The Topic Guides on ADA Transportation bring together the requirements of the ADA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ADA regulation, FTA determinations, and operational practices on each topic that comply with the ADA. The Topic Guides also draw information from many other sources, including DOT Disability Law Guidance; FTA ADA Compliance Reviews, Letters of Finding, and Bulletins; Transportation Research Board and National Council on Disability publications; National Transit Institute courses; Easter Seals Project ACTION publications and Distance Learning Sessions; American Public Transportation Association draft Recommended Practices; and the recommendations of nationally recognized ADA transit operators, planners, and researchers on operational practices for implementing ADA requirements.

This series of Topic Guides includes:

• Equipment Maintenance
• Stop Announcement and Route Identification
• Eligibility for ADA Paratransit
• Telephone Hold Time in ADA Paratransit
• Origin to Destination Service in ADA Paratransit
• On-Time Performance in ADA Paratransit
• No-Shows in ADA Paratransit

View the Topic Guide Home Page, which offers each Topic Guide in HTML, a PDF download, and a plain text option, at http://dredf.org/ADAtg/index.shtml

Here I was getting over a seizure that was my worst ever. Although I knew of services available to me I never took advantage of them. I never thought I needed to use them.

I sat down to talk with the social worker of the HUD building where I have lived for the last 10 years. She told me of services I could use, and now am applying for the services.

Have you recently had a health problem come upon you? Have you ever checked to see what services are actually out there for you to use? Do you know how to apply for the services?  Who do you contact to get information on services available?

I invite you to check out the many categories we have posted on this web site and get that information. Always know that you can e-mail me at joel@wsana.org or call us at 708-383-6258 to get information, or understand the information you have.

Joel Sheffel
Executive Director
WSANA

Wanted: Participants for National Dialogue About Transportation Access for People with Disabilities

Do you have suggestions and ideas on transportation access that you would like to share with national leaders? The Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) invites you to participate in a United We Ride National Dialogue to help communities increase access to affordable and reliable transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults and people with limited incomes.  Click here to learn more and how to register for the Dialogue.

Pace Suburban Division of the RTA will hold Public Hearings to Discuss  Proposed ADA Paratransit Fare Increases, Discontinuation of the ADA Paratransit Chicago Monthly Pass And Discontinuation of Free ADA Paratransit Transfers between the City of Chicago and Suburbs, The  Reduction of ADA Paratransit Reservation Hours

 Notice is hereby given that Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, will hold public hearings to discuss:

• An Increase in ADA Paratransit fares to the maximum allowable by law which is twice the amount of cash fares for fixed route.
• The discontinuation of ADA Paratransit Chicago Monthly Pass.
• The discontinuation of free ADA Paratransit transfers between the City of Chicago and suburbs.
• Reduction of reservation hours.

Any person wishing to comment on the above topics may present views orally at the public hearings or by submitting written material on or before the last date of the hearings which is September 25, 2009. Written comments may be submitted to Pace, Government Affairs, 550 West Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL. 60005 or to Pace’s website www.pacebus.com under Public Hearing Comments

Interested persons may obtain copies of documents describing the basis upon which a proposed increase in ADA Paratransit fares, discontinuation of the ADA Paratransit Chicago Monthly Pass, discontinuation of free ADA Paratransit between the City of Chicago and suburbs, and reduction of reservation hours were calculated by submitting a written request to Pace, Government Affairs, 550 West Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL. 60005 before September 25, 2009. 

