E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSSoon airline websites and airport check-in kiosks may be required to be more accessible to millions of Americans with disabilities.
The Department of Transportation is seeking public input on proposed revisions to the Air Carrier Access Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel.
Disability rights groups applaud the proposed regulations as a step toward more barrier-free travel.
“Currently, the nation’s air carriers fail to use updated, accessible technology on the Internet and at the airport, openly discriminating against the blind,” said Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation for the Blind, in a statement. “We are pleased that the Department of Transportation has finally begun to address the issue of inaccessible Web sites and kiosks, and we are encouraged by our initial review of the proposed rules.”
In the past, when the DOT has floated similar proposals, some airline industry groups have filed comments opposing the measures, citing excessive costs airlines would incur if forced to comply.
“With regard to the recent proposal from DOT, we are still working with our members to analyze the proposed rulemaking,” said Air Transport Association spokesperson Steve Lott. In the meantime, the group has asked DOT to extend the comment period by 120 days.
If adopted, carriers and travel agents would have up to two years from the roll-out of the regulations to update or redesign their websites. While they do that, DOT would keep in place regulations requiring carriers to make any discounted Web-based fares and amenities available — at no extra charge — to travelers with disabilities who cannot use a carrier's inaccessible website.
For airport check-in kiosks, the DOT is proposing to adopt an accessibility standard that mirrors the one the Department of Justice put in place for automated teller machines, which must now have Braille instructions and buttons, headphone jacks (for verbal instructions) and plenty of room around the units to allow physical access for people using wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
The Census Bureau estimates that there are more than 50 million Americans with disabilities. According to a study conducted by the Chicago-based Open Doors Organization, which works to improve accessibility for travelers, about 9.6 million people with disabilities take at least one airplane trip every two years.
“Overall the DOT’s proposed regulations for websites and kiosks are good thing and will make air travel better, said Eric Lipp, executive director for Open Doors Organization. “But it’s unfortunate that they had to come as regulations.” He said airlines have been unwilling to invest in making websites and kiosks fully accessible because “they just don’t consider travelers with disabilities a big enough market.”
However, by reducing the number of assistance calls initiated over inaccessible websites, the DOT estimates that airlines could realize a cost savings of $11.8 million over 10 years.
DOT also estimates that compliance with the proposed rule for check-in kiosks would save airlines $45.9 million in labor costs.
The deadline for public comment on the DOT’s proposed rules for air travel accessibility is Nov. 25.
Other stories you might like
- Paving the way for travelers with disabilities
- Traveling for disabled improves, but hurdles remain
- Disabled passengers settle discrimination suit
Find more by Harriet Baskas on Stuck at The Airport.com and follow her on Twitter.
Leave a Comment:
Why not extend the use of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to this area like it was done for the federal government? It would seem to make sense in this case.
@Robert Guynes
Yes, let's cancel all subsidies to airlines and oil companies!
It would seem once again ABSENT from regulation that ANOTHER set of COPORATIONS are force to deal fairly withthe average consumer....
Once again the mantra of les regulation makes another segment of our society underserved....
If we do not force some of these corporations to adopt a better standard all they will care about is their bottom line...
Screw the invironment- scew the consumer in the all told quest to make the shareholders happy...
Look at the 60 minutes interview with GE CEO he seemed to be laughin at every question like lesle stalh was an idiot..
All he said was the stockholder was king and well if we make 40k jobs outside the US and get 400 here at least we got some HERE....
and about the tax issue he said yes the tax burden was antiquated and the US had the most draconian manipulated tax of any country..
To watch the interview twice he seemed to be laughing at every question like he was to good and was talking down to leslie..
He values himself better than most and treats anyone who questions him laughable...
thats what i get out of that interview..
So once again the republicant and their ge egulation are just lettin coporation make profits for th stochholder and once again the community loses..
DOT has partnered with a Cornell University project, Regulation Room, to give the general public a place to learn about and comment on these proposed accessibility rules. DOT has a lot of unanswered questions such as: What should the standards for web and kiosk accessibility be? Which websites and how many kiosks should be covered? How long should companies have to make the changes? Go to regulationroom.org to learn more about the proposals and to have your voice heard.
The American Foundation for the Blind has a cross-disability consulting firm that has worked with various travel companies including airlines to help them design and deploy accessible web sites and kiosks. Click on www.afbconsulting.org for more details. Please feel free to contact me to set up a meeting where we can hear more about the challenges your company is facing. The American Foundation for the Blind wants to help your company reach the more than 54 million Americans with disabilities and their $175 billion in disposable income.