Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities

If you do not meet the ADA eligibility criteria, you will be informed of this decision in writing within 21 business days. The letter will explain the reasons for denial, as related to the eligibility criteria.

You have the right to appeal the denial of eligibility, the level of eligibility granted or a particular trip on regular Bee-Line bus(es) for those with conditional eligibility. The Office for People with Disabilities handles all eligibility-related appeals.

You must initiate an appeal by contacting the Office for People with Disabilities in writing within 60 days of the date of the denial letter. A letter will then be sent explaining your appeal options. The options are appearing in person with additional information or just sending in additional written materials.

An Appeals Committee will review the original decision made by the Office for People with Disabilities and will make a final decision as to eligibility. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be communicated in writing within seven business days after the appeal record is complete. If a final decision is not made in writing within this period, ParaTransit service will be available at such time as the final decision is made.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability alone does not qualify a person to ride the ParaTransit system. A person must be functionally unable to use the fixed-route regular Bee-Line service. 

ParaTransit service is provided to the following three general groups of persons with disabilities:

• Persons who have specific impairment-related conditions which make it impossible — not just difficult — to travel to or from the bus stop.
  
  
• Persons who need a wheelchair lift-equipped bus, but it is not available on the fixed-route when they need to travel.
  
  
• Persons who are unable to board, ride or exit from the regular Bee-Line buses even if they are able to get to a bus stop and the bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift.

For further explanation, contact Evan Latainer, Director of the Office for People with Disabilities and Westchester County ADA Coordinator, by e-mail at  or go to Contact Us.

ParaTransit service is designed to serve only those individuals whose disability prevents them from using public transportation. Read Who Can Apply for ParaTransit to be sure the individual applying can do so. If he or she does qualify, then as a prospective applicant proceed to the application process:

• Application:
  • Download the Application for Certification of ADA Eligibility
  • Or contact the Office for People with Disabilities to request a printed application.
• Recertification:
  • If eligibility has expired within the current calendar year, you may re-certify using the online fillable Recertification Form.
  • Or print a copy, then complete in block letters and mail.

Eligible applicant packet
When an applicant has been found eligible for Bee-Line ParaTransit, that person will receive a packet of materials providing:

• information on how to make reservations
• the rights and responsibilities of riders
• how to make complaints and other important information.

Additional information to download, print and read:

• ParaTransit Eligibility Guidelines
• Rider Information
• ParaTransit Quick Reference

The application process: Interviews are waived until further notice, but all other steps apply.
Upon completion of the application, you must must schedule an interview with the Office for People with Disabilities to review your application. Call (914) 995-2959. Please note:

• Upon request, a ParaTransit ride will be provided free of charge to and from your interview only.
• The applicant must bring all supporting documentation requested on the application form. You may also attach any other documentation you wish to have considered as part of the eligibility process.
• You may receive assistance from other people in filling out the application. Any person providing assistance should be identified on the application form in the designated space.
• Contact the Office for People with Disabilities at (914) 995-2960 or (914) 995-2959 for additional information.
• Please make sure that the application is complete. Incomplete applications will delay the review process. If any information is not true or misrepresents the facts, the applicant will be found ineligible.

Determination of eligibility

• The Office for People with Disabilities determines eligibility based principally on the application form and the information submitted with it.
• An applicant must establish that he/she is at least 12 years of age and functionally unable to use regular Bee-Line transit.
• An applicant may be required to provide additional information regarding his/her disability and his/her ability to independently use regular Bee-Line bus transit.
• Failure to provide any requested information will be conclusively deemed a withdrawal of the ParaTransit application.

Travel assistance to interview

• If someone requires the assistance of another person to be able to travel on ParaTransit, this person will be allowed to travel with them and will not be required to pay a fare.
• However, this person must board and leave the vehicle at the same location as the ParaTransit registered person.
• The fact that an attendant is required for travel must be indicated on the application or else any person accompanying the eligible person will be considered a friend or companion and will have to pay a fare.

Eligibility categories
All applicants for ADA ParaTransit eligibility will be informed of their eligibility status in writing within 21 business days of the date the completed application was filed with the Office for People with Disabilities. Each applicant deemed eligible for ParaTransit will be assigned to one of the three Eligibility Categories.

• Conditional - Conditional eligibility will apply to individuals who are able to use regular Bee-Line transit service for some trips, but may require ParaTransit for other trips or in special circumstances. Eligibility for ParaTransit trips will be determined on a trip-by-trip basis and will be based on the individual’s functional ability to independently use regular Bee-Line buses for some trips or part of a particular trip.

• Unconditional - Unconditional eligibility will apply to individuals who have been judged functionally unable to independently use regular Bee-Line service in any circumstance.

• Temporary - Temporary eligibility will apply to individuals with temporary physical disabilities, or visually or cognitively impaired individuals who have not been “mobility trained”. Temporary eligibility lasts for the expected term of the disability, or until a visually or cognitively impaired individual has had an opportunity to become “mobility trained”, but in any event no longer than 12 months. After the 12-month period, individuals who were granted temporary eligibility must reapply and be reevaluated if they desire to continue using ParaTransit.

The Office for People with Disabilities no longer provides accessible parking passes.  For information about obtaining a accessible parking pass, refer to the list of New York State Parking Permit Issuing Agents below.