Astaclatla n tarAlrlla t Passangs rRight s (MPR ) P O Bo x1527 5 Washlaitaa , D

C 2000 3 

# ••K m visi t a s o a th s wab : .flffriaadlysklos.eoB i 1 :U; - 

### "ir r

### I ? o ! ' • Associatio nfo r Airlin ePassenge r

Right s

Decembe r7 , 2011 Docke t Managemen t Facilit y U.S
. Departmen t o fTransportatio n 120 0 Ne wJerse yAve. , SE
. Roo m W12-14 0 Washington , D C 20590-000 1 RE : Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo f We b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026] T o Who m I t MayConcern , I a m writin g t o yo u o n behal fo fth e Associatio n fo rAirlin e Passenge rRight s (AAPR ) i n respons e t o th e U.S
. Departmen t o fTransportation' s (DOT ) Notic e o fPropose d Rulemakin g (NPRM ) an d Supplementa l Notic e o fPropose d Rulemakin g (SNPRM ) o n "Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airports. " [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026] , RI N No . 2105-AD96] . AAP R commend s DO Tfo rrecognizin g th e importanc e o fmakin g ai rtrave l mor e accessibl e fo rtraveler s wit h disabilitie s unde rth e Ai rCarrie rAcces s Ac t (ACAA)
. ACA Astate s tha t individual s wit h disabilitie s wil l hav e acces s t o al l services , good s an d informatio n tha t the yprovid e t o an yothe rpassenge ra s part o fthei rnorma l operatin g practice s an d forbid s ai rcarrier s fro m treatin g traveler s wit h disabilitie s an ydifferentl ytha n othe rpassenger s excep t i n makin g th e necessaryaccommodations . I t applie s t o al l facet s o fai rtravel , includin g airport accessibility , aircraf t accessibility , wheelchai rissues , servic e requirements , accommodation s fo rth e dea fan d har d o fhearing , attendants an d servic e animals . ACA Ai s importan t becaus e i t ensure s tha t ai rtrave l i s mor e accessibl e fo rtraveler s wit h disabilities . Bu t i t als o serve s a s a reminde rt o th e entir e aviatio n industr ytha t consumer s wit h disabilitie s lookin g t o fl yshar e a commo n denominato rwit h thei rnon-disable d flyers : TH E POWE R O F TH E ALMIGHT YDOLLAR
. Ther e ar e 5 4 millio n American s livin g wit h a disability , furthe rdemonstratin g th e potentia l buyin g powe ro fthi s growin g segmen t o fth e U.S
. population . A s such , the yrepresen t th e 3r d larges t marke t i n th e natio n accordin g t o th e U.S
. Departmen t o fLabor' s Offic e o fDisabilit yEmploymen t Policy(ODEP)
. I n fact , ODE R reporte d tha t individual s wit h disabilitie s an d thei r^milie s contro l ove r$ 1 trillio n i n buyin g powe rannually , includin g ove r$175 billio n i n discretionary spending. ^ ACA Aha s le d th e wa yfo raccessibl e travel . Th e airlin e industry , however , stil l ha s a lon g wa yt o g o t o ensur e tha t ai r trave l i s full yaccessibl e fo rtraveler s wit h disabilities . Numerou s high-profil e fine s levie d byDO To n th e airlin e industry onl yserve s a s a reminde rtha t ther e remain s muc h mor e wor k t o b e don e i n thi s area . Amon g the m wa s th e histori c$ 2 millio n fin e agains t Delt a Airline s i n February201 1 fo rviolatin g ACA Arules. ^

' " Apositive strateg yfo rexpandin g marke t share, ' U.S
. I}epartmen t o fLabor , Offic e o fDisabilityEmploymen t Policy , Ma y2009 . ^ "Delt a Fine d fo rViolatin g Rule s Protectin g Ai rTraveler

s wit h Disabilities, " U.S
. Departmen t o fTransportation , Februar y17,2011 . Pag e 1 o f7 | Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fOisablllt yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s at U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]

### P O Be x1527 5 Washlagtaa , D C 2000 3 It s (AAPI ) ,flffrfaadlysklss.eaB i 

# -^\AP R

Associatio nfo r

Airlin ePassenge r

Flight s
Som e i n th e trave l industrysugges t tha t th e airline s woul d b e wel l serve d t o lear n a thin g o rtw o fro m th e hote l industry , whic h ha s recognize d tha t consumer s wit h disabilitie s playa n importan t rol e i n th e marketplace . Loo k n o furthe rtha n Stanwoo d Hotels , o rWyndha m Hotel s a s perfec t example s o ftw o companie s tappin g int o thi s emergin g bas e o floya l consumers . A s th e followin g chart demonstrate s complaint s amon g traveler s wit h disabilitie s i s o n th e rise ; hal far e wheelchai rrelated . 

