UB IDeA Center receives $4.6 million federal grant
The University at Buffalo’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDeA Center) has received a fourth round of federal funding to continue its work on a wide range of universal design projects. Read More >>
How one Paris startup is becoming an Uber for people with disabilities
When visiting Florida earlier this year, Parisian Charlotte de Vilmorin — who has been in a wheelchair her entire life — was desperately searching for a car adapted for people with disabilities. She finally found one, but soon discovered how expensive it was to rent — for 10 days, it cost her approximately $1,000.
Accessibility Barriers Stall the $17-Billion Disability Travel Market, Survey Says
APEX Insight: A survey by the Open Doors Organization says that travelers with disabilities contribute $17.3 billion to the industry every year. As the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we examine the efforts of airlines and airports to accommodate all travelers. – See more at: http://apex.aero/2015/08/05/air-travel-passengers-with-disabilities#sthash.1zt4Qj5s.dpuf
The Smart Floors Making Airports More Accessible for Disabled Travelers
The striking graphic floor tiles of Edmonton International Airport compliment the terminal’s distinctive modern appearance, but they’re far more beautiful than that. What might appear to other passengers as a decorative contrast of graduated color tiles, was designed to help visually impaired passengers better judge the distance to their gate.
Grant continues work to improve transit, sidewalk access
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and UB are collaborating on a five-year, $4.6 million federally funded project to advance physical access and public transportation for people with disabilities by bringing together computer science technology and the principles of universal design.
Improving ADA Paratransit Demand Estimation: Regional Modeling
The Transportation Research Board’s Transit Cooperative Research Program has published a report, TCRP Report 158: Improving ADA Paratransit Demand Estimation: Regional Modeling, which includes planning models to help regional, state, and federal agencies that oversee public transportation plan for the projected future demands of ADA paratransit. The report, also includes planning models that predict travel by […]
Self-Driving Vehicles: Inclusive for Disabled Drivers
California has recently become the third state to legalize the use of self-driving vehicles. The new vehicles were created by Google, and are currently being tested for regulations and safety standards in Florida, Nevada, and California. Google proposes that the self-driving car will be on the market within the next 5 years. But what does […]
Access for All: New Buses Launched
Commuting just got easier for disabled bus riders in Oxford, England. Separate spaces for luggage, guide dogs and wheelchairs have been created on Oxford Bus Company vehicles, and were launched by Oxford West and Abingdon MP, Nicola Blackwood in mid-September. The company will host sessions at Cowley House to help those with mobility issues familiarize […]
NYC Taxi Dispatch System Launched
New York City’s Taxi & Limousine Commission has launched its new dispatch system for riders who use mobility devices. The accessibility of NYC cabs has been a hotly contested issue since December 2011 when afederal judge ruled that New York City’s taxi fleet had violated the Americans With Disabilities Act. However, a Federal Court of […]
State to Seek ADA Waiver for Amtrak Platform Redesign
Milwaukee Governor Scott Walker’s administration has stated that they will be seeking a formal exception from the ADA’s level boarding requirement in order to proceed with an inaccessible renovation of the city’s passenger train concourse. The plans for the station’s redesign did not take into consideration the Federal Railroad Administration’s new accessibility guidelines which took […]