38 msfocusmagazine.org Paratransit: A Road to Independence By Camille Wallace, Esq. Life with MS Individuals with disabilities had their civil rights protected when the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in 1990. Because of this law, individualswith disabilities could no longer be subjected to discrimination related to employment, education, telecom- munications, places and facilities open to the public, and transportation. Under the ADA, an individual with a disability must have access to accessible transportation (fixed-route bus or rail system) in which the individual can get to a bus stop, board a bus, get off the bus, and travel to and from their destination independently. For those individuals with disability who cannot utilize accessible transportation independently, the ADA requires paratransit services be available. The ADA paratransit service system is for individuals who have a physical, cognitive, emotional, visual, or another disability which functionally prevents them from using the fixed-route bus system temporarily or permanently. Specifically, the individual must meet one of the following three disability criteria to qualify for the paratransit service: Category1 – an individual who has a physical, mental, or emotional disability that requires assistance from another individual, who is not the bus driver, in order to get on, get off, and ride an accessible bus some or all the time. Category 2 – an individual who can use an accessible bus independently, but no bus or vehicle is available on their route some or all the time. Category 3 – an individual who has a specific disability condition that prevents them from getting to and from a stop within their service area some or all of the time. Generally, the local community and transportation authority determine the application process for paratransit eligibility. Some areas have stringent requirements while others are less strict. Applicants may have to submit an application and provide supporting documentation, or undergo an interview or evaluation, or a combination of all or some of these processes. Whether an individual only submits a simple application, orundergoes a lengthierapplication procedure, the entire process is considered the ADA Eligibility Certification.