CIL-NET Presents… A National Teleconference & Webinar

1. CIL-NET Presents…A National Teleconference & Webinar Ride On! An Introduction to Accessible Transportation Programs and Advocacy at Centers for Independent Living Part 1 July 26, 2011 Presenters: Roger Howard Stephanie Woodward CIL-NET, a project of ILRU – Independent Living Research Utilization

2. CIL-NET Presents…A National Teleconference & Webinar Ride On! An Introduction to Accessible Transportation Programs and Advocacy at Centers for Independent Living Part 1 July 26, 2011 Presenters: Roger Howard Stephanie Woodward

3. You will learn… • An overview of the impact and current state of the ADA on accessible transportation • Different types of transportation, including pros and cons of Fixed Route vs. Paratransit options • Major program funding sources for transportation services offered by CILs • Suggestions for creative collaborations to increase the availability of affordable, accessible transportation options

4. State of Accessible Transportation • Required to be accessible in service area • Every city differs • ADA requirements are not always followed

5. Public Transportation Covered under ADA Title II • Subways • Amtrak • Buses • Paratransit

6. Subways Accessibility differs in each city • Examples: • Washington, D.C. • Train cars are level with platform • Elevator access • New York City • Train cars are sometimes inches from platform • Not all stops have elevator access

7. Amtrak • 20 Years to become fully accessible • Did not comply & asked Congress for an extension • Barrier-free access for passengers with mobility impairments • Accessible Seating Limits • Disabled in Action v. National Passenger R.R. Comp.

8. Buses • Ramps or lifts • New vehicles have specific provisions • “Good Faith Effort” for used buses • Remanufacture buses

9. Paratransit • Door-to-Door or Curb-to-Curb service • Must serve area within ¾ of a mile of fixed route bus or rail system • Only for individuals who cannot use fixed route bus or rail system

10. Fixed Route v. ParatransitWhich to use?

11. Fixed Route • Use if you can: • independently board with the assistance of a ramp/lift • navigate the system • Benefits: • Generally lower fares • Travel time flexibility • Increased independence

12. Paratransit • For persons who cannot: • independently use the fixed route system (cannot navigate the system) • use the fixed-route system because the bus or rail station is not accessible • get to and from fixed-route stops and stations within the service area • The decision is based on functional ability

13. Private Transportation • Taxi Services • Limo Services • Any Demand Responsive System

14. Private Transportation General Requirements • Cannot refuse to serve disabled person who can use taxi vehicles(i.e. blind or can transfer from wheelchair) • Cannot charge higher fares or fees for carrying individuals with disabilities or their equipment • Must provide assistance with the stowing of mobility devices (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) • Must allow service animals to ride

15. Private Transportation Vehicle Requirements • New and Used Sedans are not required to be accessible • Used Vans are not required to be accessible • All New Vans are required to be accessible

16. Questions and Answers

17. Advocacy Strategies • Data Collecting • Pitchfork Approach

18. Data Collecting • Tools: • Surveys for Fixed Route & Paratransit Systems • Rider Complaint Forms • Phone Recording System • Paratransit Ride Request Grids

19. Surveys In General • Quarterly Survey • Distribute Among other Organizations • Make Available Paper Form and Online Form

20. Surveys: Questions to Ask Fixed Route Paratransit How often do you ride? Have you ever been denied a ride? Have you ever missed a ride because a bus driver was too early or too late? • How often do you ride? • Has a driver ever refused to allow you on the bus? • Have you ever been passed by a bus that you were waiting for?

21. Surveys • Example: • To view the online version of the Paratransit Survey that the Center for Disability Rights uses in Rochester, NY please visit: http://www.cdrnys.org/index.php?option=com_jumi&fileid=5&Itemid=155

22. Rider Complaint Forms In General • For both fixed route and paratransit • Distribute with return envelopes • Encourage riders to complete forms as soon as possible after the incident occurs • Can be used as affidavits for lawsuits

23. Rider Complaint Forms Information to Collect • Time, date, bus number • What occurred (check boxes with lines for details work best) • Signature and date

24. Rider Complaint Forms • Examples: • Examples of the Fixed Route and Paratransit Complaint Forms, or “Rider Statements” that the Center for Disability Rights uses are available as word documents for you to view.

25. Phone Recording System • Useful when paratransit company is less than honest about the rides they book • Create a number for the riders to call which will automatically connect to paratransit company • This special number records the call

26. Phone Recording System Warnings • Tech savvy individuals required • Large time chunks to review calls required • Check law in your state! • In NY, only one party on the call needs to know the call is being recorded.

27. Paratransit Grid In General • Less time-consuming (but sometimes less reliable) than Recording System • Distribute to Paratransit riders before they call to request rides • Have riders record ride times requested & ride times scheduled

28. Paratransit Grid Example

29. Paratransit Things to Remember • When using either the call recording system or the Paratransit Grid, remember: • If the ride time offered is more than 1 hour before or after the time requested, it counts as a denial. • Local transit providers, in conjunction with the riding public, may establish reservation systems that best meet local needs with a maximum 14-day advance reservation period. • It is illegal to deny requests for next day service.

30. Questions and Answers

31. Pitchfork Approach • Media/Education • Legal/Litigation • Direct Actions • Political/Legislative • Administrative/Regulatory

32. Pitchfork Approach Media/Education • Influence public policy • Educate the public • Passionate Public affects Elected Officials

33. Pitchfork Approach Media/Education, cont’d. • Example: • Individuals who had been denied bus service or paratransit service to talk to the media. • Educate the public on how individuals with disabilities lost their jobs due to the discrimination from public transportation. • Our local representatives received calls from the general public.

34. Pitchfork Approach Legal/Litigation Using existing anti-discrimination laws in court to challenge discriminatory practices.

35. Pitchfork Approach Legal/Litigation, cont’d. • Example: • Lawsuit in early 2000’s • Results: • Claimants won • 14 day scheduling down to 3 day scheduling

36. Pitchfork Approach Direct Actions To bring about change in the transportation system, consider using non-violent direct action including: • civil disobedience • street theater • rallies

37. Pitchfork Approach Direct Actions, cont’d. Example: • Summer 2010: Reports of buses passing wheelchair users • Protest at Transportation Authority Headquarters • Chant “RTS says they don’t care! They won’t take us anywhere!” Results: • Memo distributed to all drivers threatening termination to any driver that passes wheelchair users.

38. Pitchfork Approach Political/Legislative Influencing elected officials and their staff in order to affect public policy.

39. Pitchfork Approach Political/Legislative, cont’d. Example: • Rider Statements copied and forwarded to local representatives. • Representatives received over 25 copies of complaints in one month. • Representatives contacted the Transportation Authority and attended the next “Town Meeting.”

40. Pitchfork ApproachAdministrative/Regulator Influencing administrative or regulatory entities.

41. Pitchfork Approach Administrative/Regulator, cont’d. Example: • Helped riders to submit complaints to the Federal Transit Administration and encouraged riders to submit their own. • FTA investigator contacted the Center for Disability Rights requesting copies of any new complaints.

42. Questions and Answers

43. Wrap Up and Evaluation • Please complete the evaluation of this program by clicking here: https://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/12291g4b280

44. CIL-NET • Support for development of this Webinar/teleconference was provided by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration under grant number H132B070002-10. No official endorsement of the Department of Education should be inferred. Permission is granted for duplication of any portion of this PowerPoint presentation, providing that the following credit is given to the project: Developed as part of the CIL-NET, a program of the IL NET, an ILRU/NCIL/APRIL National Training and Technical Assistance Project.