Quick Guide to Accessible Transportation for People with Disabilities
What is accessible transportation?
Access to transportation is the key to independence, productivity, and inclusion in community life for people with disabilities. Even after people with disabilities complete educational or vocational training and are ready to enter the work force, most discover that their choices of employment are limited by the availability of accessible transportation. Their opportunities to participate in and enjoy other activities -- going to the mall, the coffeehouse, the movies, the public swimming pool, or other recreational places -- may be similarly limited. If people with disabilities don't have access to public transportation or don't know how to use it safely, their lives can become isolated.
Modes of transportation available to people with disabilities are as varied as those available to people who do not have disabilities. They include planes, trains, and automobiles (personal cars and taxi cabs), as well as fixed route buses and paratransit services. Fixed route buses are public buses that follow pre-established routes, and paratransit services are vans or other vehicles that provide door-to-door service. How accessible and available these modes of transportation are, however, will vary by individual and local community circumstances.
How do I find accessible transportation?
First, it's important that people with disabilities receive training on how to use existing transportation services safely, including public transportation. Some individuals live in communities where there are no public transportation services and must rely solely on the goodwill of others for transportation to work, school, medical services, or anywhere else they need or wish to go. It is very beneficial for everyone to learn about the transportation services that are offered in their communities by private organizations and federal, state, and local governments. All people with disabilities should be aware of their right to equal access to transportation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Travel Training Programs
Various service providers and community projects offer travel training programs to their service populations. As is the case with most disability-related programs, each training program has its own eligibility criteria and guidelines for program participation. Many programs concentrate on specific types of disability, which makes it easier for staff members to become experts on training techniques and possible accommodations for the specific needs of their students. While some programs offer their services solely on an individual basis or in small groups, others offer a combination of services that can provide the necessary flexibility for many individuals with various disabilities.
While it may be useful for the program to include classroom instruction, the greater part of a training program should emphasize hands-on travel training. The trainer should be available if necessary to assist an individual in learning routes of travel, such as from home to work, work to the movies, school to home, or home to the grocery store. The training program and its staff should be sensitive to the individual desires and lifestyles of the individuals who are participating in their program. Some training programs, notably Centers for Independent Living, employ individuals with disabilities as their trainers.
Public and private schools, Centers for Independent Living, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Developmental Disability Programs, and the Lighthouses for the Blind Program either directly offer travel training programs or can make referrals to community providers of travel training. High schools may offer travel training courses or may make arrangements with a community travel training program to offer travel training to students with disabilities. Often organizations that train seeing, hearing, and companion dogs will train individuals who apply for their services on how to use public transportation safely with the assistance of their service animal. Many training projects are funded through government grants and are offered at no cost to the individual.
When selecting a travel training program, it is important to select a program that has worked with people who have your particular disability. It is critically important that the trainers have enough flexibility to modify the training program to accommodate your learning style and needs. Ask about the qualifications of the trainers, about safety policies, and for references from people like you.
Student Transportation
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act require that nonacademic services, including transportation, be provided in a manner that allows children with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in after-school or extracurricular activities. Where children without disabilities are provided transportation to and from extracurricular activities, children with disabilities must also be provided transportation. However, even where children without disabilities are not provided transportation to an extracurricular activity, children with disabilities must be provided transportation that is necessary to allow them to participate in the extracurricular activity. For example, a child using a wheelchair might require transportation to a school-sponsored activity to which other children walked. The provision of transportation as a related aid or service to a child with a disability is a matter that should be addressed by the placement team as part of the evaluation and placement procedures of Title II and Section 504.
If the student requires transportation services in order to attend school, transportation services must be provided for the student. Transportation services that a student with a disability may require in order to be provided with a free appropriate public education should be addressed through the evaluation and placement procedures.
Air Travel
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has established a toll-free hotline to assist air travelers with disabilities. The hotline provides general information to consumers about the rights of air travelers with disabilities, respond to requests for printed consumer information, and assist air travelers with time-sensitive disability-related issues that need to be addressed in “real time.” The line is staffed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week. Air travelers who experience disability-related air travel service problems may call the hotline at 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY) to obtain assistance. The larger U.S. and foreign carriers were asked to provide contact information for the hours the hotline will be staffed. A list of carriers providing this information is available at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/airconsumer/
See below for a link providing a list of organizations that facilitate travel and vacations for people with disabilities.
