Purpose and responsibilities
The ADA Advisory Committee was established by the authority of the Chicago Transit Board. It serves in an advisory capacity to the CTA. Its purpose is to provide the CTA with recommendations on the CTA’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), facilitate a dialogue between the CTA and the disability community, and increase the use of the CTA’s services by people with disabilities.
The responsibilities of the Committee include:
- To represent the diverse needs and interests of the diversity of people with disabilities
- To provide comment on CTA’s current services, policies and practices
- To provide informed input on the development and assessment of future CTA projects and services that impact people with disabilities
Members
The Committee has up to 12 members. They are chosen from qualified applicants by the Chair of the Chicago Transit Board, based on their ability to represent a cross section of the community of people with disabilities in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Current Committee members are:
- Mary Abramson, American Council for the Blind
- Doreen Bogus, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
- Cynthia Fosco, Guide Dogs for the Blind & Second Sense
- Whitney Hill, LCM Architects & SPORK (Committee Chair)
- Robin Jones, Great Lakes ADA Center
- Michael Kiser, Chicago Muscular Dystrophy Assoc., Local Advisory Committee
- Sara Luna, National Federation of the Blind
- Barbara Padilla, Disability Lead & Metropolitan Planning Council
- Nicholas Robertson, National Federation of the Blind, IL Affiliate, Chicago Chapter & Veterans Admin.
- Laura Saltzman, Access Living
- Howard Wilson, National Federation of the Blind, IL Affiliate, Chicago Chapter
Meetings
Dates
The Committee meeting dates for 2023 are:
Anyone wishing to make a Public Comment at the CTA ADA Advisory Committee meeting has the following options:
- You may send your written comment to igomez-fierro@transitchicago.com and it will be read into the record by the Meeting Facilitator. Please indicate that it is a Public Comment for the ADA Advisory Committee Meeting in the Subject line, OR;
- You may call the Meeting Facilitator (Irma Gomez-Fierro) at 773-449-8389 who will assist you in writing out your comment. The comment will still be read into the record by the Meeting Facilitator.
- Meeting Notice and Agenda
Meeting times
The Committee meets quarterly on the second Monday of the quarter, unless there is a holiday. The meeting time is 1:30-4:00 p.m., which includes a 15 minute period for public comment. Check for meeting notices a few days in advance of meetings for additional information and see the committee's Public Comment Policy (and form).
Meeting location
Committee meetings are open to the public. They are held at CTA headquarters, 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, Illinois in the Boardroom, which is located on the second floor. The Boardroom can be accessed either by the stairs at the north end of the building lobby or by the elevator located near the stairs.
Note: Meetings have recently been held online due to the pandemic and can be viewed on our YouTube channel, live or after the meeting as a recorded copy.
Meeting access
Committee meetings are held in a location accessible to individuals who use mobility devices. General/Open Access Sign Language Interpreters are provided at all meetings. Individuals requiring other reasonable accommodations must notify the Manager of ADA Compliance Programs at least 5 business days prior to a meeting.
Subcommittees
The CTA ADA Advisory Committee has established 3 Sub-Committees: Funding Advocacy, Safety and Training and Wayfinding and Technology.
CTA’s ADA Advisory Committee Chairman explains that the purpose of the Sub-Committees is to provide time between the quarterly meetings for members to keep active and engaged regarding topics of importance to the Committee. Participation is optional and may also include individuals outside of the CTA ADA Advisory Committee.
For further information contact:
- Funding Advocacy – needs chair. Focused on supporting the CTA in obtaining state and Federal funding for various projects and initiatives such as the All Stations Accessibility Program, ASAP.
- Safety and Training – needs chair. Focused on issues related to promoting safety on CTA’s buses and trains for people with all types of disabilities.
- Wayfinding and Technology – Whitney Hill, Whitney@SPORKAbility.org. Focused on learning about new technologies and innovations enabling people with disabilities to maximize independent travel via CTA’s mainline system.