Disabilities Guidebook: Transportation Overview

Disabilities Guidebook: Transportation Overview

Last updated: November 2002

(Chapter 15 Overview from Guidebook of Laws and Programs for People with Disabilities)

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To enable people with disabilities to achieve the maximum possible degree of independent living, it is essential that they have the ability to access and use both private and public modes of transportation. This Chapter explains laws that prohibit discrimination in connection with transportation facilities, vehiciles and services.

Section 1 addresses the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title II, Subpart B, which applies to both public and private taxis, buses, commuter railroads, Amtrak, high speed rail, shuttles, van-pools, streetcars, subways, and elevated trains. That law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in connection with these transportation services. The ADA guarantees the right to use a transportation service provided for the general public, even if it takes you longer, and even if you have more difficulty than other persons using the service.

Section 2 addresses Paratransit Services mandated by the ADA. Under that law, any public entity which operates a fixed route system, such as a streetcar, subway, elevated train, or bus system, must provide comparable transportation services to eligible persons with disabilities. The public entity may do this by providing a separate accessible vehicle to take you directly from your home to your destination, or by taking you to a point on the fixed route that has an accessible vehicle. This Section explains who is eligible for paratransit services and acceptable types of paratransit services.

Section 3 discusses the obligations imposed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act on transportation providers that receive federal funding. People with disabilities may not be subjected to discrimination, denied the benefits of, or otherwise excluded from participation in any transportation program or activity that receives federal funding. This Section explains the accessibility requirements applying to transportation facilities built with federal funding, such as stations and terminals, highway rest areas, and airports.

Section 4 addresses the federal Air Carrier Access Act. That law requires all airlines to treat persons with disabilities equally compared to persons without disabilities, and to make sure that they have access to and can use their aircraft, terminals and facilities. This Section explains the requirements of that law relating to accessibility of the aircraft and of terminal facilities, assistance provided by the airline staff, advance notice requirements, discrimination in seating assignments, boarding rules, service animals, and baggage handling.

Helpful Organizations
The following organizations may be able to help you with legal

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1.

Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation - Southern Regional Office
Old National Bank Building
509 South University Avenue
3rd Floor Carbondale, IL 62901 | View map


Toll-free: 877-342-7891

Languages: English, French, Polish, Russian, Vietnamese, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese/Mandarin, Spanish, American Sign Language, Tribal Languages, Korean, Cambodian, French Creole, Laotian, Urdu, Farsi, Arabic

We provide free legal help to low-income people in 65 counties in central and southern Illinois. We have five regional offices in Alton, Carbondale, Champaign, East St. Louis, and Springfield. We also have three satellite offices in Decatur, Charleston, and Mt. Vernon. We have a telephone intake, advice and referral center, the Legal Advice and Referral Center, which serves all 65 counties.

Our lawyers may be able to help you with:

  • Housing: evictions, foreclosures, lock-outs, utility shut-offs, contract for deed problems or trouble getting the landlord or housing authority to make repairs.
  • Family - cases for victims of domestic violence, such as orders of protection and divorce; custody cases when the parent who has been child's caretaker is in danger of losing custody; and some divorces. In some areas, we offer self-help clinics on divorce.
  • Consumer - debt collection, repossession, garnishments, home improvement problems, and consumer fraud.
  • Public Benefits and Health - TANF, SSI, General Assistance, Food Stamps, or Medicaid.
  • Other Services for Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons - Wills and powers of attorney for persons age 60 and over and persons who are HIV positive. Nursing home quality of care issues. (in some counties)
  • Education - cases for children with disabilities and for wards of DCFS.

Clients may be eligible for free legal assistance if they are low income or age 60 or over.

This office has a satellite location at 1004 Main Street, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.

 

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