In the last few posts this blog has taken a look at who needs to be involved in the “launch” phase of “self-driving” cars. The topics of fear and safety, research, and human factors have been reviewed. These subjects will no doubt be visited again. However, today’s topic gets visited all the time and yet needs to be the capstone of the mini-series this blog has recently canvased.
Where are we really in the autonomous universe….the beginning, but not at the beginning of the beginning. We are nearing the end of the beginning and it is evident that NO REAL ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE BY AUTOMAKERS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR LIFE CHANGING TRANSPORTATION PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES. That’s right. No serious attempt is really being made to include either people with disabilities or senior citizens in the process. The truth of the matter is that people with disabilities have not stepped up up either. As state afteer state passes laws and regulations there have not been demands that department of transportation committees include persons with disabilities and there has not been any mandate that state independent living or rehabilitation councils or commissions include public or private transportation entities. We are at a point where all these structural changes would be not only possible but very wise and NOTHING is being done of any real importance in any sort of systematic way. Why? Well car maers have not decided how and when they are going to work on this (or if). People with disabilities and their organizations have focused on the broken paratransit funding systems for so long they haven’t widened their scope to include the whole new world.
The same goes for the world of services to seniors ad the chronically ill.
Oh the Association of Auto Manufacturers isholding three workshops/seminars in Washington DC this summer. Has anyone seen a Toyota commercial mentioning this? Oh maybe you’ve seen a Tesla commercial talking about these sessions? Have we even seen an AARP commercial about it? I have not….. In the 24 hour newschannels that have guess what 24 hours a day of news to fill…..not a word.
Now how are people struggling to get to the local strip mall or their doctor going to afford and get to go to Washington DC? (perhaps other than Disneyworld the most expensive tourist attraction in the Northern hemisphere?” Well Local car dealers could hold forums reqquired by state lawmakers and info could be gathered there. Even having mandated meetings in each capital paid for by the car makers and the state would show that inclusion is a serious matter….but I am not hearing any such rumors or seeing any such movements.
People will claim thatthe day of these vehicles is still a long ways off…..but you see that’s only part way true. The final products are being designed and produced now. The molds are being formed and soon they will be cfixed in place. Quite frankly theinclusion has been solidified and is nearing a critical time when it will become an afterthought just like it has been since horse and buggy days. Oh well...what’s another century or so of inequality when it comes to mobility?
In summary…..we have studied the cost of not having adequate transportation and it is incredibly high. Up to 2 million more people with disabilities could be working right now if they had adequate transportation let alone the advanced features that could increase that number even further. The estimated cost of missed healthcare appointments and poor transportation for basic healthcare is set at about 19 BILLION dollars annually. Do we want another generation of Discriminatory Us transportation.
People with disabilities are going to have to start screaming for aspot at the table and politicians and administrators who claim to be working for equality are going to have mandate participation by car makers and transit providers. Not after the products are already put together and then need modifications...but now. The opportunity is at least as large as Henry Ford’s reevolutionary assembly line concept and yet there are almost not any whispers.
Oh at the very least vocational rehabilitation counselors should start begging their local community colleges to start incluive training programs on the repair and maintenance of this new type of technology.. Because people will find new and inventive ways to breakthings...because it one of mankinds most valuable habits.
I rarely beg readers to do anything with the opinions I place before them except to think about it. In this case however, if you have read this far--forward to the best advocate you know…..forward it to anyone who works in disability services anywhere...forward it to anyone in the senior services world and yes ask your local car dealers why they are taking so little interest in having cars that work for everyone.
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