Board to Hold Meetings on Vehicle Access and Communication Access July 11, 2006

On July 25th, the Board will hold public meetings on updating its ADA guidelines for transportation vehicles and on developing supplementary guidelines on communication access. These meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to provide input on the initial planning for these initiatives. The meetings, which will be open to the public, will take place during a week of ADA anniversary events, including a town hall meeting organized by the National Council on Disability (NCD) in partnership with other Federal agencies.

Update of the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Vehicles (July 25th 9:00 – 12:00)
The Board’s accessibility guidelines for transportation vehicles, which address buses, vans, rail cars, and other modes of public transportation covered by the ADA, were first published in 1991. The Board will review and update these guidelines as necessary to cover emerging technologies, such as bus rapid transit and low floor vehicles. As part of this effort, the Board will revisit specifications applicable to existing types of vehicles as necessary. The Board seeks input on issues or considerations that should be addressed in this effort to help guide planning for this rulemaking. For further information, contact Dennis Cannon at cannon@access-board.gov (e-mail), (202) 272-0015 (v), or (202) 272-0081 (TTY).

Supplementary Guidelines on Communication Access (July 25th 1:30 – 4:30)
The Board is looking into developing supplementary guidelines for various types of elements, including point of sales and interactive transaction machines, drive-through communication devices, public address systems, and certain types of alarms, such as carbon monoxide detectors. This rulemaking would supplement existing guidelines by detailing how access should be achieved, particularly for people with sensory impairments. Participants at a public forum the Board held last summer strongly endorsed such an initiative. The upcoming meeting will focus on planning for this effort and identifying key issues. For further information, contact Marsha Mazz at mazz@access-board.gov (e-mail), (202) 272-0020 (v), or (202) 272-0081 (TTY).

NCD Town Hall Meeting and Seminar on the State of Disability (July 26th 9:00 – 1:00)
On July 26th, the 16th anniversary of the ADA, NCD will hold a town hall meeting on disability issues. The event, “A National Dialogue on the State of Disability,” will feature a presentation on findings from an NCD report on disability policy, followed by panels on different policy aspects, including equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. The event is open to the public and will take place at the National Press Club in downtown D.C. For further information, contact Mark Quigley of the NCD at ncd@ncd.gov.