# Flyin g wit h Wheelchair s Amon g US Carrier s Complainl s Risin g 

## Yea r 

## r

j;,::,^I'-'f.;^;ii'V^'*-y'v%'.5v5.C,^^^\-f:J?-f" ' 

# 200 4 200 5 200 6 200 7 200 8 200 9 Tota l Numbe r

o f DUabilit y CompUiint a Receive db y Dmncsti e Ctrrlo s 

# 10,19 3 12,19 4 12,07 5 13,92 6 12,55 7 15,49 6 1 Tota l Numlte r o f DUabilit y Complai nt i Receive db y F<nvis n Carrier s 

# 1,32 6 1,39 8 1,69 1 1,36 4 1,44 9 1,57 2 r

Tota l Numbe r o f Disabilit y Complainti i RerrivedbyAI I Carrier s 

# 11,51 9 13,59 2 13,76 6 15,29 0 14,00 6 17,06 8

Chart : Do n Brandon , "Flyin g wit h Wheelchairs : Knowin g You rRight s & Responsibilitie s a t 32,000, " Northwes t AD ACenter , Decembe r 7 , 2010 .

' Davi d Koeppel . "Business Travel : Hotel s Learn t o Dea l wit h Disability " Th e Ne wYork Time s o n th e Web . 1 7 Februar y2004 . Pag e 2 o f7 | Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]Assaclatla a fa rAlrlla s Passaaga rRight s (AAPR ) P O Ba x1527 5 Washlagtaa , D

C 2000 3 

### Associationfo r AirlinePassenge

r Rights Visit a s a ath awah : wani.flyfriaadlysklas.eaB i 

# JkAPR

Rathe rtha n th e airline s adoptin g a "ris k adverse " type strateg ytoward s traveler s wit h disabilities , the yshoul d recogniz e th e valu e o fthei rconsumer s wit h disabilities . Afte rall , consumer s wit h disabilitie s hav e bee n show n i n numerou s studie s t o displa ysom e o fth e mos t loya l spendin g habit s o fan ymarket . AAPR' s believe s tha t th e propose d change s t o ensur e mor e accessibl e ai rtrave l wil l improv e ai rtrave l fo rtraveler s wit h disabilities , bu t als o AL Lai rtravelers . 

