1 / 22

ADA Complementary Paratransit Eligibility

ADA Complementary Paratransit Eligibility. Types of Eligibility. Unconditional eligibility Conditional eligibility Temporary eligibility Not ADA complementary paratransit eligible Presumptive eligibility. 3 Categories of Eligibility.

sara-landry
Download Presentation

ADA Complementary Paratransit Eligibility

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. ADA Complementary Paratransit Eligibility

  2. Types of Eligibility • Unconditional eligibility • Conditional eligibility • Temporary eligibility • Not ADA complementary paratransit eligible • Presumptive eligibility

  3. 3 Categories of Eligibility • Category 1: includes persons with disabilities that are unable to use accessible fixed route service • Category 2: includes persons with disabilities that have the ability to use the accessible fixed route services, but the service available is not accessible • Category 3: includes persons with disabilities that are unable to travel to or from a station or a bus stop

  4. Q: Why Should We Care About Paratransit Eligibility? A: If paratransit systems serve people who are ineligible, under ADA rules, those who are eligible will have fewer services

  5. Q: Why Should We Care About Paratransit Eligibility? B: Many passengers must have paratransit service to be independent travelers.

  6. Conditional Eligibility • ADA does not support the EITHER fixed route OR paratransit proposition • Many people can use both

  7. Conditional Eligibility Applies: • When there are some reasonable conditions under which the individual can use the fixed route bus • List the conditions

  8. The Trip is not ADA Eligible: • When none of the conditions that prevent the person from taking the fixed route service are present for the trip that he/she wishes to take

  9. Specific conditions • Rational process • Thorough and complete • Little or no interpretation required • Replicable conclusions

  10. Areas of Consideration • Accessibility of the transit system • Route / Station is not accessible • Bus stop design • Landmarks or call stops • Distance from traffic or busy intersections • Shelters and seating • Functioning accessibility features

  11. Areas of Consideration • Abilities of the applicant • Basis for eligibility • Physical, cognitive and sensory • Path of travel • Weather issues • Effects of treatment • Distance to station or stop

  12. Areas of Consideration • Abilities of the applicant • Time of day for travel • Dawn/dusk • Waiting for, on and off the bus • Endurance • Navigating the system • Cognitive ability • Transfers • Navigating the environment • Emergency situations

  13. Areas of Consideration • Environmental conditions and architectural barriers • Terrain • Hills, uneven surfaces • Route • No sidewalk or well defined path of travel, parking lots • Lack of curb cuts • Obstacles at head or chest level • Intersection/Street Crossing

  14. Conditions • A person should be given as many as needed for independent travel in any/all situations • Example – a person in a wheelchair would have these conditions (at a minimum): • Weather conditions (snow and ice) • Curb cuts close enough to stops as to not prohibit travel • No sidewalks causing passenger to be too close to moving traffic • Accessible route and stop • Uneven surfaces (gravel, broken pavement) with no alternate path of travel

  15. Visitors • Are entitled to ADA paratransit services • Visitors that are declared ADA paratransit eligible • Visitors that claim to be ADA paratransit eligible • Are entitled to 21 days of presumptive eligibility • 21 days of service are NOT calendar days

  16. Regulatory Requirements • Information shall be made available in accessible formats upon request • Transit agency has a 21 calendar day limit on completing ADA paratransit applications • Applicant must be notified in writing of initial determination of eligibility • An administrative appeal process must be available

  17. Appeal Process • Applicant must have at least 60 days to file an appeal • Appeal process must be a separate function • Appellants must have the right to be heard in person • Appellants must be notified in writing (including reasons for denial, if applicable) • The transit agency must provide presumptive eligibility if the decision takes more than 30 days.

  18. Eligibility Determination Processes • Paper application (self-certification) plus professional verification • In-person interview • Functional assessment • Combination of processes

  19. Involving People with Disabilities in the Process • Involving people with disabilities is required when: • Major elements of the eligibility process, including decisions on developing a determination process and the structure of the appeal process

  20. Involving People with Disabilities in the Process • Involving people with disabilities is not required for: • smaller changes to the process, such as changing the wording or layout on forms

  21. Additional Resources • Determining ADA Paratransit Eligibility: An Approach, Guidance and Training Materials (ESPA) • ADA Paratransit Certification Processes (TCRP) • Comprehensive ADA Paratransit Eligibility Course (NTI)

  22. Thank you for participating! Kristi Ross Training and Technical Assistance Specialist Easter Seals Project ACTION 1425 K Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 (800) 659-6428 Kross@easterseals.com ProjectAction@easterseals.com

More Related