Under the Transportation Standard of the AODA, conventional transportation providers must create, implement, maintain, and document multi-year accessibility plans. Accessibility plans for conventional transportation providers describe how the providers will work to prevent or remove barriers against people with disabilities.
Accessibility Plans for Conventional Transportation Providers
All public sector and large private organizations must create accessibility plans. However, there are a few topics that conventional transportation providers must include in their plans that do not apply to other kinds of organizations.
Equipment Failure
Providers must outline in their plans what procedures they will follow when accessibility equipment on their vehicles fails. They should also inform passengers with disabilities about these procedures, so that passengers will know what will happen if equipment fails.
Customer Feedback
Providers must also plan how they will accept and respond to customer feedback about their services for passengers with disabilities. Feedback allows providers to learn about any difficulties or barriers passengers have encountered, so that providers can improve their equipment or services.
Public Meetings
Moreover, providers must hold at least one public meeting every year where passengers with disabilities can offer feedback on accessibility plans. If the provider also offers specialized transportation, the meeting can cover both types of transportation. Meetings do not have to be only about accessibility. They can also include other concerns as long as accessibility is discussed and passengers with disabilities are invited. Providers should publicize these meetings well in advance and in different ways so that passengers with disabilities are aware of them and can plan to attend.
Reviewing and Updating Plans
Providers must post plans on their websites and provide copies in accessible formats upon request. They must review and update the plans every five years. Furthermore, providers must consult people with disabilities during the process of creating, reviewing, and updating their plans. In addition, they must write status reports every year that describe the progress they make toward implementing their plans. They must also post these reports on their websites and provide copies in accessible formats upon request.
Why We Need Accessibility Plans
Accessibility plans for conventional transportation providers ensure that providers are setting and achieving goals to improve their services. These plans also open dialogue between providers and passengers with disabilities. Dialogue helps providers make sure that current services are working well and that future goals are good ones.