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Information: New Exemptions for Hearing Impaired Truck Drivers

April 8, 2013 in Employment, Hearing Loss & Deafness, Transportation

Information About New Exemptions for Hearing Impaired Truck Drivers

In a guest column for the Memphis Daily News, Jim Mulroy, managing partner of Jackson Lewis’ Memphis Office, weighs in on the exemptions now being made available to hearing impaired truck drivers and what led the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to grant a request for 40 of these exemptions.

He writes: “Although the agency limited the exemption to include only the 40 applicants, it announced an intention to begin the rule-making process to address the issue. The EEOC, the Deaf Truck Drivers United and the National Association for the Deaf supported the decision.”

Read the full article at http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2013/apr/8/new-hearing-impaired-driver-exemptions/

© Copyright 2013 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), 3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22030; www.nvrc.org; 703-352-9055 V, 703-352-9056 TTY, 703-352-9058 Fax. Items in this newsletter are provided for information purposes only; NVRC does not endorse products or services. You do not need permission to share this information, but please be sure to credit NVRC. This news service is free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Important ADA, Air Carrier Act Amendments Introduced by Sen. Harkin

March 14, 2013 in Captioning / Relay, Community News, Transportation

ADA, Air Carriers Access Act Amendments Introduced by Senator Harkin;
Would Require Captions, Video Description in Movie Theaters, on Flights

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), long-time champion of the rights of people with disabilities and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, has introduced new amendments to the ADA and to the Air Carriers Access Act to expand access to media.

These new bills promise to fully include people with sensory disabilities in two key venues for entertainment and information: movie theaters and airlines. They require captions and video description in movie theaters as well as in-flight entertainment, and include provisions for making seat-back touch-screens accessible on airlines.

Access Board Forming Advisory Committee on Update of Rail Vehicle Guidelines

February 20, 2013 in Community News, Transportation

Access Board to Form Advisory Committee on Update of Rail Vehicle Guidelines

The Access Board is organizing an advisory committee to assist in the review and update of its ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles and seeks nominations for membership. The Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee will develop consensus recommendations for the Board’s use in updating sections of the guidelines that cover vehicles of fixed guideway systems, including rapid, light, commuter, intercity, and high speed rail. The committee’s work will not extend to portions of the guidelines that address buses and vans which the Board is already in the process of updating.

The Board seeks to include representatives from rail vehicle manufacturers, transit providers, disability groups, and other stakeholders and interested parties on the committee. The committee will be balanced in terms of interests represented. A notice issued by the Board provides further details, including application instructions. The deadline for applications is April 1.

Meetings of the advisory committee will be open to the public and will provide opportunities for all interested parties to provide information. Its work will be conducted in accordance with regulations governing Federal advisory committees. Committee membership is voluntary, and members will not be paid or reimbursed for their services.

For further information, visit the Board’s website or contact Paul Beatty at rvaac@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0012 (voice), or (202) 272-0072 (TTY).

Distributed 2013 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC), 3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22030; www.nvrc.org; 703-352-9055 V, 703-352-9056 TTY, 703-352-9058 Fax. Items in this newsletter are provided for information purposes only; NVRC does not endorse products or services. This news service is free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated.

FMCSA Grants Exemptions to Hearing Impaired Drivers

February 5, 2013 in Advocacy & Access, Community Events, Employment, Transportation

From Truckinginfo.com, 2/4/2013

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted the first exemption to rules for interstate commercial drivers when it comes to hearing standards.

Forty individuals received permission to operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce effective last Friday. It’s good for two years and may be renewed.

The request was made of the agency last May, with comments taken until the end of July. FMCSA received 570 responses.

Several of the applicants had previous experience driving interstate and became unable to pass the required hearing test, while others had been involved in intrastate commerce, were bus drivers, had driven smaller commercial vehicles or were looking to become first-time truckers.

In announcing its decisions, the FMCSA said “granting exemptions for these CMV (commercial motor vehicle) drivers will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions.

Current FMCSA standards for hearing were adopted more than 40 years ago.

The applicants received assistance from the National Association of the Deaf. The association cited and FMCSA Medical Review Board study from 2008 that examined the relationship between hearing loss and crash risk exclusively among CMV drivers, as well as evidence from studies of the private bus driver license holder population, saying these studies do not support the contention that individuals with hearing impairment are at an increased risk for crash.

For the rest of the story:

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2013/02/fmcsa-grants-exemptions-to-hearing-impaired-drivers.aspx?prestitial=1

Amtrak Installs Hearing Loops in New York, Washington, DC Stations

January 24, 2013 in Community News, Hearing Loss & Deafness, Transportation

By Keith Laing, The Hill 1/22/2013

Amtrak is taking steps to improve the ability of hearing-impaired passengers to buy tickets for its trains and use customer service counters in its stations.

The company said Wednesday that it has installed “hearing loops” on customer-interaction points at its stations in New York and Washington, D.C. The equipment allows passengers to connect hearing aids to them in order to receive enhance audio that eliminates background noise.

Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman said it was important for Amtrak to make it easier for passengers with hearing issues to maneuver around its stations.

“Amtrak strives to improve service to all our customers and using technology to better communicate with passengers with hearing loss is the right thing to do,” Boardman said in a statement.

People with Disabilities and Older Adults:
Help Improve Transportation Services in the Fairfax Area!

January 4, 2013 in Community News, Transportation

Fairfax County wants to better understand the travel patterns and transportation needs of people with disabilities and older adults who live in Fairfax County, City of Fairfax and Falls Church.
Consider taking this brief survey now. Your answers will help the county improve transportation services to older adults and people with disabilities.

The questionnaire consists of 27, mostly, multiple choice questions. We estimate it should take about 10 minutes to complete.

If you are helping someone complete this survey, we thank you in advance but caution you to ensure that the responses are from the respondent’s perspective.

If you require an alternate format of the survey, please contact Jill Clark at 703-324-5874, TTY 703-449-1186.

The survey is sponsored by the Fairfax Area Mobility and Transportation Committee, which reports jointly to the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board and theFairfax Area Long Term Care Coordinating Council.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Jill

Jill Clark
Disability Services Planning and Development
Fairfax County Department of Family Services
Voice: 703-324-5874 TTY: 703-449-118
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