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July 26, 2006 Re: ADA Anniversary Launch of Taxis For All – North America Dear Friend:United Spinal Association, one of the founding groups of the New York City Taxis For All Campaign coalition, is pleased to announce the launch of Taxis For All -North America. Via www.taxisforallna.org, we will inform you about the benefits of wheelchair-accessible taxi service and we will provide advocacy tools to you which can be used to begin such service in any community.
As you know well, the lack of accessible transportation services continues to be a significant daily problem facing millions of individuals with disabilities. While the Americans with Disabilities Act transportation provisions have resulted in tremendous gains in the number of accessible buses and trains in operation, the fact remains that accessible public transportation doesn’t extend to all communities.
Gaps in available accessible transportation service continue to keep persons with disabilities out of the labor force and isolated in their communities. But change is on the way.
Since early 2006, United Spinal Association has been in contact with a company that is designing a new purpose-built, affordable sedan taxi which will meet ADA specifications. It incorporates a manually- deployed ramp that extends to the curb at the side-rear passenger door, and a wheelchair-seating location in the front passenger seating area. This vehicle can also transport four other seated passengers. A prototype of it will be unveiled at a transportation regulators conference in September and manufacturing of the vehicle is planned to start in late 2007.
United Spinal Association believes that a widely-available affordable, accessible sedan taxi can open up this mode of transportation to wheelchair users in communities of all sizes, particularly in towns where little public transportation operates. If you would like to receive regular updates from Taxis For All - North America concerning various taxi advocacy strategies and the development of this vehicle, log on to www.taxisforallna.org for further information. Thank you for your interest in accessible taxis.
Sincerely, Terence Moakley Director of Special Projects United Spinal Association
