Promoting Community Mobility: The Availability of Accessible Rental Cars for Drivers with Physical Disabilities
Graduation Date
2007
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Bonnie Napier-Tibere, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
Limited research has been done on what types of driving adaptations are available for persons with physical disabilities through major rental car companies. Community mobility, in particular driving, provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to integrate into and operate efficiently in society. The Americans with Disability Act mandates that individuals with disabilities be provided the same equal access to services as individuals without disabilities by law. However, individuals with disabilities are not provided the same equality when renting a car. The purpose of this study was to determine what adaptive driving equipment is currently available for persons with physical disabilities through major rental car companies. Employees of the five largest rental car companies were surveyed in seven California airport locations regarding available adaptive driving equipment and knowledge of provisions and procedures concerning disability access. The customer service or disabilities accommodation departments at each rental car company was contacted and surveyed as well. Rental car company websites were evaluated for the amount of information provided and how user friendly each website was.
Results suggested that all rental car companies provided hand controls and spinner knobs at all surveyed airport locations with proper notification. Four out of five rental car companies provided adaptive driving equipment in all types of vehicles, but one company informed the researcher that they were unable to provide equipment in their trucks. Results suggest that rental car companies provide need to improved company instruction and training for employees regarding accommodations for persons with disabilities.