The first review of the AODA’s Transportation Standards became public in 2018. In this review, the AODA Transportation Standards Development Committee recommends changes to the existing Transportation Standards. In addition, the Committee also recommends action from other sectors of the province, to remove accessibility barriers that impact transportation. This article will discuss the Committee’s recommendations for avoiding fees for medical forms on specialized transit.
Fees for Medical Forms on Specialized Transit
The current Transportation Standards require specialized transit companies to have three (3) categories of passenger eligibility. These categories are:
- Permanent
- Temporary
- Conditional
Furthermore, passengers must apply to use specialized transit. Under the Standards, each specialized transit company must create and implement its own application process, free of charge. However, some companies’ application processes require applicants to submit medical forms, at their own expense. For example, application processes may require a medical professional to attest that the applicant has a disability. Moreover, a medical professional may also need to recommend whether an applicant should have permanent, temporary, or conditional access to specialized transit. In other words, while the Standards require the application process to be free, some applicants pay to apply.
The Committee recognizes that fees for medical forms, and the need to complete separate forms for every organization requiring them, is an undue burden for people with disabilities. On the other hand, finding an alternative to these medical forms may pose a similar difficulty for transit companies. For instance, transit companies may need to consult at length with medical professionals or colleges, to find a solution. As a result, the Committee recommends that the Ontario government should investigate possible solutions to mitigate the expense of the application process. Applicants should not need to pay fees for medical forms on specialized transit, in contradiction of the Transportation Standards’ requirement for free application processes.