Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Committee - MAAC

03/12/2025

Ron Brooks lost his eyesight while playing a pick-up basketball game with friends when he was 14-years old. Now, as a 30-year veteran of the public transit industry, Ron is sought-after expert for his work to make public transportation more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

In the book "All Aboard: Conducting Accessible Community Involvement for Public Transit.", Ron and Kristen, with help from contributing authors, Michelle Witman and Mary Liz McNamara, explain how different types of disabilities can impact a person's ability to participate in traditional public outreach activities. The book lays out simple steps public agencies and transit authorities can take to ensure that their in-person and virtual meetings, presentations, reports, and other documents, and even them ongoing communication strategies can be made more accessible. "Implementing an accessible community-involvement strategy does not have to be a wildly expensive or cumbersome process.

More information about the book can be found here:
https://accessibleavenue.net/all-aboard, and it is available for purchase in

JUST RELEASED! All Aboard: Conducting Accessible Community Involvement for Public Transit The public transit industry invests a lot of time and effort communicating with the public. And while it’s often required by law or as a condition of our funding, experience has taught us that effective publi...

03/12/2025

03/12/2025

We have lots of bus rapid transit stops like this in the San Francisco East Bay area. I am impressed with the advocacy shown, but disappointed that nothing has been done with respect to the problem. Should we begin to advocate against these bus stops? or should we wait until the research is complete sometime next year?

This is in Victoria, British Columbia. It shows that even with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, cyclists at a busy two-lane bike lane beside a floating bus stop just don't yield for pedestrians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJMol5KYaoE

ADB, along with Kittelson and Toole Designs is conducting research on this issue, but results are noy likely to be available until about mid 2026.

in 2023 the NFBUK went to meet the Canadian Federation of the Blind to learn more about their human rights win against floating bus stops used in City Of Vic...

03/12/2025

The Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is seeking a full time Systems Change Youth Organizer (SCYO) for the Disability Organizing Network (DOnetwork). MCIL is the current awardee of the Title VII B Systems Change Hub Grant, more commonly known as the DOnetwork. This network hub connects Independent Living Centers and their Independent Living Network partners across California for community organizing campaigns to create systems and policy changes that benefit people with disabilities.

The SCYO will work with youth connected to ILCs and partner disability organizations across the state. Please find the job description below and attached with a link to apply for this position on Indeed.com.

JOB SUMMARY:

DISABILITY ORGANIZING NETWORK (DOnetwork)
SYSTEMS CHANGE YOUTH ORGANIZER

Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) provides services and support to people living with disabilities of all ages and those aging into disability. For over 45 years, we’ve been the leading peer-led, community-based disability rights organization in Marin.

Under the direction of the MCIL Director of Public Policy and Community Engagement, acting as the DONetwork Statewide Director, the Systems Change Youth Organizer is responsible for the DOnetwork’s youth project management, including production, stakeholder engagement support, and general administration tasks to support the statewide systems change advocacy hub for youth focused community organizing, empowerment and leadership development, and policy change that benefits disabled youth.

SALARY RANGE:
$4,000.00 - $4,500.00 per month

Find more information about the job here: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=835cfe5a06122296&from=shareddesktop

Marin Center for Independent Living

11/18/2024

Boarding Muni with large strollers and wagons has been a hot issue at past MAAC meetings. SFMTA is in the process of evaluating its policies and procedures to make the guidelines more clear and improve the experience for all riders. How has your experience been riding Muni with strollers or other wheeled devices?

11/15/2024

Sound Transit is using GoodMaps to improve accessibility at their transit stations. GoodMaps provides accessible maps and audio cues to help users find their way. Come here about GoodMaps at the upcoming MAAC meeting.

The meeting information is available here: https://www.sfmta.com/calendar/multimodal-accessibility-advisory-committee-meeting-november-2024

Westlake and Chinatown-International District stations are the first Sound Transit stations to use GoodMaps app’s 3D mapping technology.

11/06/2024

ENHANCING STRATFORD TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY WITH MAGNUSCARDS

MagnusCards is a free mobile app designed to help individuals with autism or who are neurodivergent gain confidence and independence in taking the City of Stratford’s transit services.

Members of the neurodiverse community may experience anxiety or distress in taking transit services on their own.

Magnusmode has partnered with the City of Stratford in developing custom cards that provide a visual step-by-step guide on how to take the City’s transit services, along with positive reinforcement during the journey.

The customized MagnusCards cover the following topics:
• How to Buy Transit Fares on Your Mobile App
• Waiting for the Bus to Arrive
• How to Ride a Bus
• Riding a Bus with Your Mobility Device
• Riding the Bus on Weekends - Transit on Demand

We hope these MagnusCards will serve as helpful tools as we continue our commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible community for all.

For more information and to access customized MagnusCards, please visit www.magnusmode.com or download the free MagnusCards app on your IOS or Android devices.

11/04/2024

Looking at another interesting wayfinding service that could be applied to transit; Aira is an app that connects blind and low-vision users to highly trained professionals who provide visual information on demand When you call Aira using the app, a professional agent sees your surroundings through your smartphone camera. Aira can be used anywhere that extra information can save you time and enhance efficiency. Read more about how LAX is has integrated Aira.

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) demonstrated a cutting-edge, app-based technology that allows blind and low vision guests to navigate Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)...

11/04/2024

Wayfinding apps are an innovative way that transit agencies are looking to make improvements to their transit systems for people with accessibility needs. MagnusCards is a free app that combines the specialized instruction and real-world images with to enable customers with cognitive disabilities and anyone who could use extra guidance navigate everyday experiences. Read more about MagnusCards below.

Six new digital guides can make taking transit easier.

11/01/2024

SFMTA's Safety and Equity Initiative aims to create a safer environment for all Muni riders and SFMTA staff and support the agency's mission of providing excellent transit and mobility service. Read about it at SFMTA.com. We would love to hear your feedback and comments on how to best improve riders' experiences.

10/16/2024

The SFMTA is working to make our system more accessible, and we'd like to hear from you before we take next steps.

Please take a few minutes to complete our Accessible Transportation Needs Assessment Survey and share it far and wide with your networks. It's open through Dec. 13, 2024.
Survey link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7698449/Accessibility-Strategy-Identified-Needs-Survey-Screen-Reader-Accessible-Version

With your help, we can make sure our system keeps working for everyone. That includes visitors and residents, especially seniors and people with disabilities.

In the survey, we ask you to rank different needs we could address to improve accessibility. We identified them by carrying out extensive research and outreach. Focus areas span our streets, Muni service, paratransit options and more. We compiled the full list of needs in our first Accessibility Strategy Needs Assessment.
link: https://www.sfmta.com/accessibility-strategy-needs-assessment-2024

Interested in having someone share an overview of the Needs Assessment with your group? Need help understanding how to complete the survey? Want us to send you a paper copy of the survey to complete? Email us at [email protected] and we will coordinate to meet your needs.

Thank you for completing the survey and sharing this exciting news. We look forward to your input!