Today is the 21st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which in my view is just as important to veterans with disabilities as it is to the greater disability population. It also is a day when I look back on my career and forward to the opportunities before us.

For more than 15 years now, I have been part of a coalition in New York City known as the Taxis For All Campaign. There are a ton of taxis that operate in the Big Apple: a little more than 13,000 of them are the world-renowned “yellow” cabs and for the most part, they operate in midtown and lower Manhattan; and, there are also 20,000-plus “livery” cabs that operate in the other four boroughs of the city and in northern Manhattan. Today, only 231 yellow taxis are accessible to persons who use wheelchairs, and a much smaller number of livery cabs have access features. Therefore, most taxis and liveries here are not accessible to veterans with mobility disabilities either. I think the tide is about to turn in our favor.

Two weeks ago, I gave a presentation to members of the U.S. Access Board in Washington, DC about accessible taxi progress in our city. Some of what I wrote above is what they heard that day. Before and since my visit to this Board, I’m wondering, why are they interested?

Well, the Access Board develops specifications for transportation systems and vehicles covered in ADA regulations. Currently, these rules state that automobiles used as taxis do not have to be wheelchair accessible. But within the next few months, the first-ever wheelchair accessible automobile will start rolling off the assembly line in Indiana. Originally known as the Standard Taxi and now called the MV-1, this vehicle has an open seating area in the front next to the driver to accommodate a passenger who uses a wheelchair or a scooter, and a built-in ramp. In addition to being used as a taxi, the MV-1 can be purchased by anyone as a personal vehicle, and it can be used in ADA paratransit, Medicaid and VA transportation and rental car services. Perhaps the Access Board is considering a change or two to their vehicle rules.

I also told the Access Board about two accessible taxi-related legal actions ongoing in New York City. One is an ADA complaint lodged with the U.S. Department of Justice by a New York State Assembly Member who happens to have a disability. It alleges that the City of New York discriminates against persons with disabilities by choosing a vehicle that is not accessible as the winner of its “Taxi of Tomorrow” design competition. One of the three finalists was an accessible vehicle, but the city failed to include “accessibility” as one of the competition’s design criteria. The Justice Department has opened an investigation based on this complaint.

VetsFirst parent organization, United Spinal Association, is one of a number of plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan against the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission alleging discrimination based on disability because this city agency has allowed more than 1,100 Toyota Sienna minivans to be used as taxis without including access features. The current ADA transportation vehicle regulations state that when demand-response vehicles that carry less than 16 passengers are placed into service, “equivalent service” must be provided to individuals with disabilities, including persons who use wheeled mobility devices. A couple of months ago, the presiding judge denied the Commission its motion to dismiss our case, so it will move forward.

So my fellow veterans, I believe that someday soon because of the ADA, you will be able to ride in accessible taxis in communities large and small throughout our great nation. The tide is turning in our favor.

Terry Moakley
Chair of the VetsFirst Committee