Please log in to rate and comment on entries or to edit your profile.

Know a good UD website or resource?

Submit a link.

The Accessible Virtual Community

Transportation

Illustration of various vehicles represents the Transportation Section.

 

Accessible maps, accessible routes, greenspaces, and modes of transportation connect us within our communities and to other communities. How do we make transportation accessible, usable, safe and comfortable for everyone in the community and beyond? Click here to see discussions about spatial organization, ticketing issues, platforms, etc.  To search for more related information, you can go to our Search Page.

internal link

Accessible Route AUDIT

People with disabilities frequently encounter obstacles when they attempt to get from point A to point B. Do you have a particular walkway or route on campus that you know has caused a problem for someone with a disability? Feel free to try out this AUDIT to see how universally desgned the route is. What is the impact of special events parking on an accessible route? This AUDIT has guidelines when detours are necessary.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

Accessible Route AUDIT  (Excel Document)

Accessible Route AUDIT Manual  (PDF File)

external link

Cruise Ship Wheelchair Accessibility

This website includes an article and video advice for cruise passengers with disabilities who need a little help getting around ships and ports. The key is to plan ahead so you can minimize those challenges. This includes wheelchair-accessible staterooms and transportation, lifts for jacuzzis and swimming pools, and close-captioned TVs. Most cruise lines have an accessibility coordinator to answer questions.

AARP

Not yet rated
external link

A More Accessible Map

Is there a way to display text-based data on a map, keeping it accessible, useful, and visually attractive? Yes there is by using an accessible CSS-based map in which the underlying map data is separated from the visual layout. This web article explains, and gives an example for making web-based maps more accessible.

Duffy, S - "A List Apart"

Not yet rated
external link

Accessibility: Mass Transit for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

This short web page is a compilation of frequently asked questions regarding the needs and barriers regarding accessible mass transit for people who are blind or visually impaired. Some examples of the ways that transit systems have become more inclusive are providing large-print, high-contrast, and non-glare informational signs in terminals and providing external speakers that announce vehicle identification information. More examples on site.

American Foundation for the Blind

external link

Accessible Air Travel: A Guide for People with Disabilities

Travel for All provides knowledgeable travel agents that have dealt with all types of issues that an traveler using a wheelchair or who has limited mobility may encounter during a trip. A service enables travelers to use services, such as accessible ground transportation to and from the airport, stowage of wheelchairs and other mobility equipment on board an aircraft, accessible hotel accommodations, including rooms with roll in showers, cruises, medical equipment at your destination, etc.

Travel for All

external link

Accessible Tourism and Outdoor Recreation in California

Access Northern California is a non-profit organization working to increase opportunities and improve access to travel and outdoor recreation for people with disabilities and seniors throughout Northern California. Access Northern California offers free accessible travel guides on the outdoor locations in the San Francisco area such as trails and parks. This organization also offers consultations, workshops, and training to businesses and government agencies to educate organizations about travel and disability.

Access Northern California

Not yet rated
external link

ADA Requirements: Service Animals

This website has updated ADA guidelines, regulations, and rights for people with service animals.

Not yet rated
external link

All-Inclusive Escorted Vacations for Travelers with Developmental and Physical Disabilities

"Search Beyond Adventures provides all-inclusive escorted vacations for travelers with both physical and cognitive disabilities, ages 17 and older. The majority of their travelers have developmental disabilities, but they accommodate physical disabilities as well. Group sizes range from 5 to 25 travelers and vary in length from 4 to 14 days. Program locations include: Palmer (MA), Minneapolis (MN), Orlando (FL) and Sacramento (CA)."

