Many people take transportation for granted; it’s just getting from A to B. But people with disabilities face many barriers that complicate this seemingly simple task. A traveler with a disability might find that a bus doesn’t have a lift, there is no auditory information about schedules or upcoming stops, steps are too steep to navigate safely, elevators are broken, or any number of challenges that mean that a person’s ability to get where they need to go is impacted.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 25.5 million adults have a disability that impacts their ability to travel. Without support and systemic change, this large population will continue to encounter barriers that restrict their independence.
What are the barriers to transportation access?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has provisions to prevent inaccessible transportation. All public transportation is legally required to have functioning lifts, ramps, and equipment to secure wheelchairs. It should also have accessible signage and communication for all passengers. And all of this must be kept in working order. But the truth is that equipment is often in disrepair and communication isn’t made accessible. Private transportation is the same; vehicles are inaccessible and riders with disabilities experience discrimination for things like service animals and mobility challenges. Uber was sued recently for charging customers for the wait times associated with what should have been an accommodation.
Creating accessible transportation is critical not just for convenience, but also for safety and independence. If people do not have access to efficient transportation, it can create insurmountable barriers to independent living. It prevents people from finding employment, isolates them socially, and makes it difficult for them to contribute as consumers. Any of these factors alone significantly reduce a person’s independence and sense of autonomy, but when compounded with the inability to travel, the results can be overwhelming. In an interview with Disability Scoop Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference Education Fund said that “Because of inadequate funding and enforcement, countless people with disabilities can’t reliably vote, work, attend medical appointments or enjoy full independence.”
If we want to support people with disabilities living the independent lives they desire, we must advocate alongside them to ensure that they can get where they need to go.
How to advocate as an individual
Most of the advocacy surrounding transportation happens through enforcement activity. But this doesn’t mean individuals can’t participate. Voting is one of the best ways to make an impact on the issues surrounding transportation. For example, there is a bill in congress called the Disability Access to Transportation Act, which would provide funding to increase access to paratransit services for people with disabilities; voting in support of these kinds of measures makes a difference.
Other more immediate ways to help include filing accurate and thorough complaints about broken accessibility equipment so that those who need it aren’t fighting for improvements alone, and speaking up if discrimination is happening publicly. And if you are a driver for a public or private organization, it is imperative that you understand and follow the rules of the ADA with all your customers with disabilities. Treating them with the courtesy and service you use with all customers is one of the most powerful and direct forms of advocacy in a system plagued with barriers.
How organizations can get involved
Transit organizations and Centers for Independent Living (CILs) play a major role in transportation advocacy. Companies must ensure that they are adhering to the ADA as failing to do so directly impacts a large and active customer base. They also must educate their drivers on working with people with disabilities and operating the equipment properly.
Policies that prevent discrimination must also be upheld; we need to look no further than Uber’s ongoing discrimination against service animals, and the law suit against the company for charging travelers with disabilities wait time fees to see how discrimination can damage both the customer and the company. Supporting and adhering to nondiscrimination policies can nearly eliminate some of these socially constructed barriers.
CILs can get involved by advocating for increased funding on a local and federal level, and by being active with the transit companies in their communities to educate them about the needs of travelers with disabilities. This is one of the best ways to prevent discrimination.
They must also teach their clients how to self-advocate for their transportation needs and support them during the process. Filing complaints correctly can be complicated, but the complaints are likely to make a greater impact if the correct procedures are followed. This needs to be a part of a client’s education so that they know their rights and how to effectively advocate when the system isn’t working the way it should. Furthermore, CILs should be putting their power behind the client's case to help create the necessary volume so the problem gets the necessary attention. Ensuring clients understand the system and how to work with it will improve their ability to self-advocate as well.
Conclusion
Transportation is such a large area of public life that involves so many different governing bodies and participants, it can seem impossible to effect change. But if policymakers, businesses, organizations, and individuals concentrate their efforts on making it an accessible network, the lives of people with disabilities will transform. Increased access to transportation will help close the employment gap for people with disabilities. Transportation is not just the space between home, work, and school, it is the pathway to freedom and independence.
AccessibilityPlus 2022
Accessibility.com is proud of our role in promoting accessibility and equal access while recognizing there is much work to be done. As we welcome a new year in 2022, we have opened registration for AccessibilityPlus 2022, which will feature monthly events dedicated to promoting actionable solutions in implementing accessibility initiatives. Registration is limited. For more information about the conference, speakers, and topics, please visit our AccessibilityPlus registration page.
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