Airport Responds To Advocate Concerns
ROMULUS, MICHIGAN--Disability rights advocates have dropped threats to sue Detroit Metropolitan Airport because the facility has responded to their concerns that accessibility problems amounted to civil rights violations under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
According to a brief story in The Detroit News, advocates were angered in June when they learned of the airport's new policy banning taxi and limousine drivers from picking up passengers at baggage claim areas of two terminals.
The advocates reportedly said the policy would create dangers for travelers with disabilities, and called for airport management to launch an investigation into how the facility complies with the ADA.
Since then, the airport has agreed to pay for an independent accessibility audit, appoint two employees to respond to complaints, and consider a volunteer board to examine airport policies.
The airport also added to its website a link to information for travelers with disabilities.
"This is a really great blueprint that is going to bring Metro Airport up to the same standard that other airports are functioning at," said attorney Richard Bernstein, who is blind and spearheaded the advocacy group.
Related:
Traveler with Special Needs (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
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