Federal Transit Administration November 4, 2015 Subject: americans with disabilities act (ada): guidance
Accessible Information for Passengers
Download 1.93 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Discussion
- 10.3.2 Vessel-Specific Information
- 10.3.3Accommodating Individuals with Hearing or Vision Impairments
10.3Accessible Information for Passengers10.3.1Auxiliary Aids and ServicesRequirement“If you are a PVO that is a public entity, you must furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program or activity. In determining what type of auxiliary aid or service is necessary, you must give primary consideration to the requests of individuals with disabilities” (§ 39.51(a)). “If you are a PVO that is a private entity, you must furnish appropriate auxiliary aids or services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities” (§ 39.51(b)). “If a provision of a particular auxiliary aid or service would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations being offered or in an undue burden, you shall provide an alternative auxiliary aid or service, if one exists, that would not result in a fundamental alteration or undue burden but would nevertheless ensure that, to the maximum extent possible, individuals with disabilities receive the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations you offer” (§ 39.51(c)). “As a PVO, it is your responsibility, not that of a passenger with a disability, to provide needed auxiliary aids and services” (§ 39.51(d)). DiscussionPVOs providing designated public transportation are subject to the same requirements as all public transportation providers with respect to providing information in accessible formats. In 2011, DOT provided additional guidance on auxiliary aids and services, “Guidance Questions and Answers Concerning 49 CFR Part 39, ADA Rules Concerning Passenger Vessels” (DOT Passenger Vessels Guidance). Although it is the responsibility of the PVO and not that of a passenger with a disability to provide needed auxiliary aids and services, DOT emphasized the importance of consulting passengers with disabilities to determine what type of auxiliary aid or service will ensure effective communication. To facilitate arrangements, FTA encourages passengers to notify the PVO as soon as possible if they require a particular auxiliary aid or service (e.g., a document in braille or large print, use of a sign-language interpreter, or a TTY). (See Circular Section 2.8.)
Requirement“As a PVO, you must provide the following information to individuals who self-identify as having a disability (including those who are deaf or hard of hearing or who are blind or visually impaired) or who request disability-related information, or persons making inquiries on the behalf of such persons. The information you provide must, to the maximum extent feasible, be specific to the vessel a person is seeking to travel on or use. The availability of accessible facilities on the vessel including, but not limited to, means of boarding the vessel, toilet rooms, staterooms, decks, dining, and recreational facilities” (§ 39.53(a)). “Any limitations of the usability of the vessel or portions of the vessel by people with mobility impairments” (§ 39.53(b)). “Any limitations on the accessibility of boarding and disembarking at ports at which the vessel will call (e.g., because of the use of inaccessible lighters or tenders as the means of coming to or from the vessel) ” (§ 39.53(c)). “Any limitations on the accessibility of services or tours ancillary to the transportation provided by the vessel concerning which the PVO makes arrangements available to passengers” (§ 39.53(d)). “Any limitations on the ability of a passenger to take a service animal off the vessel at foreign ports at which the vessel will call (e.g., because of quarantine regulations) and provisions for the care of an animal acceptable to the PVO that the passenger must meet when the passenger disembarks at a port at which the animal must remain aboard the vessel” (§ 39.53(e)). “The services, including auxiliary aids and services, available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or blind or visually impaired” (§ 39.53(f)). “Any limitations on the ability of the vessel to accommodate passengers with a disability” (§ 39.53(g)). “Any limitations on the accessibility of boarding and disembarking at ports at which the vessel will call and services or tours ancillary to the transportation provided by the vessel concerning which the PVO makes arrangements available to passengers” (§ 39.53(h)).
DiscussionSection 39.53 requires PVOs to provide information about accessibility features of their vessels to individuals with a disability or to people making inquiries on the behalf of such individuals. An example of how the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority provides vessel-specific information for their vehicle and passenger ferries is included in the accessibility section of the Steamship Authority’s website and as Attachment 10-1. 10.3.3Accommodating Individuals with Hearing or Vision ImpairmentsRequirement“This section applies to information and reservation services made available to persons in the United States. If, as a PVO, you provide telephone reservation or information service to the public, you must make this service available to individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and who use a text telephone (TTY) or a TTY relay service (TRS). (1) You must make service to TTY/TRS users available during the same hours as telephone service for the general public. (2) Your response time to TTY/TRS calls must be equivalent to your response time for your telephone service to the general public. (3) You must meet this requirement by [date one year from the effective date of [Part 39]” (§ 39.55(a)). “If, as a PVO, you provide written (i.e., hard copy) information to the public, you must ensure that this information is able to be communicated effectively, on request, to persons with vision impairments. You must provide this information in the same language(s) in which you make it available to the general public” (§ 39.55(b)). DiscussionProviding information in multiple formats gives users the option to suit their own personal communications needs. To better meet passenger needs, many PVOs are providing information about service and accessibility on their websites. As mobile personal communication devices with Internet connections have become increasingly available, individuals with vision or hearing impairments can benefit from well-organized websites that provide information about ADA accessibility, including information on making arrangements in advance of travel, relevant phone numbers and wayfinding guidance when approaching terminals and vessels. For example, the Steamship Authority website referenced above and the Washington State Ferries website both provide information about accessibility for their terminals and vessels. Directory: sites -> fta.dot.gov -> files -> docs docs -> Federal Transit Administration Safety Advisory 14-1: Right-of-Way Worker Protection docs -> Alternative Fuels and Propulsion Vehicle Incentives docs -> Job Access Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2010 Service Profiles docs -> Review of the new jersey transit corporation docs -> Review of new Jersey Transit Corporation docs -> Review of the jacksonville transportation authority docs -> Jacksonville Transportation Authority Assessment of ada complementary Paratransit Service Capacity Constraints June 8-11, 1999 docs -> Final policy statement docs -> 1200 New Jersey Ave, se washington, dc 20590 Download 1.93 Mb. Share with your friends:
|