Q: This symposium and expo will be a first for the US. I understand that it "will bring together Federal policy officials, leaders in aviation and other transportation modes, and leaders in the disability community." How did the idea evolve and why did the idea emerge now?
Tom: There were several factors that influenced us in holding this meeting. The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) several years had conducted a smaller conference and workshop on accessibility and we knew that it was time to revisit this topic. That was made timely by the actions of the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation, which are considering the guidelines promulgated by the Accessibility Board. This is the first substantial rewrite of the regulations required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. It has been 15 years since the enactment of the ADA, and we felt it was a timely and important topic to examine. As an industry, aviation has become integral to the daily lives of all Americans. Examining the ways that aviation has implemented the ADA and the Air Carrier Access Act is important - to renew our understanding of the legal requirements, to appreciate the successes of implementation, and to acknowledge the challenges that remain.
Q: Your organization, the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), appears to be taking a lead role in organizing this event. How do the issues to be addressed and the goals of the symposium correspond to the mission and competencies of the AAAE?
Tom: One of our core missions as an association is continuing education and professional development. Our members continually challenge themselves, to raise the professional bar. Part of that is their keen desire to be part of, and to understand, the development of transportation public policy. A conference of this type brings together Federal policy makers and leaders in transportation industries to engage in a healthy dialogue about the law and regulations, to examine best practices. These types of conferences offer our members the networking opportunities to learn what other airports are doing well, whether those successes can be replicated, and to understand the challenges that remain and develop action plans to address those challenges.
