National Center for Accessible Transportation Survey of Air Travel Needs and Experiences for People With Disabilities Virginia M. Lesser Director, Survey Research Center Associate Professor, Statistics Dept. Oregon State University Lydia Newton Survey Research Center

National Center for Accessible Transportation The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Accessible Public Transportation is funded under grant H133E from the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) in the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The content of this presentation does not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Outline Objectives Objectives Survey Population Survey Population Survey Approaches Survey Approaches Questionnaire Content Questionnaire Content Preliminary Results Preliminary Results

National Center for Accessible Transportation Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Accessible Public Transportation Mission: Research and development towards improving the access of people with disabilities to intercity public transportation. Two areas of research: –Biomechanics of wheelchair transfers in confined spaces. –Surveys: airport managers, and travelers with disabilities

National Center for Accessible Transportation PROJECTS RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT Biomechanics of Transfers Surveys Boarding Technologies Accessible Lavatories Passenger Assistance Training Real-Time Communications

National Center for Accessible Transportation Objectives of Survey Investigate experiences and needs of travelers and non-travelers with disabilities. Primary focus on air travel. Investigate experiences and needs of travelers and non-travelers with disabilities. Primary focus on air travel. –Travel by air: assess experiences in air travel. –Did not travel by air: determine reasons for not traveling by air.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Survey Population Desire to draw conclusions to individuals with a disability residing in the US. Desire to draw conclusions to individuals with a disability residing in the US. Two survey approaches: Two survey approaches: –Individuals who are members of disability organizations. –Random probability sample of households.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Survey Approach 1: Sample Members of Disability Organizations Advantages: Advantages: –“Easy” approach to obtain contact information for individual. –Less expensive to develop list. Disadvantage: Disadvantage: –Conclusions can be made only to members of the surveyed disability organizations.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Survey Approach 2: Random Sample of U.S. Households Advantages: Advantages: –Conclusions can be drawn to all individuals with a disability in the US. –No need to obtain a list of members from disability organizations. Disadvantage: Disadvantage: –Expensive.

National Center for Accessible Transportation NCAT Study: Both Approaches Used Disability Organizations: Disability Organizations: –Contact list of disability organizations. –Draw random sample of members. Probability Sample: Probability Sample: –Sample of 25,000 telephone numbers.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Survey of Individuals With a Disability Survey Members of a Disability Organization Using Mail Probability Sample of Households Using Random Telephone Selection Contact Disability Organizations to Participate in Study Identifies Interested Individuals With a Disability and Traveled By Air in the Last Five Years Complete Screener Questionnaire

National Center for Accessible Transportation Screener Questionnaire Content Primary Purpose: identify person and type of disability. Interacted with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics drawing questions from: –National Health Interview Survey –Survey of Income and Program Participation. –World Health Organization Disability Assessment Survey. –National Organization on Disability (Harris poll) –Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Quality of Life Module. –Census 2000.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Screener Questions Q1. Have you had any condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting, or carrying in the last 5 years? (Circle one number) YES NO DON’T KNOW Q2. Have you had a vision problem in the last 5 years that prevents or prevented you from reading a newspaper even when wearing glasses or contacts? (Circle one number) YES NO DON’T KNOW Q3. Have you had a hearing problem that prevents or prevented you from hearing what is said in normal conversation even with a hearing aid in the last 5 years? (Circle one number) YES NO DON’T KNOW

National Center for Accessible Transportation Screener Questions Q4. Have you had any mental or emotional disability that requires or required help from some other individual when traveling in the last 5 years? (Circle one number) YES NO DON’T KNOW Q5. Because of a physical, sensory or cognitive condition lasting 3 months or longer, have you had any difficulty in the last 5 years doing any of the following: Q5A. Learning, remembering or concentrating? YES NO DON’T KNOW Q5B. Participating fully in school, work, housework, or other daily activities? YES NO DON’T KNOW Q6. Have you had any other condition in the last 5 years that was not mentioned above? (After circling one number, follow arrow to next question) DON’T KNOWSKIP TO Q7 NOSKIP TO Q7 YES Q6A. If yes, please describe here.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Screener Questionnaire Content Questions for all individuals contacted: Questions for all individuals contacted: –Identify type of disability. –If traveled, assess general experience of air travel. –List reasons if not traveled by air. –Assess use and experiences for other forms of public transportation.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Results Results of initial contact to disability organizations. Results of initial contact to disability organizations. Results of individuals contacted for both: Results of individuals contacted for both: –Disability organizations. –Probability sample.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Disability Membership Approach

National Center for Accessible Transportation Contacting Members of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

National Center for Accessible Transportation Probability Sample Approach June Update

National Center for Accessible Transportation Second Contact to Individuals Contact eligible individuals who agree to receive a second questionnaire on transportation topics. Contact eligible individuals who agree to receive a second questionnaire on transportation topics. Multiple methods used: telephone, mail, web. Multiple methods used: telephone, mail, web. Multiple contacts to increase response rates. Multiple contacts to increase response rates.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Transportation Questionnaire Format General Sections 1. General air travel experiences. Departure and arrival experiences. Departure and arrival experiences. –Materials requested and received. –List of devices used. –Assess use of airport facilities. –Rate importance of personnel.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Example of General Questions Thinking about the last airport you departed from (where you started your outbound trip) how easy or difficult was it for you to use each of the following areas or services? (Circle one number for each) SOME-SOME- VERY WHATWHAT VERYDID EASYEASYDIFFICULTDIFFICULTNOT USE Check-in station12340 Dining areas12340 Washrooms/lavatories12340 Help/Information Desk12340 Shops12340 Local travel information (for (Bus, taxi, train, shuttle, etc)12340 Departure/arrival info, PA system, Visual paging12340 Passenger loading/unloading zones’ signage12340

National Center for Accessible Transportation Transportation Questionnaire Format General Sections 2. Hearing and Speech Impairments. –Alternative formats needed in airport. –Equipment availability for communication. –Rate most frustrating communication issue.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Transportation Questionnaire Format General Sections 3. Vision Impairments. –Availability of alternative formats for communication from check-in to boarding. –Detail of transfer from check-in to boarding gate. –Need for on-board briefing in alternative format.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Transportation Questionnaire Format General Sections 4. Mobility Impairments. –Assistance requested and received. –Training of personnel in boarding/transfer. –Assess features of boarding/aisle chair. –Assess boarding methods when using a boarding/aisle chair. –Assess transfer to passenger seat. –Evaluate onboard lavatory experience.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Example of Mobility Questions Q4.7 How satisfied were you with the following features of the boarding/aisle chair? How satisfied? SOME-NOTCAN’T VERYWHATAT ALLREMEMBER Stability123 4 Comfort123 4 Body support123 4 Length of chair123 4 Maneuverability within the aircraft123 4 Cleanliness of chair1234 Other (Specify______________________)

National Center for Accessible Transportation Transportation Questionnaire Format General Sections 5. Cognitive Impairments. –Impairment relayed to airport personnel. –Clarity of airport/boarding procedures. –Availability of personal or special instructions from flight attendant. 6. Final Comments.

National Center for Accessible Transportation Results to Transportation Questionnaire Random probability sample. Random probability sample. –Possibly 100 completed interviews. Disability membership list. Disability membership list. –Possibly 1000 completed interviews.

National Center for Accessible Transportation CONTACT US National Center for Accessible Transportation 220 Owen Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, Tel: