What's New @ Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods (CAN)?
New Listings on CAN Successes Page
Access Transit External Stakeholder Updates
New Word of Mouth Listing: Registered Disability Savings Plan Website
Air Canada’s Amendments to Its Policies Regarding Passengers with Disabilities
New HandyDART Information from Linda McGowan, Consumer Advocacy Manager
New HandyDART Centralized Phone Number (604) 575-6600
New Way to Submit Suggestions, Commendations or Complaints to TransLink
New Listings on CAN Successes Page
Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods was hard at work in 2009. We have recently updated our Success Page with twenty new successes. We at CAN are very excited by the increased interest in our organization and in our services. We are proud to serve the Metro Vancouver area and to offer our skills on behalf of those who contact us. If you have any questions, comments, or projects, for those of us at CAN please feel free to contact us at (604) 437 7331 or by e-mail at info@canbc.org
Access Transit External Stakeholder Updates
The Access Transit Secretariat sends Citizens for Accessible Neighbourhoods a copy of the Access Transit External Stakeholder Updates and we have been passing them on to members who have expressed interest in receiving them. From now on we will be linking these updates to our website for easier access.
To view/download 2010 May's copy click here
To view/download 2010 April's copy click here
To view/download 2010 March's copy click here
To view/download 2010 February's copy click here
To view/download 2010 January's copy click here
To view/download 2009 December's copy click here
To view/download 2009 November's copy click here
To view/download 2009 October's copy click here
To view/download 2009 September's copy click here
To view/download 2009 August's copy click here
To view/download 2009 July's copy click here
To view/download 2009 June's copy click here
To view/download 2009 May's copy click here
To view/download 2009 April's copy click here
New Word of Mouth Listing: Registered Disability Savings Plan Website
The Registered Disability Savings Plan is a savings plan designed specifically for people with disabilities in Canada. The first of its kind in the world, this new tax-deferred savings vehicle will assist families in planning for the long - term financial security of their relatives with disabilities.
Find out everything you need to know about the new Registered Disability Savings Plan at http://www.rdsp.com
Find out how to qualify and set up a Registered Disability Savings Plan.
Find out where to get a Registered Disability Savings Plan and how it affects your Federal and Provincial Disability Benefits.
Air Canada’s Amendments to Its Policies Regarding Passengers with Disabilities
Air Canada
Dear Madam/Sir,
Susan Welscheid susan.welscheid@aircanada.ca
Vice president, Customer Service - In-Flight Call Centres and Customer
Relations Centre
Air Canada 1290 C.P. 14000,
Succursale Aéroport Dorval QC
H4Y 1H4
January 8, 2009In accordance with the Canadian Transportation Agency's ruling dated January 10, 2008, Air Canada is pleased to communicate the amendments to its policies with regard to passengers with disabilities.
Beginning January 9, 2009, eligible customers with disabilities booking flights for domestic itineraries will qualify for extra seating for themselves or an attendant at no additional charge. This service will be offered for flights on all Air Canada, Jazz and Tier 3 airlines that fly on Air Canada's behalf, although you should be aware the configuration of certain smaller aircraft may not allow this in all cases.
For flights to and from the United States, Air Canada will continue to offer a 50 per cent discount off certain fares for an extra comfort seat or for attendant travel.
People with disabilities, including by reason of obesity, are advised to make the airline aware of their special needs at the time of booking. Generally, Air Canada will require 48 hours' notice in advance of travel but in some situations may require 72 hours. In cases where the airline receives less notice, Air Canada will make all reasonable efforts to fulfill the request. Taxes, fees and charges will not apply to the free extra seats used by the disabled person. However, for the attendant, fees and charges imposed by the Government and by the Airport authorities (with the exception of Gander Airport, Nfld.) Will have to be charged. No advance seat selection is permitted when requesting extra seating.
In order to be eligible for extra seating at no charge, passengers will be required to submit a doctor's certificate of the individual's disability. Passengers will also require medical approval demonstrating fitness to travel. For passengers requesting extra seating for reasons limited to obesity, the airline will retain the information on file and the authorization for extra seating will remain in effect for two years in order to facilitate future travel.
Eligible customers requiring additional space for their own use will be assigned a single reservation and ticket. Their seats will be assigned in advance of their flight by the Air Canada medic al Services desk so that their disabilities can be best accommodated. Additionally, such passengers should be aware that extra seating is not available on Beech aircraft and in Executive Class, and may be restricted on CRJ regional jet and Embraer aircraft.
For passengers requiring an attendant, Air Canada will also require the disabled passenger to obtain a medical certificate and medical approval to travel. Customers who are non-ambulatory and non-self reliant and those who have vision, hearing or cognitive impairments that make them unable to receive safety related messages at critical stages of flight must be accompanied by an attendant. In eligible cases, one free seat will be provided for an attendant.
For ease of reference, we attach a copy of our web pages and revised form.
For more information about this new service and the broad range of other services Air Canada offers people with disabilities, customers should go to www.aircanada.com and then look under "Information and Services", where they will find a section on "Customers with Special Needs" under the "Travel Information" heading. Also, customers can contact Air Canada Reservations or their travel agent.
Thank you for choosing Air Canada.
Signed by Susan Welscheid
New HandyDART Information from Linda McGowan, Consumer Advocacy Manager
- In the near future there will be increased trip availability as a result of expansion of the HandyDART vehicle fleet and the consolidation of service delivery
- Continue to use the same HandyDART telephone numbers that you have been using to book rides
- Rides can be booked on weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays
- A ride can be booked 1-7 days in advance (until 12:00 noon if the next day is requested); it is still best to give as much notice as possible
- When requesting a ride, have the address and telephone number of your destination ready to share with the call taker
- There is a 15 minute window so the driver may arrive 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after your requested time
- HandyDART drivers will not sell FareSaver tickets. Tickets can be obtained from Fare Dealer vendors (London Drugs, Safeway, Save on Foods, 7-11, Mac’s convenience stores)
- Taxi Saver coupon books are only available by mail beginning February 1, 2009. Order forms can be obtained by calling 604 453-4634
- HandyDART applications can be obtained from the website www.translink.bc.ca – Transit Services – Accessibility or by telephoning 604 453-4634. Information about how to acquire a HandyPass and an order form for Taxi Savers will be included in the application package
If you have questions about the above information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Linda McGowan
Consumer Advocacy Manager
MVT Canadian Bus, Inc.
linda.mcgowan@mvtcanada.com
778 772-4431
New HandyDART Centralized Phone Number (604) 575-6600
The HandyDART program is excited to announce the move from eight regional HandyDART phone numbers to one centralized number. The new number - (604) 575-6600 - came into effect on February 26th, 2009.
Phone menu options include:
1. Trip bookings
2. Cancellations
3. Status on trip bookings
4. Registration
5. Administration
Calls made to previous HandyDART numbers will be automatically transferred to a voice message machine listing the new number.
The facility for the new centralized call centre will be located in Surrey and will formally open in late March.
New Way to Submit Suggestions, Commendations or Complaints to TransLink
Previously TransLink's Customer Relations took suggestions, commendations, and complaints by phone or e-mail. They have now switched to a feedback form on their website. If you have any issues please contact TransLink through this feedback form as we can only work to fix the issues if TransLink is aware of them.
Information provided in the feedback form is confidential. A customer service representative will review all submissions. You may be contacted if more information is required.
We have spoken with several CAN members who have filed complaints with this new model and most were impressed as they were followed up with further questions from TransLink as well as information regarding what would happen regarding the situation.
