Answered Questions is a monthly resource for the Spanish language Disability Community that fills an information need. This month’s question is I was recently diagnosed with a disability, which affects my ability to drive. What research, resources and information are available on accessible transportation? This edition of Answered Questions includes items that discusses autonomous vehicles and people with Parkinson’s disease; new wheelchair securement systems in large accessible transit vehicles; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and accessible ground transportation; apps for accessible transportation; and more. More about Answered Questions.
NIDILRR-Funded Projects:
The project, Driving Performance of People with Parkinson’s Using Autonomous Vehicle Technologies (in English), examines and quantifies the impact of autonomous in-vehicle (AV) technologies on the driving performance of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).The primary objective of this project is evaluate the impact of AV technologies on driving errors measured using a standardized road course. The project’s goal is to improve the driving performance of people with PD, to stay on the road longer and safer via in-vehicle information systems, and advanced driver assistance systems, integrated into an on-road test vehicle.
From the NARIC Collection:
The article, User experiences with two new wheelchair securement systems in large accessible transit vehicles (in English), discusses a study that explored the usability of two newer wheelchair securement systems installed in large accessible transit vehicles in Buffalo, NY: a 3-point, forward facing securement system and a semi-automated, rear-facing securement system. The findings of this study indicated clear differences in ratings of difficulty and acceptability between securement systems by the wheelchair user group.
Research In Focus:
People with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) may have long-term effects because of their injury, which may limit their ability to participate fully in their community. For example, the ability to return to driving a vehicle can be a challenge for people with a moderate to severe TBI. The article, Return to Driving May Be an Important Goal for Improving Quality of Life for People with Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, discusses a NIDILRR-funded study from researchers from the TBI Model System Centers that examined the effects of age, injury severity, and other personal characteristics on, as well as the timing of, returning to driving after a TBI. This article is also available in English.
Technology:
The article, Accessible Transportation from Discapnet, discusses accessible transportation in Spain, including what accessible transportation means, what it entails, and that it is a right for everyone, including people with disabilities. The article also discusses different technologies, such as ramps, traffic lights that are accessible for people with sensory disabilities, and more, and how different cities in Spain have a long way to go to make accessible transportation a reality. Finally, the article provides examples of accessible urban and public transportation applications that people with disabilities living in Spain may use to travel and find information on accessibility.
Americans with Disabilities Act:
The factsheet, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & Accessible Ground Transportation from the NIDILRR-funded ADA Network Knowledge Translation Center (in English), discusses how the ADA applies to both public and private ground transportation providers. The factsheet provides an overview of the ADA requirements, discusses architectural requirements, and discusses complementary paratransit services and private transportation entities. Finally, the factsheet discusses the role of the US Department of Transportation in ensuring that public ground transportation is ADA compliant and how to file a complaint. The factsheet is also available in English.
Inclusion:
The article, Analysis of physical accessibility in public transport by bus in the city of Valladolid, discusses a study that assessed the accessibility of public transportation, one of the factors that limits the integration of people with disabilities into society. The study analyzed the city’s progress toward accessible public transportation. Researchers contrasted the data from Valladolid, Spain to data collected by experts at the University of Valladolid, technical staff, and users of Cocemfe Castilla y Leon. Finally, they differentiated between critical and noncritical aspects of the accessibility of public transportation for people with physical disabilities.
Resources:
- NIDILRR (in English) supports the right of people with disabilities to travel in their communities, states, the country, and the world by funding projects whose research and development activities deal with making transportation accessible. As part of their activities, these projects have developed evidence-based consumer products related to accessible transportation. NARIC’s recent blog post, NIDILRR-funded Consumer Products: Accessible Transportation, shares many examples of NIDILRR-funded accessible transportation. This blogpost is also accessible in English.
- NARIC’s FAQ, Where can I find transportation services?, provides information on resources ready to use on finding transportation services in your local area. These resources include links to find your local center for independent living, the National Rural Transit Assistance Program, and more. This FAQ is also available in English.
Further Research:
REHABDATA:
International:
Each month, we look through the searches on our blog and through the information requests made by our patrons who speak Spanish and pick a topic that fills the largest need. Each resource mentioned above is associated with this month’s information need. We search the various Spanish language news sources and feeds throughout the month to bring you these articles. With the exception of the NIDILRR Projects, From the NARIC Collection, and Further Investigation, all the linked articles and resources are in Spanish – any that are in English will be clearly marked.
Collection Spotlight from the National Rehabilitation Information Center 