Access Tourism NZ TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS, AND AGEING BOOMERS IN NEW ZEALAND AND WORLDWIDE

USA Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood of the Department of Transportation announced the first federal rule to specifically provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protections on cruise ships. The action comes as the 20th anniversary of the ADA approaches on July 26. “This administration is committed to protecting the rights of passengers with disabilities in all modes of transportation,” LaHood said in a press release. “This rule will ensure fair treatment for people with disabilities who travel by ship or boat.”  The rule applies to two categories of vessels: vessels operated by public entities, such as public ferry systems, and vessels operated by private entities primarily engaged in the business of transporting people, such as cruise ships. The rule will ensure that vessel operators’ policies do not discriminate against passengers with disabilities, LaHood said. Under the rule, vessel operators cannot charge extra for accessibility-related services to passengers, cannot require passengers to furnish their own attendants, and cannot deny access to passengers based on disability. Vessel operators will have to provide information to passengers about the accessibility of their facilities and services and make a knowledgeable person available to resolve accessibility concerns.  The rule does not establish standards for building new vessels or altering existing vessels. Those standards will be developed by an independent agency, the Access Board, and eventually be adopted in future rulemaking.  It also does not apply to other private vessels that transport passengers while providing another key service, like charter fishing boats or dinner cruises. However, a Department of Justice rule will cover that group of operators.