WHEREAS, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) provides fixed route and paratransit services to the Washington, DC area; and
WHEREAS, people with disabilities, many of whom are unable to drive, use public transportation, both fixed route and paratransit, more than other segments of the population; and
WHEREAS, the WMATA board sets policy about transit accessibility; and
WHEREAS, none of the WMATA board members or senior staff members have disabilities as defined by the Department of Transportation; now therefore,
WHEREAS, according to the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services, “our shared vision is that Maryland is the best place in our nation for persons with disabilities to live, work and raise a family; to provide leadership and support in promoting employment, economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities in Maryland"; and to ensure that “individuals with disabilities are welcome, fully included, and participate actively in all Maryland communities”, but this shared vision is hardly a reality; and
WHEREAS, much of the blind community in Maryland that cannot use fixed-route public transit services relies heavily on the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Mobility service to integrate into the community, commute to school and jobs, attend medical appointments, purchase food and other necessities, and attend religious services and other social gatherings; and
WHEREAS, in the Spring of 2019, the MTA Mobility Program experienced programmatic changes that were catastrophic to its users, resulting in missed medical appointments, dialysis, and medications; and
WHEREAS, access to the full curriculum is vital for participation in in-person and virtual education settings for all students; and
WHEREAS, Accessibility barriers impede full access to the educational environment for blind and low vision students and for others with print disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Both Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) require schools to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities; and