Search Beyond Adventures

Not yet rated
external link

Americans with Disabilities Act: Roles and Responsibilities to Accessible Transportation

The primary purpose of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) program is to ensure that pedestrians with disabilities have opportunity to use the transportation system in an accessible and safe manner. Contacts, guidance and links are offered at their website.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Not yet rated
external link

Best Practices Design Guide-Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access

This website focuses on some of the emerging accessibility issues, design parameters that affect sidewalks, street crossing design, and operation. It provides recommendations on how to design sidewalks, street crossings, intersections, shared use paths, and recreational pedestrian trails. (Last updated 2001)

Beneficial Designs, Inc.

Not yet rated
external link

Cruise Travel Agents Specializing in Servicing Individuals with Disabilities

Easy Access Travel is an organization founded by a wheelchair user. This company consists of travel agents who will work with individuals with disabilities to understand their needs. Once this is completed the travel agent recommends what cruise line to use and which services will best meet their needs.

Easy Access Travel

Not yet rated
external link

Disabilities and Medical Conditions - Security and Customer Service

TSA has established a program for screening of persons with disabilities and their associated equipment, mobility aids, and devices. Their program covers all categories of disabilities (mobility, hearing, visual, and hidden). As part of that program,a coalition of over 70 disability-related groups and organizations helped the TSA understand the concerns of persons with disabilities and medical conditions. These groups have assisted TSA with integrating the unique needs of persons with disabilities into our airport operations.

Transportation Security Administration

Not yet rated
external link

Equal Access to Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation has put together a page of links explaining the laws and regulations regarding the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and transportation. Transportation information along with a short list of other useful links is listed to help assist an individual with a disability in travel.

U. S. Department of Transportation

Not yet rated
external link

Flying Tips for Wheelchair Users

This article zeroes in on the most common trouble spots in wheelchair air travel, and offers some tips that will make the process as hassle-free as possible.

AARP

Not yet rated
external link

Holiday Travel for Individuals with Disabilities

Accessible Travel & Leisure was formed in 1997 by three individuals who use wheelchairs. These founders set out to create an agency to provide wheelchair users with “barrier-free holidays". This travel agency focuses on individualized tour planning to secure the most appropriate accommodations and services to fit ones needs.

Accessible Travel & Leisure

Not yet rated
external link

Mobility Scooter Etiquette / Tips for Individuals with Special Needs

A few tips and etiquette suggestions are offered on this web page for scooter drivers to ensure that their trips are safe and enjoyable for themselves and those around them.

Special Needs Group, Inc.

external link

New Horizons Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability

The Air Carrier Access rules are designed to minimize the special problems that travelers with disabilities face as they negotiate their way through the nation’s complex air travel system from origin to destination

Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement, U.S. Department of Transportation

Not yet rated
external link

Reviews on Tours, Vacations and Cruises Around the World for People with Disabilities

This website by Disabled World addresses concerns and answers questions in regards to disability travel. Questions, concerns and answers are submitted by individuals with disabilities and the site editors answer questions directly to those submitting and on the webpage.

Disabled World

Not yet rated
external link

Supplies for People with Disabilities on Cruises

Scootaround Personal Transportation Solutions is a company that offers supplies for individuals with special needs. Their services are offered at all major ports world wide. Equipment supplied includes: wheelchairs, oxygen, mobility scooters, electronic mobility, hoists, lifts, etc. This company is the preferred provider to all major cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Carnival, Celebrity, NCL and many more.

Scootaround

external link

The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH)

This website for the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH), founded in 1976, provides information about an educational nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the United States and abroad. Members include travel professionals, consumers with disabilities and other individuals and corporations who support our mission.

The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH)

Not yet rated
external link

Tips for Communicating with People who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

A tip sheet for communicating with individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Not yet rated
external link

Tour Guides for Individuals with Developmental and Physical Disabilities

The Guided Tour, Inc established in 1972 is the first supervised travel and vacation program in the US for people with developmental and physical disabilities. This program is run only by paid professionals with a 1:3 or even 1:1 staff to client ratio. A nurse is present on almost all trips and can be requested. This travel program is for ages 17 and older.

