Accessible Information for Visiting Montgomery County, Maryland

Here are some practical tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit.

accessibleGo

Accessiblego is a search engine dedicated solely to finding and booking accessible hotels, cars, vans, equipment, flights, and more. Reliable and accurate. Accessibility is confirmed by accessibleGO staff, so you can rest assured that the accessible hotel room you select online will meet all your needs and provide the right accommodation. Interactive community forum for travelers with disabilities to share travel destination tips and advice.

Mobility Scooter Services

ScootAround offers scooter and wheelchair rentals for a minimum of three days, weekly, or longer periods of time so that you can navigate the city and its site comfortably and easily. Call 1-888-441-7575 for details.

Orthopaedic Mobility Rentals offers daily, weekly, or monthly rentals throughout the DC Metro area. Call 571-340-8961 for more information.

Disability Parking Etiquette & Towing

A certain number of parking spots are reserved in residential areas and businesses for persons with disabilities using a vehicle with a disability license plate or placard hanging in the front windshield. Parking spots reserved for persons with disabilities are clearly marked by the universal blue wheelchair symbol on either the pavement or a sign at the front of the space. These spaces are part of the ADA accommodations and were designed to provide shorter, safer access to buildings and homes.

Specific to Maryland state laws and accommodations regarding accessible parking spaces can be found here, on the MVA website. For example, in Maryland, persons with disabilities are exempt from paying parking meter fees, for up to four hours, in certain locations when the meters are inaccessible. Check with the local jurisdiction first, as this parking fees can vary in different locations and nearby Washington, DC.

Stopping or parking in an accessible space is reserved for those with vehicles displaying disability accessible tags or placards. Non-disabled drivers can be fined up to $500 for parking, or stopping, even for a “few minutes,” in an accessible parking space. Please be respectful of our visitors with disabilities and leave the designated accessible spaces open for them.

And please, do not block access to these spaces, or curb cuts, even if you’re running an errand, or delivering something, for only a “few moments.” Curb cuts and ramps are sections of the sidewalk cut out to allow a smooth transition for people with mobility disabilities from the parking pavement to the sidewalk. Curb cuts and ramps are vital access points to those who need no step access to get to their destination.

A WORD ABOUT TOWING

FROM MONTGOMERYCOUNTYMD.GOV OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION:

Montgomery County has implemented a warning system before any vehicle can be towed. And furthermore, prohibits the towing of  vehicles that have a disability tag or placard and are lawfully parked and not causing a public safety hazard.

Person who have a Disability Parking Tag: “A towing service may not under any circumstances tow a vehicle with a valid Disability Parking registration plate or permit, unless a police officer authorizes the tow, or the vehicle is blocking a clearly marked fire lane or access to another vehicle, the property or a building.”

Travel by Air

Three major airports are located just near Montgomery County and are frequently used by travelers to Montgomery County. Reagan National Airport and Dulles International Airport and Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) are operated by the Maryland Aviation Administration or the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and offer numerous accommodations for many types of disabilities.

All  airports provide accessible ground transportation equipped with ramps and lifts to and from the terminals to the parking lots, including shuttles, rental car shuttles, taxis and, Marc train,  Metrorail. Accessible restrooms are available, as well as service pet relief areas. Additional amenities include play areas with interactive game displays, elevators with raised Braille buttons and electronic voice announcements. Public telephones are wheelchair accessible and equipped with Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD) telephones. BWI has teamed up with Aira to connect blind or low-vision travelers with remote human agents to guide them through a smartphone visual interpreting app. TDD services and free video calls for the Deaf are provided throughout the airport. Adult changing tables are provided in six of the 12 family restrooms at the airport. The spacious adult changing rooms have a lay-down bed, toilet, and sink to assist those in wheelchairs. All restroom design is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act Architectural Guidelines.

Travelers with hidden or “invisible” disabilities can obtain a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard. Ask at the information desks or check the websites to find out where to get your lanyard at either airport. 

Travel by Train and Bus

AMTRAK provides accessible seats and spaces on all commuter trains and in the stations, travel with service animals, travel with oxygen equipment, Thruway bus services, and meal options for special dietary considerations. AMTRAK also offers a 10 % discount for passengers with disabilities and one travel companion. The discount applies to both. Visit their site for more information about traveling AMTRAK with a disability.

METRO If your disability prevents you from being able to take the bus or rail, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation – Transit Services provides MetroAccess  – Regional Paratransit Service for residents and visitors with disabilities. Fares can be prepaid with MetroAccess EZ-Pay. Check their website for specific information about booking a ride with Paratransit. 

Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation also provides an extensive network of in-county transportation options, some free of charge, for those with disabilities. Ride On, Metrobus, Connect-A-Ride, and others. Visit their site for specific information to find a ride tailored to meet your needs. 

You can also find tips on space and accommodations for your wheelchair or scooter.

Recent updates include:

100 % of fixed-route Ride On buses are low floor buses with ramps. 

The WMATA telephone number for the disability card application changed to 202-962-2700.

85 % of the 5,441 active bus stops are ADA compliant.

METRORAIL – WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY: WMATA Metro has 10 stations in Montgomery County (11 including Shady Grove Station) and additional stations throughout Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Prince Georges County. It’s the easiest traffic-free way of traveling in and out of DC. Trains and stations provide a wide variety of accessibility features including parking, elevators, restrooms, information pylons in Braille and raised alphabet, escalators with bright contrasting paint for passengers with low vision, and vending machines with lower panels and extra-wide fare gates for wheelchair and scooter users. The Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) is located on each platform and mezzanine to alert travelers of the next train to arrive and its destination, service delays, elevator outages, and more. Emergency intercom instructions are in Braille and raised alphabet, and flashing lights at the edge of the platforms alert Deaf travelers that a train is approaching. For more information, visit their accessibility page. 

Catch a Rideshare

Lyft

Lyft has multiple policies in place to provide the best possible riding experience for travelers with disabilities and companions. Lyft can provide wheelchair accessible rides, accommodations for Deaf, hard of hearing, low vision, and Blind riders, as well as accommodations to bring your service animal along. Check the website policies before you book, to ensure an easy and accommodating experience.

Uber

Uber WAV is debuting in various cities across the U.S. and Washington, DC, to improve the riding experience for customers with mobility needs and equipment by providing wheelchair accessible vehicles and other amenities. Check out these new policies and policies regarding service animals and accommodations for Deaf and hard of hearing patrons.

ASL/Language Services

For travelers needing language support and interpreting, download the Jeenie app on your smartphone or iPad for 24/7 assistance, including on-demand American Sign Language interpreting via video chat.

Montgomery County, Maryland, is committed to being an inclusive and accessible destination for all visitors. With thoughtful planning and the county’s accommodating resources, you will have a memorable and enjoyable trip.