With the passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) it has become a civil
rights violation to deny access to persons with disabilities to public transportation. The
ADA requires transit agencies to provide accessible buses or equivalent services to
persons with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments. This study examines issues
concerning persons with sensory and cognitive impairments, and their access to fixed
route transit services.
The goal of this report is: to specify operating guidelines, suggest technological
changes, offer operating policy and training programs modifications that solve problems
of transit access for persons with sensory and cognitive impairments. To determine
where the access problems exist in fixed route transit systems, an examination was
undertaken of existing technologies and programs that are in use by transit agencies in
North America.
Upon review of the available literature it was noted that there were available
technologies and policies for persons with visual and hearing impairments, however,
little appeared to be available for persons with cognitive impairments. To fill in this
knowledge gap, surveys and interviews were conducted with persons with cognitive and
other impairments, persons who trained persons with sensory and cognitive
impairments, and persons who provide transportation services.
A major conclusion of this study is that for persons with cognitive impairments,
technological solutions are not the answer to increase bus accessibility. Personal
interaction is needed to solve each individual circumstance with the transit user.
Training for transit personnel is needed so personnel become aware and more sensitive
to the needs of all transit users. Training for the transit user is necessary so use of the
transit system is accomplished with grace, speed, efficiency and dignity. Training for
the trainers of persons with disabilities is necessary so transit travelers will be
informed of all the available services the transit agencies are offering. Another
conclusion is visual signage must be standardized to be effective. This includes
location, lighting, contrast, and content. / Graduation date: 1993
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36237 |
| Date | 04 January 1993 |
| Creators | Hron, Martha |
| Contributors | Hunter-Zaworski, Katharine |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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