The Guided Tour, Inc.

external link

Transportation Systems for All Users

This article from Canada highlights the importance of universal design in order to accommodate for the largest number of possible users. It provides things to remember when planning to implement universal design, as well as barriers that can reduce implementation. "Universal design should be comprehensive, meaning that it results in seamless mobility options from origin to destination for the greatest possible range of potential users. It should consider all possible obstacles that may exist in buildings, transportation terminals, sidewalks, paths, roads and vehicles."

Victoria Transport Policy Institute, Canada

Not yet rated
external link

Travel Agency Specializing in Individuals with Limited Mobility

Developed by James Glasbergen, a man with quadriplegia, World on Wheelz is a travel agency partnered with Frederick Travel to provide accessible travel trips for all people who face mobility challenges. The website explains that World on Wheelz prides itself on having a higher standard of “accessibility” than any other agency on the market. World on Wheelz’s target demographic consists of individuals with extremely limited mobility, such any individual with a cervical level spinal cord injury. Travel arrangements can be made anywhere around the world, independently or as a group with a tour guide.

World on Wheelz

Not yet rated
external link

Travel Agents Specializing in Servicing Individuals with Disabilities

Able to Travel is a provider site that links knowledgeable travel agents to individuals in need of their services. Travel agents associated with this site have dealt with all types of traveling issues surrounding individuals with disabilities. This site also offers; tips for travel, trips that are currently available and specials on trips that are accessible.

Travel For All

Not yet rated
external link

Travel Independently Across Town or Across the Country - Resources

Transportation.gov/accessibility provides resources on transportation providers, the rights of air travelers with disabilities, paratransit and other accessible transportation options for travelers with disabilities.” A list of upcoming events, vehicle purchase/modification funding resources, transportation providers and accessibility tools are provided.

Disability.gov

Not yet rated
external link

Travel Service Team Specializing in Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities

Flying Wheels Travel is a full service agency providing people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and the mature traveler the ability to easily access vacations. Originally specializing in air travel, the company now arranges any transportation accommodations, tours, excursions, and customizes vacations.

Flying Wheels Travel

Not yet rated
external link

Trips for Individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

Trips Inc. is founded by Jim Peterson. Peterson has a master's degree in special education and has organized over 600 trips both nationally and internationally over his 27 years of leadership. Group sizes are kept around 20 travelers, with a chaperone to traveler ratio of 1:4. All chaperones are volunteers who are carefully screened. Groups are tailored to accommodate those with similar disabilities. Trips Inc. prides itself on having competitive rates.

Trips Inc.

external link

Trips for Individuals with Developmental and Physical Disabilities

Lucky Mindy Adventure is a supervised travel agency providing custom tours or preplanned trips for individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities. Only clients with mild to moderate disabilities can be accommodated with this agency. Most staff previously worked as nursing assistants and staffing ratios are kept near 1:4 staff members per client.

Lucky Mindy Adventure

Not yet rated
external link

Wheelchair Accessible Travel to Hawaii

Access Aloha Travel Inc. is a liaison for individuals who use a wheelchair to connect with services in Hawaii. This site connects users to wheelchair accessible tours, cruises, van rentals, and hotels.

Access Aloha Travel Inc.

Not yet rated
external link

Wheelchair Accessible Travel to the American West

Access Tours, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides wheelchair accessible coach bus tours throughout the West. Locations include: San Diego to Hollywood, Canyon Land, Yellowstone, Yosemite and many more. Guests come from all over the United States, as well as Europe to enjoy the relaxed paced experience.

Access Tours, Inc.

Not yet rated
external link

Wheelchair Accessible World Travel

Accessible Journeys, Inc. is a wheelchair travel company servicing people who use wheelchairs, their families, and friends. This company offers tours around the world as group tours, independent travel, cruises, and bus tours. This agency has received numerous awards for it's ability to make traveling around the globe accessible.

Accessible Journeys, Inc.

Not yet rated

The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.

Tim Berners-Lee
W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web