### We b SiteAccessibilitv AAP R full ysupport s DOT' S assessmen t regardin g websit e accessibility . I n today' s e-commerc e drive n marketplace, ther e i s n o questio n tha t th e airline s leverag e thei rwebsite s t o shar e informatio n abou t thei rservice s (includin g bu t limitin g t o thei rcontract s o fcarriage , passenge ro fsiz e policies , baggag e fees , etc.) , sel l tickets , reconcil e consume rcomment s an d complaints , an d advertis e specia l trave l deals . Regrettably , man yairline s ar e stil l reluctan t t o offe rfull yaccessibl e websit e becaus e no t al l informatio n an d service s availabl e t o th e publi co n thes e website s ar e accessibl e t o individual s wit h disabilities . Accessibl e website s shoul d no t b e viewe d a s a regulatoryrequiremen t - o ra cos t o fdoin g busines s fo r tha t matte r- bu t rathe ra strategi cdecisio n t o enhanc e thei rmarketabilit yan d therefor e maximiz e thei routreac h t o potentia l customers . I n th e absenc e o fth e airline s comin g t o thi s soun d busines s decision , minimu m standard s ar e necessaryt o preven t unequa l acces s t o service s tha t discriminat e agains t individual s wit h disabilities . Th e applicabilit yo fth e accessibilit ystandard s o fSectio n 50 8 o fth e Rehabilitatio n Ac t o f1973 , a s amende d (hereinafte r Sectio n 508 ) a s a mean s o fensuring tha t al l domesti can d internationa l fligh t an d othe rinformatio n o n thei rwebsite s i s accessibl e t o person s wit h visua l impainnent s shoul d no t b e discounte d during DOT' S review . Afte rall , airline s utiliz e airport s - includin g thei rterminals , runways , etc . - tha t ar e subsidize d byth e federa l government ; they'r e grante d acces s t o th e airspac e whic h i s controlle d byth e federa l government ; an d the ybenefi t fro m numerou s service s funde d byth e federa l governmen t tha t ar e designe d t o facilitat e ai rtravel . Therefore , Sectio n 50 8 requirement s ar e a fundamenta l necessit yt o ensur e tha t everytaxpaye rca n hav e equal acces s t o th e product s an d service s associate d wit h everyaspec t o fai rtrave l an d tha t shoul d includ e foreig n ai rcarrier s doin g busines s i n th e Unite d States
. Ou rhistor yi s lace d wit h example s whereb yseparat e i s NO Tequal , s o AAP R support s requirin g foreig n ai rcarrier s t o mak e accessibl e th e portio n o fthei rwebsite s displayin g informatio n relate d t o flight s servin g U.S
. airports , a s wel l a s multi-carrie rtrave l servic e website s owne d bygroup s o fcarrier s o rwit h who m carrier s hav e contractua l o ragencyrelationships . That ai rcarrier s continu e t o expressl yoppos e makin g thei rwebsite s full yaccessibl e demonstrate s thei rlac k o f understandin g abou t th e retur n o n investmen t i t represent s fo rthei rbotto m line . Th e ris k advers e approac h tha t th e airline s hav e adopte d overlook s on e o fth e larges t emergin g market s i n th e country , an d worldwide . Companie s lik e IBM , Microsoft , Googl e an d man yother s hav e a l harnesse d thei raccessibilit yt o expan d thei rrespectiv e markets , s o th e airlines ' argumen t tha t i t woul d b e "r fwoul d b e to o difficul t an d expensiv e t o accomplish ' i s no t reflectiv e o fwha t man y othe rcompanie s hav e alread yachieve d i n thi s area . I n "Th e Importanc e o fMobil e Accessibility, " Debr a Ruh , Chie fMarketin g Office rfo rSS B Bart Grou p (an d AAP R member) , applie s th e ver ysam e busines s cas e fo rth e mobil e phon e industryt o improv e it s accessibilit yfo rindividual s wit h disabilitie s a s i t relate s t o thei rwebsit e accessibilit y(an d kiosks). Th e parallel s ar e striking . Ruh' s blo g reads , i n part :
Pag e 3 o f7 | Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]Assaelatla a fa rAlrila a Passaaga rRight s (AAPR ) P O Re x1527 5 Washlagtaa , D

C 2000 3 Associatio n fo rAirlin e Passenge rRight s Visi t a s a a th a wah : www.flyfriaadlysklas.eaa i 

# ^\AP R

"I n February , CB S New s di d a n articl e statin g tha t th e numbe ro fmobil e phon e subscription s ha d reache d 4. 6 billio n an d wa s expecte d t o hi t 5 billio n byth e en d o f2011 . Toda ymobil e device s ar e bein g use d t o acces s al l kind s o fdata , includin g financia l data . I t i s estimate d tha t betwee n 50 0 millio n an d 1 billio n individual s wil l acces s financia l service s vi a mobil e technolog ybyth e yea r2015 . Eve n mor e reaso n wh y i t i s critica l tha t everyone , includin g individual s wit h disabilities , ha s acces s t o communication s an d technology . S o wha t need s t o b e don e t o assur e everyon e ca n participate ? Agoo d firs t ste p i s t o desig n th e device s followin g Universa l Desig n an d Accessibilit yStandards
. Person s wh o ar e blin d o rhav e lo wvision , ar e dea fo rhar d o fhearing , hav e mobilit yimpairments , intellectua l disabilitie s o rag e relate d disabilities , ar e al l impacte d b yinaccessibl e devices . Accordin g t o th e W3C , man yo fth e mobil e devices ' limitation s matc h a numbe ro fwell-know n disabilities : th e smal l scree n ca n easil yinduc e page s wit h verysmal l character s th e limite d viewport make s layou t an d browsin g contex t change s a s disturbin g a s fo rsomeon e wit h limite d visio n th e sometime s difficul t lightin g condition s (e.g
. fro m usin g a phon e scree n unde rth e sunlight ) ca n mak e color s an d contrast s a s difficul t t o identifya s fo ra perso n wit h colo rperceptio n problem s th e lac k o fa mous e matche s th e inabilit yo fsom e person s t o us e a mous e du e t o mobilit ydifficultie s likewise , th e verylimite d an d ofte n hard-to-us e keyboard s availabl e o n mobil e device s ar e evocativ e o f th e difficultie s som e person s wit h disabilitie s ca n hav e interactin g wit h a keyboar d th e socia l an d mobilit ycontex t o fsom e mobil e user s mak e th e us e o fsom e modalitie s (sound , video ) fo r multimedi a conten t inappropriate , matchin g th e inabilit yfo rsom e individual s t o hea rsound s o rse e image s i n a mobil e context , a use rmigh t hav e a verylimite d o rpatch yattentio n span , a s someon e wit h a cognitiv e disabilit ymigh t hav e o n mobil e network s wher e tim e an d cos t ar e ofte n limitin g factors , bein g abl e t o detemnin e wha t a n imag e i s befor e i t get s downloade d matter s —assistive technolog yhavin g suc h a descriptio n woul d hel p a blin d use r th e us e o fsom e technologie s (plug-ins , scripts ) migh t no t b e possibl e o n a numbe ro fmobil e devices , lik e the ywouldn' t b e usabl e wit h a numbe ro fassistive technologies " Everyon e need s acces s t o th e internet , communication s an d technology."' *

