Kathleen Collins demands disability consultation and four-point securement
The Disabled in Action treasurer says the disability community must be consulted before decisions; Local Law 68 requires four-point securement; she calls for accessible kiosks, audio, and visual announcements.
Good afternoon, my name is Kathleen Collins and I'm the treasurer of Disabled in Action right now, but next month I will just be a member of Disabled in Action.
I'm going to be in the background.
First of all, all public and private transportation, including future ferry,
Party boats and seaplane service must be accessible to the entire disability community.
And I give you applause over there, Councilwoman, for various, I'm sorry if I'm misstating your name.
Thank you for asking that question of the,
Economic Development Corporation.
I really, really do appreciate that from my
Today I'm going to focus on the New York City Ferry.
The disability community must be consulted before decisions are made and not after problems arise.
We are the experts on our own access needs, yet too often we are treated as an afterthought.
Wheelchair users need four-point securement to travel safely.
New York City Ferry must provide and maintain this equipment, keep wheelchair spaces clear, and train staff to assist passengers.
Local Law 68 requires four-point securement and inadequate restraints put lives at risk, not only our lives, but other passengers.
Blind and low vision passengers need accessible ticket kiosks, functioning audio features, and clear wayfinding.
Deaf and hard of hearing passengers need visual announcements.
All passengers need safe, accessible routes to and from ferry landings.
New York City Ferry must also provide an accessible digital way to apply for disability fare discounts.
We urge New York City EDC to establish a formal ongoing consultation process with the broad cross-section of the disability community,
develop an accessibility plan with specific deadlines and accountability, and involve disabled New Yorkers in designing and evaluating these future ferry stops that you are considering today.
And to consider technology.
Equal access to transportation is a civil right, not a courtesy.
Accessibility must be built in from the beginning, not
added to the fact.
Nothing about us without us.
Thank you.
And I'll be submitting a long testimony later and the short one.
Thank you.