Adapting Motor Vehicles
The introduction of new technology continues to broaden opportunities for people with disabilities to drive vehicles with adaptive devices. Steps involved in successfully adapting a motor vehicle include: evaluating your needs, selecting the right vehicle, choosing a qualified dealer to modify your vehicle, being trained, and properly maintaining your vehicle.
First, you will need to assess your accessibility needs. Your individual situation will determine what accessibility features you will require. If you use a wheelchair, there are many issues you will need to consider, such as access to the building, entryways, hallways, turning space, counter heights, cabinet heights and pulls, etc. If you feel you may need assistance in determining your accessible needs, contact your local Center for Independent Living for an assessment of adaptive needs.
The costs associated with modifying a vehicle vary greatly. A new vehicle modified with adaptive equipment can cost from $20,000 to $80,000. Therefore, whether you are modifying a vehicle you own or purchasing a new vehicle with adaptive equipment, it pays to investigate public and private opportunities for financial assistance.
There are programs that help pay part or all of the cost of vehicle modification, depending on the cause and nature of your disability. For information, contact your state’Department of Vocational Rehabilitation or another agency that provides vocational services, and, if appropriate, the Department of Veterans Affairs. You can find phone numbers for these state and federal agencies in a local phone book. Also, consider the following:
- Many nonprofit associations that advocate for individuals with disabilities have grant programs that help pay for adaptive devices.
- If you have private health insurance or workers’ compensation, you may be covered for adaptive devices and vehicle modification. Check with your insurance carrier.
- Many manufacturers have rebate or reimbursement plans for modified vehicles. When you are ready to make a purchase, find out if there is such a dealer in your area.
- Some states waive the sales tax for adaptive devices if you have a doctor’s prescription for their use.
- You may be eligible for savings when submitting your federal income tax return. Check with a qualified tax consultant to find out if the cost of your adaptive devices will help you qualify for a medical deduction.
All states require a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license to receive an on–the–road evaluation. You cannot be denied the opportunity to apply for a permit or license because you have a disability. However, you may receive a restricted license, based on your use of adaptive devices.
Driver rehabilitation specialists perform comprehensive evaluations to identify the adaptive equipment most suited to your needs. A complete evaluation includes vision screening and, in general, assesses:
- Muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion
- State Housing Finance Agency Programs. State Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) are another potential source of financial assistance for covering the costs of accessibility modifications. HFAs are authorized by the federal government to sell tax-exempt bonds for a variety of different public purposes. In some states, HFAs use this ability to provide low interest rate loans to make accessibility modifications. Since, as with other resources, the funding is limited, it is important to learn how the Housing Finance Agency in your state makes these programs available to increase the chance of receiving funding.
- Coordination and reaction time
- Judgment and decision making abilities
- Ability to drive with adaptive equipment
Upon completion of an evaluation, you should receive a report containing specific recommendations on driving requirements or restrictions, and a complete list of recommended vehicle modifications.
Sources for more information
(Please note: these links will leave Community Access Washington site.)
Easter Seals Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation). Funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transportation Administration, Project ACTION promotes cooperation between the transportation industry and the disability community to increase mobility for people with disabilities under the ADA and beyond. Offers various resources, including a database of transportation services by city, as well as training and technical assistance.
http://www.projectaction.org/
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY). A national information center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues. Special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22), including special education and related services for children in school, individualized education programs, parent materials, disability organizations, professional associations, education rights and what the law requires, early intervention services for infants and toddlers, and transition to adult life.
http://www.nichcy.org/
U.S. Department of Transportation - Equal Access to Transportation. General information, transportation resources, laws and regulations, and useful links.
http://www.dot.gov/accessibility/
Accessible Transportation in Washington State. Provides information on transportation options for people with disabilities in Washington State.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/choices/accessible.cfm
King County Metro Online – Accessible Bus and Van Services.
http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/accessible/accessible.html
Washington State Department of Licensing. Information on applying for a disability parking permit.
http://www.dol.wa.gov/
Travel & Leisure Disability Resources. A listing of organizations that facilitate travel and vacations for people with disabilities.
http://www.independentliving.org/links/links-travel-and-leisure.html
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - Automotive Safety Issues for Persons with Disabilities. Information on adapting motor vehicles for persons with disabilities, safety issues for vehicles adapted for use by persons with disabilities, transporting students with special needs, regulations and standards, and research reports.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/index.html
Adapting Motor Vehicles For People with Disabilities. The information in this brochure is based on the experience of driver rehabilitation specialists and other professionals who work with individuals who require adaptive devices for their motor vehicles. Includes general information on cost savings, licensing requirements, and organizations to contact for help.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/brochure/brochure.html
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