" Th e Importance o fMobil e Accessibility, " Debr a Ruh , SS B Bar t Group , Septembe r15,2011 . Pag e 4 o f7 | Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]Assaelatla a fa rAlrila a Passaaga rRight s (AAPR ) P O Ra x1527 5 Washlagtaa , D

C 2000 3 Associatio nfo r Airlin ePassenge r

Right s 

### .flyfriaadlysklas.eaB i 

# ^\AP R

Companie s lik e SS B Bart Group , an d others , ca n provid e DO Twit h mor e accurat e an d technica l informatio n relatin g t o th e applicability , syste m requirements , feasibility , costs , etc . Whil e th e airline s i n thei rstate d objection s t o numerou s websit e accessibilit yrequirement s cit e th e cos t associate d wit h i t {tti e Ai rTransport Associatio n an d som e individua l carrier s themselve s pu t th e actua l cos t o finitia l complianc e a s rangin g fro m $300,00 0 t o mor e tha n $1,000,00 0 pe rcarrier , wit h recurrin g cost s o f$10,00 0 t o $200,00 0 pe rcarrie rannually) , the y fai l t o cit e relevan t infonnatio n regardin g th e mone ythe ymak e of ftraveler s wit h disabilities . Accordin g t o a Harri s pol l commissione d i n 2005 byOpe n Doors Organization , 2 1 millio n adult s wit h disabilitie s travele d withi n a two-yea rperiod , spendin g mor e tha n $3. 3 billio n annually . Thes e number s hav e sinc e increased , too . Therefore , AAP R support s DOT' S SNPR M o n websit e accessibilit yappl yt o al l public-facin g conten t o n th e website s o f U.S
. earners . Foreig n carrie rwebsite s als o shoul d b e covere d onl ywit h respec t t o we b page s involve d i n marketin g (advertisin g o rselling ) covere d ai rtransportatio n t o th e genera l publi ci n th e U.S
. Likewise , AAP R strongl ysupport s DOT' S proposa l t o requir e carrier s offerin g trave l package s onlin e tha t includ e covere d ai rtransportatio n mus t ensur e tha t thei rwebsit e page s marketin g al l packag e component s (e.g. , hote l o rrenta l ca r reservations ) ar e conforman t wit h th e WCA G 2. 0 accessibilit yrequirements . Wit h respec t t o implementatio n o fsom e o fth e propose d timeline s include d i n DOT' S SNPRM , AAP R contend s tha t the y ar e to o long . AAP R woul d prefe rt o se e th e timelin e reduce d t o on e year , thereb ystrikin g a balanc e betwee n th e immediat e need s o fconsumer s wit h disabilitie s an d th e concern s state d byth e airline s relate d t o functionality , cost , etc . Full yaccessibl e website s ar e no t a luxury , bu t rathe ra necessit yo fdoin g business . The yno t onl ybenefi t traveler s wit h disabilitie s seekin g t o purchas e airfare , bu t the yals o directl yimpac t th e airlines ' revenu e strea m becaus e i t tap s int o th e 3" * larges t marke t i n th e U.S
. Automate d Airpor t Kios k Accessibilit y A s pointe d ou t byDOT , ""mos t airline s toda yar e usin g automate d kiosk s a t airport s t o perfor m custome rservic e function s suc h a s automate d fligh t check-i n an d printin g o fboardin g passes ' Therefore , APP R support s DOT' S SNPR M t o amen d sectio n 382.5 7 t o requir e U.S
. an d foreig n ai rcarrier s a t everyU.S
. airport wit h 10,00 0 o rmor e enplanement s pe ryea r wher e the yown , lease , o rcontro l automate d kiosk s providin g flight-relate d service s t o thei rcustomer s (e.g. , ticke t purchase , sea t selection , issuanc e o fboardin g passes , ba g tags , etc. ) t o ensur e tha t al l ne wkios k order s initiate d 6 0 day s afte rth e rule' s effectiv e dat e ar e fo raccessibl e units . Furthermore , AAP R encourage s DO Tt o conside rextendin g thi s requiremen t t o al l airport s usin g kiosks . Ofte n times , smal l regiona l airport s provid e bette rcustome rservic e tha n th e large rhubs , s o ther e i s n o reaso n wh ypassenger s wit h disabilitie s shoul d expec t a differen t leve l o fservic e wit h respect t o accessibilit ystandards . I n addition , AAP R contend s tha t DO Tshoul d requir e carrier s t o retrofi t o rreplac e a certai n portio n o fthei rkios k flee t t o mee t th e accessibilit ystandard s during th e interi m perio d unti l 100 % o fal l automate d airport kiosk s ar e accessible . Frankly , thes e kiosk s wer e pu t int o us e withou t k)ein g accessibl e whic h seem s t o fl yi n th e fac e o fth e legislativ e inten t o f protection s afforde d unde rACA Afo rindividual s wit h disabilities . DO Tmigh t conside rprovidin g grant s t o airline s t o offse t som e o fth e costs , bu t th e botto m lin e remain s tha t a transitio n timelin e o fte n year s i s fa rto o lon g t o fo raccessibl e kiosk s t o b e availabl e t o individual s wit h disabilities . Achievin g anythin g les s tha n 100 % accessibl e kiosk s woul d achiev e a standar d tha t i s n o differen t tha n Part 382 , whic h currentl yrequire s carrier s t o provid e equivalen t servic e t o passenger s wit h disabilitie s whe n automate d airport kiosk s ar e inaccessible, suc h servic e typicall yinvolve s assistanc e fro m carrie r Pag e 5 o f7 j Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fW^ b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]Assaelatla a fa rAlrila a Passaaga rRight s (AAPR ) P O Ra x1527 5 Washlagtaa , D

