Transportation Accessibility and Traumatic Brain Injuries

Development of Accessible Public Transportation

  • 1964: Greyhound equipped a coach bus with a wheelchair lift for students at the University of Illinois.
  • 1970s: Lift-equipped buses became available commercially due to advocacy and legislation.
  • Kneeling Buses: These buses replaced wheelchair lifts in public transit systems, making boarding easier.
  • Federal Laws and Resistance:
    • The Urban Mass Transportation Assistance Act (1970) mandated all buses to have wheelchair lifts, but implementation delayed until 1990 due to industry lobbying.
    • The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ensured access to federally funded services, including public transportation; regulatory implementation occurred in 1977.
    • Ongoing advocacy was necessary to ensure compliance throughout the 1980s.
    • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990) expanded requirements for accessible transportation to all public service providers.
  • Air Transportation Challenges:
    • The Air Carrier Access Act (1986) ensured airlines couldn’t deny ticket sales to persons with disabilities or charge extra fees.
    • Airlines often still don’t permit wheelchair users to fly with their personal wheelchairs.
  • Intercity Coaches:
    • Many intercity coaches remained inaccessible until 1990s amendments to the ADA, which mandated 100% accessibility by 2012.
  • Systematic Challenges:
    • Many disabled individuals still face transport accessibility challenges, including limited public transit in rural areas, often requiring days' notice for bus services.
    • Barriers include malfunctioning equipment, unsupportive staff, and a lack of advocacy within transit boards.
  • Significance: The dynamics of transportation access have played foundational roles in shaping experiences in disabled communities, linking transportation to citizenship and social inclusion.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

  • Definitions & Impact:
    • TBIs are caused by blows, jolts, or penetrating injuries to the head disrupting brain function, affecting physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes.
  • Historical Context:
    • The recognition of TBI as a distinct category began in the mid-20th century, with advancements in medical imaging aiding in awareness and diagnoses.
    • Notable cases include Phineas Gage (1848), whose personality change linked brain function and behavior and Paul Broca's discovery in 1861 regarding speech centers in the brain.
  • Military Connections:
    • Wars have significantly impacted TBI, with incidents during World War I and Vietnam showing high rates of head injuries.
    • Modern combat, despite better protective gear, sees rising rates of TBI (22% in recent conflicts).
    • Public awareness of TBI, particularly after conflicts in Iraq, has grown significantly.
  • Cultural Representation:
    • TBIs are often misrepresented in media, with comedic portrayals disconnecting from reality's complexities.
    • Documentaries like "When Billy Broke His Head" offer authentic insights into the effects of TBIs.
  • Advocacy and Support:
    • The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), founded in 1980, advocates for TBI survivors and supports research and funding through legislation like the TBI Act (1996).

TTY (Teletypewriter)

  • Definition: TTY is an electro-mechanical device allowing users to communicate over telephone lines via typed messages, crucial for the deaf community.
  • Historical Development:
    • Developed in 1914 for news distribution, TTY technology evolved in the 1960s to assist with communications for the deaf, pioneered by successful deaf physicist Robert H. Weitbrecht.
  • Significance: TTYs represented significant progress in expanding access to communication for individuals with disabilities, becoming vital tools for the deaf community in advocating for rights.