ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Passenger Vessels
DRAFT PUBLIC COMMENTS
FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS COMPLIANCE BOARD
FOR A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
WASHINGTON, DC
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE DOCKET NO. 2004-1
RIN 3014-AA11
BY
DEBORAH (DEBBIE) F. TITUS
INDEPENDENT LIVING ADVOCATE
INDEPENDENCE EMPOWERMENT CENTER (IEC)
IN MANASSAS, VA
As a hearing disabled fellowcitizen of America and fervent ADA advocate for the Independent Living, I am speaking on behalf of the disabled Americans who share or want to share the same aesthetic privileges just like any other American who can afford to travel overseas. The ADA accessibility guidelines should be carefully applied to whatever passenger oceanliner, steamer, cruise, vessel or yacht that can accommodate and carry disabled American passengers around the world. How does the maritime diplomacy manage to carry the instructions to any foreign-made vessel manufacturer(s), if that is a case, in order to comply with ADA accessibility guidelines prior to disembarking the American waters? That is where the clear instructions should be complied not mandatory but feasibly and economically.
ISSUE(S) IN QUESTION: Which passenger vessel(s) are you referring to be included into the future guidelines of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking? Which passenger vessel(s) is/are disembarking American waters where the rule of ADA begins or lies? Which vessel manufacturer(s) are willing to comply with ADA Accessibility Guidelines to accommodate passengers with targeted disabilities besides* coverage of employee areas, criteria for embarking and disembarking, high door thresholds (coamings), alterations, methods for swimming pool access, elevator car size, guest room scoping, dispersion of wheelchair spaces in assembly areas, and visual emergency alarms? I would soon visit the Odyssey cruise at the port of Old Town Alexandria, VA to have a personal assessment as if I were one of the disabled Americans traveling overseas.
CLOSING REMARK(S): I strongly support that there is/are some provisions of ADA to be complied with as a travel privilege for any Americans including disabled ones who can afford to take breathtaking oversea voyage, should the vessels be readily accessible.
* Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Federal Register Vol 71, #130, 7 th Jul 2006