C 2000 3 Associatio n fo rAirlin e Passenge rRight s Visi t a s a a th a wah : www.flyfriaadlysklas.ea w 

# ^\AP R

personne l i n operatin g th e kios k o rpermittin g a passenge rt o mov e t o th e firs t clas s ticke t counte rline . Eithe rway , unequa l acces s t o service s i s unacceptable . Wit h tha t i n mind , AAP R agree s tha t DOT' S bes t alternativ e a s requirin g tha t al l ne wautomate d airport kiosk s ordere d afte ra certai n dat e b e accessibl e s o tha t eventuall y100 % o fkiosk s a t al l airport location s wil l b e accessible . Wit h respec t t o specifi cquestion s pu t fort h byDOT , AAP R submit s th e followin g response s regardin g Effectiv e Date , Alternatives , an d Retrofitting : Shoul d th e propose d tim e fram e fo raccessibl e kiosk s (i.e. , kiosk s ordere d 6 0 day s afte rth e effectiv e dat e o fth e rule ) b e reduce d o rincrease d assumin g th e rul e i s effectiv e 3 0 day s afte rpublicatio n i n th e Federa l Register ?

•Maintai n th e 60-dayrequirement . I s i t reasonabl e t o requir e tha t al l ne wkios k order s initiate d afte rth e effectiv e dat e o fth e ml e b e fo raccessibl e models ?

•Yes . Shoul d ther e b e a dela yi n th e effectiv e dat e o fthi s provision ? I fso , wha t i s a reasonabl e amoun t o ftim e t o dela yth e effectiv e dat e o fthi s provision ?

•No . Accessibl e kiosk s ar e o n th e marke t an d therefor e shoul d b e require d t o ensur e equal acces s t o services . Shoul d th e effectiv e dat e fo rcarrier s t o ente rint o an d implemen t agreement s wit h airport operator s concerning th e provisio n an d maintenanc e o faccessibl e shared-us e automate d airport kiosk s b e mor e tha n 6 0 day s afte rth e fina l rule' s effectiv e date ? I fso , wha t i s a reasonabl e tim e t o ente rint o suc h agreement s an d commenc e implementation ?

•Yes , bu t n o longe rtha n 12 0 days . Shoul d les s tha n 100 % o fne wautomate d airport kiosk s ordere d afte rth e effectiv e dat e o fth e rul e b e require d t o b e accessible ? I fso , wha t i s a reasonabl e percentag e t o b e accessibl e a t eac h airport location ?

