HART Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

July 26, 2015 marks the 25th Anniversary of the signing into law of the important Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Celebrations of the signing that took place in 1990 are scheduled at venues all across the U.S., including at HART in Tampa.

As part of its commemoration of the important date, and in continuance of its firm commitment to providing safe and equal access to everyone, HART will host a free special seminar for transportation providers. The training, conducted by experts being flown in for the occasion, is being sponsored by the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (PTC) in cooperation with HART.

Two identical 3-hour sessions will be held beginning at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m. respectively on April 28, at the HART operations facility located at 4305 E. 21st Ave. Hillsborough County Commissioner and PTC Chairman Victor Crist will make opening remarks at the 10 a.m. session. HART Board Chair Tampa City Councilman Mike Suarez will make opening remarks at the 2 p.m. session.

This training seminar is being offered to drivers of different modes of transportation, including drivers of buses, taxis, limousines and the "ride-sharing" industry. Staff and members of the disability community are also welcome to attend. Each session will cover ADA basics for drivers, including passengers with service animals, handling and securing of wheelchairs inside vehicles, service on buses and transit vehicles and common courtesy "disability etiquette", language and awareness. Attendees will receive certificates of completion.

Presented by the Open Doors Organization (ODO) of Chicago, the "Train the Trainer" seminar is designed to help organizations meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and also provide the best possible service to passengers with disabilities and to older travelers. ODO has conducted training programs in several cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and Houston.

The ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) give individuals with disabilities powerful civil rights protections, similar to those extended to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA and ADAAA also assure equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in terms of access to businesses, employment, transportation, state and local government programs and services, and telecommunications.

The local ADA Working Group is comprised of HART personnel representing various departments within the agency including Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Human Resources - in addition to the Mayor's Alliance for Persons with Disabilities and the County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities.