Americans with Disabilities Act

Civil Rights Protection for

over 43 million Americans

Introduction

What is the ADA?

How does the ADA apply to
transportation?

Titles of the ADA

Title I Employment
Title II Public Entities

State, County and Municipal

programs and facilities
Public transportation programs

Title III Privately operated public

accommodations
Title IV Telecommunications
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Person with a Disability

ADA Definition
..Physical or mental impairment that

substantially limits one or more major

life activities

..Having a record of such an

impairment

..Being regarded as having an

impairment
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Basic Purpose
No entity shall discriminate against an
individual with a disability in
connection with the provision of
transportation service.

Section 37.5

What the ADA Addresses

Operating Policies and

Procedures

Service Delivery Requirements

All Providers of Services

Access to Communication

Provision for people with speech/hearing

impairments for access to information provided
by telephone
TDD (Text Telephone)
Telecommunications Relay Service (PA Relay)
Not all lines and phone stations, but sufficient
number
No delays or costs not experienced by general
public
Relay service must operate during all
days/hours that voice phone lines are open
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Access to Information

All print material also available in accessible formats

Schedules
Information brochures
Rider handbooks
Service bulletins

Must be made available upon request in a format

individual can use
Availability of telephone information NOT adequate
substitute for route and schedule information
Accessible formats include:

Braille Audio Tape

Computer DiskLarge Print

Employee Training
Requirement to train personnel to
proficiency
Operate vehicles and equipment safely
Provide level of service as required
Treat individuals with disabilities in a
respectful, courteous way

Training programs must be:

Appropriate to duties of each

employee
Comprehensive
Able to evaluate or test each
employees understanding

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Boarding / Alighting Time

Adequate time must be allowed for

boarding/alighting of passengers with
disabilities
Includes adequate time for passengers
to get to a seat

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Lift and Securement Use

All Common Wheelchairs and their users must

be transported
Common Wheelchair defined as:

Not exceeding 30 wide

Not exceeding 48 long, when measured 2 above
ground
Does not weight more than 600 lbs. Occupied

Securement system MUST be used to secure

wheelchair
Cannot deny service on basis of difficulty in
securing wheelchair
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Lift and Securement Use

Must permit standees to use lift to enter

vehicle
Each securement location must have a 3point passenger restraint system
Can only require passenger restraint if ALL
passengers are required to use

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Lift and Securement Use

Transfer from wheelchair to vehicle

seat can be recommended, but not
required
Where necessary or requested, drivers
must assist with use of:
Securement System
Ramp
Lift

This assistance is required even if the

driver must leave his/her seat to do so
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Maintenance of Lifts

Regular and frequent lift maintenance

program must be developed and
instituted
Drivers must report non-operating lifts as
soon as possible
Every effort must be made to repair lifts
before the next day of service

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Mobility Aids and Life

Support Systems

Service animals must be allowed to

accompany passengers
Passengers must be permitted to travel with
life support, including:
Respirators
Portable Oxygen

Can only deny if to transport would violate

rules concerning the transportation of
hazardous materials
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Additional Charges

Special fares and charges, beyond those

required of other riders, cannot be imposed
on people with disabilities
Stowing wheelchairs
Toll-free number, but not for TDD

No processing fee for ADA eligibility

applications can be assessed

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Refusing Service to
Passengers with Disabilities

Service can only be refused, conditioned or

suspended if an individual engages in:

Violent
Seriously Disruptive or
Illegal Conduct

Behavior that offends, annoys or inconveniences

other passengers is not seriously disruptive
Service must be provided regardless of liability
concerns, insurance coverage conditions or rates
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Priority Seating

Priority seating must be provided

Use of priority seating cannot be required

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Permitting Riders to
Disembark

Individuals who use wheelchairs must be

permitted to disembark at any stop unless:
The lift cannot be deployed
The lift would be damaged if deployed
Temporary conditions, not within the
control of the transit authority, prevent the
safe use of the stop by ALL passengers

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Announcement of Stops

Operators must announce stops at:

Major transfer points with other routes
Major intersections/destination points
(Landmarks)
Sufficient intervals along the route to permit
orientation
Any stop requested by the passenger must
also be announced

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Identifying Vehicles and/or

Passengers

At stops that service more than one route, method

of communication required to:

Permit people with disabilities to identify vehicle

OR
Permit operators to identify passengers seeking to
ride on their vehicle

Transit authority must facilitate the

communication process
Customers have responsibility to cooperate in the
use of communication devices such as cards
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Maintenance of Lifts

Inoperable lifts must work before vehicle returned

to service UNLESS:

No spare available
No more than 3 days in urban areas (>50,000)

No more than 5 days in rural areas (<50,000)

If headways exceed 30 minutes on routes with
inoperable lift, alternative transportation must be
provided:

Accessible supervisor vehicle

Paratransit
Another bus

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Provision of Complimentary
Paratransit Service

Public entities providing non-commuter,

fixed route service to the general public
Paratransit comparable to fixed route
service (as defined) for people with
disabilities unable to use fixed route service
All systems must now be in full compliance
(January 1997)
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The ADA:

Civil Rights for Persons

with Disabilities
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