•No , 100 % o fne wautomate d airport kiosk s ordere d afte rth e effectiv e dat e shoul d b e accessible . I fonl ysom e kiosk s ar e accessibl e a t eac h location , ho wwoul d carrier s ensur e tha t th e accessibl e kiosk s ar e availabl e t o passenger s wit h disabilitie s whe n needed ?

•Durin g th e "transition " period , accessibl e kiosk s shoul d b e designate d wit h appropriate placard s designatin g them a s accessible . Woul d a phasin g i n perio d ove r1 0 years , graduall yincreasin g th e percentag e o fautomate d airport kiosk s require d t o b e accessible , meaningfull yreduc e th e cost s o fimplementin g thi s requiremen t (e.g. , 25 % o fne wautomate d kiosk s mus t b e accessibl e withi n 3 year s o fth e rule' s effectiv e date , 50 % withi n 5 years , 75 % withi n 7 year s an d 100 % withi n 1 0 years) ?

•Yes , bu t AAP R believe s tha t 3 year s i s to o lon g t o achiev e th e 25 % mileston e an d tha t mileston e shoul d b e modifie d t o reflec t 1 year . Pag e 6 o f7 | Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s at U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]Assaelatla a fa rAlrila a Passsaga rRight s (AAPR ) P O Re x1527 5 Washlagtaa , D

C 2000 3 Associatio n fo rAirlin e Passenge rRight s Visi t a s e a th e weh : WBna.flyfrieadlysklas.ea w 

# ^\AP R

Wit h respect t o retrofittin g inaccessibl e kiosks , AAP R believe s tha t th e airlines ' focus—an d thu s DOT' S focus—should b e o n ensurin g al l ne wkiosk s ar e full yaccessibl e fo rindividual s wit h disabilities . AAP R woul d favo rles s stric t retrofittin g requirement s i n favo ro fmor e arden t requirement s t o phas e i n th e newer , mor e accessibl e kiosks . I n closing , AAP R encourage s DO Tt o pursu e th e mos t aggressiv e policie s possibl e wit h respec t t o ensuring tha t traveler s wit h disabilitie s ar e afforde d equa l acces s t o product s an d service s offere d b yth e airlines , an d othe rvendor s an d therefor e reiterate s it s stron g support fo rth e SNPRM
. I n 1986 , Presiden t Ronal d Reaga n signe d th e Ai rCarrie rAcces s Ac t int o law(4 9 U.S.C
. 41705) , effectivel yendin g decade s o fdiscriminatorypractice s tha t ha d kep t individual s wit h disabilitie s grounded . DO Tan d traveler s wit h disabilitie s recentl ycelebrate d th e law' s 25t h anniversary . Upo n characterin g ACA Aa s a significan t civi l right s triumph , DO TSecretaryRayLaHoo d said , "Unlik e 2 5 year s ago , whe n passenger s wit h disabilitie s frequentl ysuffere d degradin g an d discriminatorytreatmen t fro m airlines , toda yai rtraveler s ca n b e assure d o ffai ran d equa l treatmen t regardles s o f disability. " AAP R agrees ! A s ACA Aturn s 2 5 thi s year , traveler s wit h disabilitie s remai n hopefu l tha t ai rtrave l wil l continu e t o evolv e an d becom e eve n mor e accessibl e fo reveryone . Whethe rit s providin g closed-captionin g fo rin-fligh t entertainment , o rensuring tha t psychiatri cservic e dog s ar e treate d th e sam e a s physica l servic e dogs , ACA Aprovide s a n importan t foundatio n bywhic h th e U.S
. aviatio n industryca n improv e th e deliveryo fproduct s an d service s t o thi s importan t segmen t i n th e marketplac e

- an d i t i s fro m th e standpoin t o fth e marketplac e tha t AAP R i s please d t o submi t it s comment s i n support o fth e SNPR M o n behal fo fth e million s o fpassenger s wit h disabilitie s wh o fl yannually . Than k you . Sincerely , 

# MJLUL , Brando n M . Macsat a Executiv e Directo r

Pag e 7 o f7 | Departmen t o fTransportation , Nondiscriminatio n o n th e Basi s o fDisabilit yi n Ai rTravel : Accessibilit yo fWe b Site s an d Automate d Kiosk s a t U.S
. Airport s [Docke t No . DOT-OST-2011-0177-0026 ]