Virtual Public Meeting regarding Onboard Wheelchairs on Aircraft

Disability Matters with Joyce Bender

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

#AdvocacyMatters Segment

Virtual Public Meeting regarding Onboard Wheelchairs on Aircraft

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) is working jointly with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to host a virtual public meeting to gain more input from stakeholders on proposed advisory guidelines for aircraft onboard wheelchairs. The public meeting will take place on December 16, 2021, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern Time.

The Access Board has reopened draft advisory guidelines for aircraft onboard wheelchairs for supplemental comments from December 16, 2021, to January 17, 2022.

The purpose of the advisory guidelines is to improve access to lavatories on single-aisle aircraft with 125 or more passenger seats for individuals who utilize an onboard wheelchair.

The effort to address accessible lavatories on single-aisle aircraft started in 2016 by the DOT. The result was a DOT published notice of proposed rulemaking on January 2, 2020, titled “Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft: Part 1.” Under the proposed rule, onboard wheelchairs would have to meet new standards.

DOT reports that they received few comments about onboard wheelchair design, among other items; therefore, DOT and the Access Board are jointly hosting this public meeting on December 16, 2021, to get further input from stakeholders.

The outline of those new proposed standards and additional background can be found at disabilityrightspa.org. Just click on today’s #AdvocacyMatters segment to find a link to the November 19th public notice that reopened the public comment period and announced the public meeting.

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Information from the public comment period will be used to finalize advisory guidelines for aircraft onboard wheelchairs.

Individuals interested in attending the public meeting must register. Registration must be received by the Access Board by December 9, 2021. Requests to present written or oral testimony during the meeting must also be received by December 9th, although the written public comment period continues until January 17, 2022.

Links to the Access Board Announcement, public meeting registration, and email address to present written or oral testimony during the meeting can be found at disabilityrightspa.org. Just click on today’s #AdvocacyMatters segment for all the information.

 

Links

U.S. Access Board Announcement DOT and U.S. Access Board to Hold Public Meeting on Onboard Wheelchairs Used on Aircraft

Link to Public Meeting Registration Webinar Registration

Email to request to submit written materials at the meeting or to provide oral testimony at the public meeting. OBWpublicmeeting@dot.gov

Requests for meeting accommodations. OBWpublicmeeting@dot.gov

Docket number for public comment: ATBCB-2019-0002

To submit written comments until January 17, 2022: Regulations.gov

Federal Register Announcement November 19, 2021