PUBLIC HEARING LOCATIONS, DATES, AND TIMES ARE AS FOLLOWS:  

City of Chicago  (SouthEast)          Monday, Sept.21,2009
South Shore Cultural Center          11:00 am-1:00 pm
7059 South Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60649

Will County
Bicentennial Theater                       Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
201 West Jefferson                          4:30 pm-6:30 pm
Joliet, IL 60432 

West Cook County
Howard Mohr Community Center       Monday,Sept. 21,2009
7640 Jackson at Desplaines                    4:30 pm -6:30 pm
Forest Park, IL 60130

Lake County
Waukegan Public Library                   Tuesday, Sept. 22,2009
128 N. County St.                                   3:30 pm-5:30 pm
Waukegan, IL 60085

City of Chicago (South)
Olive-Harvey College -Cafeteria            Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009
10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.                         7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Chicago, IL 60628 

City of Chicago (West)
Bethesda Church                              Wednesday Sept.23, 2009
4538 W. Fullerton                           12:00 pm-2:00 pm
Chicago, IL. 60639

Mc Henry County
Crystal Lake Municipal Complex      Wednesday, Sept23,2009
Council Chambers                                 4:30pm-6:30 pm
100 W. Municipal Complex
Crystal Lake, IL 60039

North Cook County
Pace Headquarters                           Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009
Board Room                                        4:30 pm-6:30 pm
550 W Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights, IL 6005

DuPage County
College of Dupage                         Wednesday, Sept. 23,2009
Student Resource Center (SRC Building)   4:30 pm-6:30 pm
Turner Conference Center, 2nd Floor
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellen, IL 60137

Kane County
Kane County Government Center         Thursday Sept.24,2009
Auditorium-Ground Floor                      4:30 pm-6:30 pm
719 S. Batavia Avenue
Geneva, IL 60134

City of Chicago (Southwest)   
Arturo Velasquez Institute               Thursday, Sept.24,2009
(Westside Technical Institute)        5:00 pm-7:00 pm
2800 S. Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60608

South Cook County
Phoenix Village Hall                          Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
633 E. 151th Street                            3:00 pm-5:00 pm
Phoenix, IL 60426                            5:30 pm-7:00 pm
 

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Justice Department Intervenes in Americans with Disabilities Act Lawsuit Against Transportation Provider

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that it has moved to intervene in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Jackson, Miss., challenging inaccessibility in Jackson’s public transportation system. The pending lawsuit, filed by 11 residents of Jackson with disabilities and two non-profit organizations that work on behalf of people with disabilities, alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ADA).

The Department’s complaint alleges that the city of Jackson has failed to maintain, promptly repair and keep in operative condition the wheelchair lifts of the city’s fixed route bus system, known as JATRAN; has failed to adequately train personnel to properly assist passengers with disabilities; has failed to provide the required level of service to passengers of Handilift, the ADA complementary paratransit service; and has otherwise denied individuals with disabilities benefits to which they are entitled under the law.

“Accessible public transportation is vital to people with disabilities so that they can fully participate in their community,” said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “Failing to provide required accessibility discriminates against persons with disabilities.  Eradicating such discrimination and ensuring the full accessibility that the law requires is one of the Civil Rights Division’s highest priorities.”

The Department’s complaint details allegations of injury caused by inaccessible public transportation in Jackson. The factual allegations in the Department’s filing include frequent instances where individuals who use wheelchairs are forced to wait while multiple JATRAN buses with inoperable lifts pass them by, often leaving them stranded as they attempted to get to work, to medical appointments and to numerous other essential destinations such as grocery shopping. The government further alleges that the availability of Handilift service to ADA paratransit eligible persons is significantly limited by capacity constraints, including failure to provide next-day service, failure to plan to meet the demand for paratransit services, a substantial numbers of trip denials, significantly untimely pickups and limitations to telephone reservation capacity.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and their implementing regulations detail the requirements with which fixed-route and complementary paratransit public transportation systems must comply.

“The decision of the Department to intervene in this matter indicates our commitment to protect the rights of all Americans and advance the ability of every individual to fully participate in society,” said Stan Harris, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

The decision to seek to intervene in the lawsuit reflects the Civil Rights Division’s ongoing commitment to actively enforce federal disability discrimination laws.

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Concerned Citizens of Paratransithttp://www.ccofp.org .
773-779-1856-  FAX:773-779-2763 is seeking complaints from paratransit riders . There is a form which can be found online.A ride may have several reasons for a complaint thus several complaint forms could possibly be filled out for one ride.

Continue reading ‘Paratransit Group in Chicago Area Asks for Information on Problems’ »