Hi to all. This one comes from my brother David. While this item covers
all disabilities, there a couple of items specifically related to the
visually impaired. I found most noteworthy the information about the new
ticket machines.
Ted Chittenden
>From: "David" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
>Subject: Fw: National Council on Disability Says Lack of Accessible
>Transportation is Major Barrier for People with Disabilities
>Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 15:41:01 -0700
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "MOD" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
><[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
><[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>;
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><[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 12:03 PM
>Subject: National Council on Disability Says Lack of Accessible
>Transportation is Major Barrier for People with Disabilities
>
>
> >
> >
> > ----- Forwarded by Ken Stein/ADMSVC/SFGOV on 07/31/2003 11:57 AM -----
> >
> > "Mark Quigley"
> > <[log in to unmask] To:
><[log in to unmask]>
> > > cc:
> > Sent by: Subject: National
>Council
>on Disability Says Lack of Accessible Transportation
> > bulletin-owner@li is Major Barrier for
>People with Disabilities
> > st.ncd.gov
> >
> >
> > 07/31/2003 04:10
> > AM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > NEWS RELEASE NCD #03-425
> > July 30, 2003
> > Contact: Mark S. Quigley
> > 202-272-2004
> > 202-272-2074 TTY
> >
> > National Council on Disability Says Lack of Accessible Transportation is
> > Major Barrier for People with Disabilities
> >
> > WASHINGTON-The National Council on Disability (NCD) today released an
> > excerpt from its annual report, National Disability Policy: A Progress
> > Report
>(http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/progressreport_final.html
> > ), which highlights a number of issues related to transportation,
>including
> > barriers to accessible transportation and the status of statutory and
> > regulatory provisions designed to advance access and equity in the
>nation's
> > transportation systems.
> >
> > According to NCD member Joel Kahn, "The lack of accessible
>transportation
> > is a major barrier to independence for people with disabilities. Many
> > people with disabilities are desperately trying to improve the quality
>of
> > their lives, but are frustrated by a lack of services including
>accessible
> > transportation."
> >
> > Air Travel: The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) continues to provide
>relief
> > to travelers with disabilities thanks to the diligence of the Department
>of
> > Transportation (DOT) and, more recently, the Transportation Security
> > Administration (TSA). Potential tensions for air travelers with
> > disabilities from tight security since 9/11 have been avoided thanks to
> > their leadership. NCD commends these agencies, most especially for
>their
> > outreach to the disability community, the development of a training
> > curriculum for airport security screeners that includes disability
>specific
> > issues, support from the DOT Aviation Consumer Disability Hotline, and
>the
> > formation the DOT Disability Coalition.
> >
> > In August 2002, DOT and NCD entered into a memorandum of understanding
>that
> > provides for collaboration between NCD, the airline industry, and the
> > disability community for the development of guidance on serving
>customers
> > who use service animals, who use oxygen, and or who are deaf and hard of
> > hearing, and to help DOT with its ACAA forums. NCD lists other issues
>that
> > are yet to be accomplished, including completion of training materials
>and
> > operational guidelines (under development) in a number of key
> > disability-related areas, including access for non-ticketed people to
>gate
> > areas, and the location and retrieval of screened bags by passengers
>with
> > visual impairments.
> > NCD raises several concerns about the future effectiveness of the ACAA
>and
> > includes the following recommendations:
> > * The transfer of TSA into the new Department of Homeland
> > Security (DHS) will result in expertise likely being divided between the
> > DHS, TSA, and DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division. Sustained and
> > focused effort and effective coordination in ACAA administration,
> > enforcement, and monitoring will be required if the ACAA is not to be
> > relegated to confusion and insignificance.
> > * The Office of Management and Budget decision to cease the
>air
> > traveler satisfaction survey process is cause for concern.
> > * Services and accommodations for passengers with
>disabilities
> > could be jeopardized by airline personnel cutbacks. To avoid longer
>waits
> > for assistance, unavailability of escort personnel, and other
>difficulties,
> > NCD recommends that DOT clarify the responsibilities of air carriers and
> > airport personnel for providing access to passengers with disabilities.
> > * The new ticket machines at check-in counters are
>inaccessible
> > to many passengers with disabilities, including people who are blind or
> > people who have motor or cognitive disabilities, resulting in delays in
> > lines of people waiting to be served by a dwindling number of counter
> > agents. NCD recommends that DOT and the Department of Justice address
>the
> > accessibility issues posed by these machines and by other new
> > customer-service technology, moving expeditiously to require that they
> > incorporate already widespread accessibility features now common in the
>ATM
> > and point-of-sale machine sectors.
> > * NCD also renews its recommendation from the last annual
>report
> > that DOT must continue negotiations with foreign carriers to ensure
>their
> > compliance with the Air Carrier Access Act.
> >
> > TEA 21 Reauthorization: The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
>Century
> > (TEA-21) is scheduled for reauthorization in 2003. A number of issues in
> > TEA-21 are significant to people with disabilities in the United States,
>a
> > large portion of whom are dependent on public transportation for
>mobility.
> > The Olmstead decision and the New Freedom Initiative (NFI) commitment
>to
> > community integration for people with disabilities raise a number of
> > significant issues for this reauthorization of TEA-21. To ensure
>community
> > transportation resources are sufficient and flexible enough to meet the
> > needs for participation by many people with disabilities and older
>people,
> > NCD makes the following recommendations:
> > * State and local transportation agencies should be involved
>in
> > state Olmstead planning processes.
> > * NFI pilot demonstration transportation projects and
>matching
> > grants to nontraditional providers or planners should be included in the
> > new law.
> > * Transportation practices should be sufficiently flexible to
> > allow for use of accessible vehicles and, where appropriate, for other
> > technology or necessary support services.
> > * The practices and priorities of paratransit systems must be
> > re-evaluated in light of contemporary needs, ensuring that they maximize
> > the goals of community life and employment for Americans of all ages
>with
> > disabilities.
> > * The design of major transportation research projects and
> > experiments must include input from people with disabilities.
> > * The law should include a provision conditioning the use of
> > federal funds on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
>(ADA)
> > and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act in all transportation plans
>and
> > projects systems.
> > * The new law should include requirements and funding
> > authorization for continued research in all the subjects noted in this
> > section-for pilot and demonstration projects in various environments
>around
> > the country, and for evaluating and disseminating results-and provisions
> > for incorporating the most successful technologies and strategies into
>our
> > overall transportation infrastructure.
> >
> > NCD also points out additional emerging issues, including (1) pedestrian
> > safety-placing a light rail stop near an industrial park does little
>good
> > if a six-lane highway must be crossed without benefit of an accessible
> > pedestrian crossing; (2) implementation of ADA requirements for
>detectable
> > warning edges on mass transit platforms and in hazardous pedestrian
>areas;
> > and (3) systematic implementation of technological advances in
>accessible
> > pedestrian signals.
> >
> > Finally, NCD includes a cautionary note about additional challenges to
>the
> > paratransit systems. With local and state budgetary problems leading to
> > potential cutbacks in fixed-route mass transit service, NCD points to
>the
> > likelihood of increased reliance on paratransit services by people with
> > disabilities who wish to avoid personal health or safety challenges on
> > fixed-route systems such as longer waits in extreme temperatures or
>safety
> > challenges at isolated stops. NCD states that DOT must be vigilant in
> > maintaining fairness and effectiveness as transit agencies consider
> > offsetting the growth in paratransit demand with trip-eligibility
>criteria.
> >
> >
> > For more information, contact Mark Quigley or Martin Gould at
>202-272-2004.
> >
> >
> > # # #
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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