 8 Questions
• 2:04 pm / Q1: Why are #accessible walking options so
important for #Seniors & #PeopleWithDisabilities?
#SafeWalking
• 2:12 pm / Q2: What are the top priority #policy or #design
improvements that need to take place for safer walking in
the U.S? #SafeWalking
• 2:18 pm / Q3: What are low-cost #pedestrian
improvements that can make a real difference to #Seniors
& #PWD? Share a pic or design! #SafeWalking
• 2:28 pm / Q4: What promising practices or #funding
sources are available for #OlderAdult & #PWD walking
programs/projects? #SafeWalking

14. Two-Line Title for Alternate Slide
Format Looks Like This
www.nadtc.org 14
#SafeWalking 8 Questions
• 2:37 pm / Q5: What online or in-person tools/resources are
available for #Seniors & #PWD to help them plan their
#pedestrian travel? #SafeWalking
• 2:46 pm / Q6: How can #OlderAdults get more involved in
advocating for safer #walking or #cycling pathways?
#SafeWalking
• 2:53 pm / Q7: What are effective ways to reach #seniors,
#PWD & their families to let them know about safe walking
programs & resources? #SafeWalking
• 2:58 pm / Q8: What are new methods/tools to raise
#pedestrian safety awareness among the public, #drivers,
media & local officials? #SafeWalking

15. www.nadtc.org 15
#SafeWalking Chat Results
• 19 organizations tweeted
• 8 questions were posted in addition to
welcomes and wrap-up comments
• 9 = highest number of likes for a tweet
• 5 = highest number of retweets
Twitter Analytics (chat date April 12)
March 2017: 5 new followers/421 profile visits
April 2017: 36 new followers/1,290 profile visits
June 2017: 9 new followers/495 profile visits

16. www.nadtc.org 16
Likes: Resources, Pics & Hot Button Topics

17. www.nadtc.org 17
Retweets: Resources, Hot Topics & Infographics
Hot topics catch attention.
Twitter is ideal for sharing resources.

18. www.nadtc.org 18
#SafeWalking Tweeters

19. Two-Line Title for Alternate Slide
Format Looks Like This
www.nadtc.org 19
Twitter Chat Observations
Check your questions for character limitations beforehand.
Don’t forget your #Hashtag phrase in your character limit!
Be prepared. Have questions pre-loaded or if loading manually, have
them copy & paste ready.
Recruit a colleague(s) to observe, reply, retweet, link, like & follow.
All hands on deck.
Adrenaline will fade by the 45 minute mark.
Numbers drop off. Keep ‘em motivated!
With more participants you can likely get away with fewer questions!

20. Storify Archives (storify.com)
www.nadtc.org 20
Browse past chats. Search by hashtag.

21. www.nadtc.org 21
Podcasts
Credit: slate.com / Robert Neubecker

22. www.nadtc.org 22
NADTC’s First (So Far) Podcast
Ask the Expert ADA Podcast – March 30, 2017
• 30-minute Q&A podcast on the Americans
with Disabilities Act and Transportation
• Featured NADTC Technical Assistance
Specialists
• Part of NADTC’s online ADA Mini Course but
shared with public
• Used as a training tool in lieu of a webinar

23. www.nadtc.org 23
Ask the Expert Podcast
Scripted Questions & Answers
Primary audience: transit professionals,
operators, drivers, paratransit service, aging and
disability services professionals
• Service Animals and ADA
• Operator Assistance
• Reasonable Modification

24. www.nadtc.org 24
Ask the Expert Podcast
We used
Mixlr.com as our
platform for
recording and
initial archive.
Find us at
NADTCPODCAST.

25. www.nadtc.org 25
Ask the Expert Podcast
• 127 listens on Mixlr.com
• 28 live listeners (course participants only) on day of podcast
On NADTC website:
• 279 page views of ADA course landing page; 198 unique
page views from March 30-June 20
• 100 page views/91 unique page views of podcast resource
page since posted as an NADTC resource (April 25-June 20)
Statistics to Date

26. www.nadtc.org 26
Podcast Survey Questions
1. Did they listen to the podcast live or download it later?
[Live, Later, Didn't listen.]
2. How often do they listen to podcasts (not just training
podcasts)? [Weekly, Monthly, Sometimes (few times a
year), Rarely, Never listen to podcasts]
3. Is this the first time they've listened to a podcast as part
of a training course? [Yes, No, Didn't listen.]
4. Is there anything we can do to change the podcast that
would make it easier for them to access? [Open-ended.]

27. www.nadtc.org 27
Ask the Expert Podcast
Coming Up Next
 NADTC has decided to continue to use
podcasts for training and information for short
subjects (20-30 minutes ideal).
 Fixed-route half fare will be next topic.
 Considering more conversational—yet
scripted—format for future multi-person
podcasts.

28. www.nadtc.org 28
Summary
Image credit: kaboom.org
Twitter Chats help you:
 Expand your knowledge base.
 Find new professional partners.
 Learn more about trending issues.
 Raise awareness about projects
and resources.
Podcasts offer:
 Alternate way to present
 Flexibility – can listen at leisure
 Low-cost option

29. www.nadtc.org 29
What is Your Experience?
What Communication Tools Are Working Well
to Mobilize the Public and Stakeholders?
 Social Media
 Audio
 Videos/TV
 Being Accessible
 Reaching Multiple Generations

30. Carol R. Wright
Co-director, NADTC
Assistant Vice President, Transportation and Mobility
Easter Seals, Inc.
202.403.8365 | cwright@easterseals.com
www.nadtc.org
Rachel Beyerle, Communications Director
Tel: (202) 347-3066 | Email: rbeyerle@easterseals.com
Web: www.nadtc.org
Twitter: @nadtcmobility
Join us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube!