Rights and Responsibilities

Eliminating transportation barriers

Commuting to and from work can be a significant barrier to competitive employment for people with disabilities. Here are some things your business can do to change that:

If your business regularly provides transportation to the general workforce, you are required by law to provide transportation to people with disabilities.

An inclusive workplace is one that considers the transportation needs of everyone.

If an employee with a disability experiences difficulty getting to work due to a lack of transportation options resulting from the individual’s disability, and is not able to comply with an employer’s work schedule policies, a barrier to employment exists.

In this case, if an alteration in the work schedule policies would resolve the employee’s transportation problem, the employer may be required to modify the work schedule policies, if such an alteration falls within the definition of a “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Emergency Evacuation Requirements

The safety of all employees is a top priority, and employers must develop a comprehensive approach to the design and implementation of an emergency evacuation plan. Considering the transportation needs of employees with disabilities is a key component of the plan.

Accessible transportation from the workplace must be available to employees with disabilities in the event of an emergency evacuation.

Emergency routes must be accessible for people with disabilities. By law, employers are required to ensure, “At least one accessible route within the boundary of the site shall be provided from public transportation stops, accessible parking, and accessible passenger loading zones, and public streets or sidewalks to the accessible building entrance they serve. The accessible route shall, to the maximum extent feasible, coincide with the route for the general public.

Remember!

Refer an employee with a disability to the transportation information and options listed on our site. When you eliminate transportation barriers, you are able to more fully utilize the skills of all employees by improving the quality of the work experience.

An employee with a disability may be hesitant to request transportation accommodations. Create an open dialogue about reasonable accommodations and inform your staff of policies regarding transportation accommodations.

By developing a work environment where employees can voice concerns about accommodations, you are empowering employees and cultivating an inclusive culture in your workplace.