Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guidelines for UNOLS Vessels

The ADA Guidlines for UNOLS Vessels were adopted by the UNOLS Council on February 7, 2008: <ADAGuidelines_for_UNOLS_Vessels_Final_Feb08.pdf>

UNOLS thanks the ADA Subcommittee chaired by Terry Whitledge for their efforts in drafting this document.

Index

Project Documents

Reference Material

Meetings and Activities Listing

Project Background

Task Statement

Committee Membership

Project Documents (Documents drafted by the Committee)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guidelines for UNOLS Vessels - Final <ADAGuidelines_for_UNOLS_RVs_Final_Feb08.pdf>	2/28/08
Preliminary ADA Guidelines for Regional Class Vessels - as submitted to NSF for distribution to ship design teams: - <PrelimRegional Guidelines_070606.pdf>	7/12/06
Reference Material
The US Access Board under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) published a notice of availability (http://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/noa-revised.htm ) in the Federal Register. This notice informed the public that a 2nd draft of the Passenger Vessel Accessibility Guidelines (PVAG), dated July 7, 2006, and related discussion material was being made available for public comment. The 2nd draft is available at <http://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/revised-draft.htm>. Draft ADA White Paper drafted by Terry Whitledge <ADA_WhitePaper_draft.pdf> ADA requirements for passenger vessels: <http://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/guidelines.htm>. Ferry Transit Disabled Access: New York - New Jersey Harbor Private Ferries - A case study by David Chapman <Ferry_Vessel_Disabled_Access_Chapman_TRB_Jan04.pdf>	7/13/06 2/15/06 2/15/06 2/15/06

Meetings/Activities:

Meetings/Activities	Update
Workshop - ADA Guidelines for Research Vessels - September 18-19, 2006, Woods Hole, MA The Meeting Minutes: <200609adami.pdf> ADA Workshop Agenda Attendance List Project Background (Terry Whitledge) ADA Considerations and ARRV Design Features (Terry Whitledge) Ferry Vessel ADA Toilet Room Sketch (Dave Chapman) Workshop Discussion - Suggestions for ADA Modifications for Safety, Living Areas, Work Areas Message from Mike Prince regarding John Martin Revised draft ADA Guidelines with Comments from Workshop	4/9/07 9/26/06
ADA Guidelines Committee Phone/Web Meeting - June 7, 2006, 3:30 pm EST June 7, 2006 Meeting Agenda (pdf) June 7, 2006 Meeting Summary Report (pdf)	6/7/06 6/14/06
ADA Guidelines Committee Phone/Web Meeting - February 10, 2006 Feb 10, 2006 Meeting agenda (pdf) Feb 10, 2006 Meeting PowerPoint Slides (pdf) Feb 10, 2006 Meeting Summary Report (pdf)	2/27/06

Background:

Task statement: This is the original task statement for the Committee.

Draft Preliminary ADA Guidelines for the Regional Class Acquisition effort. The following documents and activities should be evaluated in this effort:

The ADA paper drafted by Terry Whitledge.

Guidelines on how to implement ADA requirements for passenger vessels <http://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/guidelines.htmhttp://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/guidelines.htm>.

Modifications implemented or included in the designs for the Alaska Region Research Vessel, Marcus Langseth, and Hugh R. Sharp

Convene a 2-day Community Workshop to define shipboard and procedural guidelines required to accommodate sea-going scientists with disabilities.

Submit a proposal to NSF for support of the workshop

Convene speakers or a panel with expertise in the area (suggestions):

U.S. Coast Guard representative

US Access Board representative

Sea-going Scientist with disability

Broadly announce the workshop and ensure that participation will include the science community, sea-going scientists with disabilities, Naval architects, ship master, marine superintendents, agency representation, and a risk manager.

Consider the usefulness of a pre (or post) meeting survey.

Establish General ADA Guidelines for new ship construction/conversion.

Define the UNOLS philosophy for accommodating persons with disabilities at sea.

Evaluate the ADA paper drafted by Terry Whitledge.

Evaluate guidelines on how to implement ADA requirements for passenger vessels <http://www.access-board.gov/pvaac/guidelines.htm>.

Evaluate findings from David Chapman’s research project.

ADA guidelines for UNOLS Vessels should take into consideration the various vessel sizes, as well as the nature of the disability (hearing, vision, and mobility). Levels of compliance should be recommended.

Estimated costs associated with the various design modifications necessary to accommodate ADA requirements should be evaluated and defined.

Draft procedural guidelines for at-sea research operations by seagoing scientists with disabilities. The guidelines should consider:

Shipboard mobility and access areas

Evacuation / safety procedures

FIC Member - Terry Whitledge (UAF) – Chair

Risk Manager - Dennis Nixon (URI)

Safety Committee Representative – Matt Hawkins (UDel)

Seagoing scientist with disability – Amy Bower (WHOI)

Ship Master – Eric Buck (SIO)

Marine Superintendent – Al Suchy (WHOI)

Langseth Conversion Rep – Jim Cochran (LDEO)

RVTEC Rep – Joe Ustach (Duke)

David Chapman (UDel)

Corresponding Member – David Glover (WHOI)

RADM Richard Behn, NOAA