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From:
"Paulsen & Company, Inc." <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
Date:
Sun, 9 Jul 2000 22:50:22 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (124 lines)
Getting on the bus: Has the ADA helped?
By VICKIE BECK - For AccessLife.com
(Story posted June 23, 2000.)

Nearly nine years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), people with disabilities were still being manually hauled onto
buses. As late as May 1999, companies such as Greyhound Lines still had
more than two years before being required by the Department of
Transportation (DOT) to provide lift- equipped service. The companies could
legally continue physically carrying people with disabilities onto buses
until Oct. 2001, when lift-equipped service would be required.

However, because the U.S. Department of Justice received numerous
complaints from people with disabilities about discriminatory practices,
including denial of boarding assistance, an out-of court agreement was
reached Sept. 30, 1999.

Accordingly, Greyhound has been phasing in accessible service two years
ahead of the DOT schedule.

Changes coming As of April 2000, some of the provisions are:

Provide accessible (lift-equipped) buses between any points served, given
48-hours notice,
except in "excusable" circumstances. In those situations, other boarding
assistance must be
provided. Excusable circumstances include a bus or lift breaks down, there
is an unforeseen lack of trained personnel, or an unusually high demand for
services.

Provide training to all employees assisting people with disabilities.

Inform people with disabilities of their rights under both the ADA and the
settlement agreement.

Beginning in Oct. 2000:

All new buses purchased or leased will be lift-equipped. The entire fleet
will be lift equipped no later than 2012.

Beginning Oct. 2001:

Provide lift-equipped service between any locations served, given 48-hours
notice. Without 48-hours notice, the company still has to make a reasonable
effort to provide accommodation, which can include carrying a passenger.

Patience and perseverance

The disability community agreed to the 48-hour rule as a way to give the
business community more time to grasp the need for access to intercity bus
travel.

"That is our 'reasonable accomodation' to those who do not understand how
important bus rides are to us yet," said Kathleen Kleinman, organizer for
American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) and executive
director of Tri -County Patriots for Independent Living in Washington, Pa.

"The resistance we faced was based upon ignorance," Kleinman said. "This
will give them time to get their act together to comply with the law."

Available to date - Greyhound currently has 80 lift-equipped buses, with
additional ones on order, said Lynn Brown, vice president of corporate
communications for Greyhound Lines in Dallas.

"Our compliance with requests is near 100 percent," she said.

There were 173 requests for the service in April.

Dissatisfaction lingers

"We are very pleased to see that Greyhound is now acting rapidly to provide
this kind of service," said Douglas Towne, public liaison for Caring and
Sharing Center for Independent Living in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"However, it is concerning that these kinds of issues have to be resolved
in litigation involving the Justice Department instead of through the
cooperation of all parties," added Towne.

Even so, some consider it progress.

"Threat of lawsuits has always been the way to change the values of society
so that the
observance and respect for civil rights becomes the only acceptable
behavior for that society," Kleinman said. "At least there is a light at
the end of the tunnel."

Vickie Beck is a feature columnist and writer for AccessLife.com.
You can reach her at [log in to unmask]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Darrell Paulsen, Founder/CEO
Paulsen & Company, Inc.  Email us : MAILTO:[log in to unmask]
804 4th Street So.
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55075
(651) 455-3013 TDD (651) 554-3200

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Revised by : Ray Manning 3rd of Paulsen & Company.
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