Department of Transportation Disability Law Guidance: Questions and Answers Concerning Wheelchairs and Bus and Rail Service

What kinds of services must transportation personnel provide?

• Because safe and nondiscriminatory transportation is the responsibility of the transportation operator, Section 37.173 of the DOT ADA regulations requires operators to train their personnel to properly assist and treat individuals with disabilities with sensitivity, and to operate vehicles and equipment safely. This includes training personnel to use the accessibility equipment and to accommodate the different types of wheelchairs.

• Attendant-type services (e.g., manually lifting or transferring passengers to seats and carrying personal baggage or suitcases (except where provided to nondisabled passengers)) are not required. However, assistance with boarding and disembarking, including pushing a manual wheelchair up a particularly steep ramp, is required.