Statue of Liberty Ferry Sued Over Wheelchair Access
Author: United Spinal Association
Published: 2016/02/12 - Updated: 2026/05/18
Publication Type: Announcement
Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications
Synopsis: This report describes a federal lawsuit filed by United Spinal Association member and wheelchair user David Heard against Statue Cruises, LLC, the company that holds the exclusive right to operate ferry boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, alleging that the boats fail to provide safe and lawful access in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws. It outlines the specific barriers cited in the complaint - including transition plates and ramps at an unlawful slope, gangways that are too narrow, non-compliant handrails, and inaccessible restrooms - and recounts an earlier December letter from United Spinal President and CEO James Weisman to the National Park Service that was rebuffed when the Statue of Liberty National Monument superintendent maintained the ferries were in full compliance. The article also profiles United Spinal Association, the 1946 veteran-founded nonprofit that helped shape the ADA, the Fair Housing Amendments Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act. The information is useful for wheelchair users, disabled veterans, accessibility consultants, tourism operators, and family members planning visits who want a clearer picture of the ongoing dispute over physical access to one of the country's most visited national landmarks.
- Topic Definition: Safe and Lawful Ferry Access for Wheelchair Users
Safe and lawful ferry access for wheelchair users refers to the obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local human rights laws for passenger vessel operators serving the public - particularly those providing exclusive service to public accommodations such as national parks and monuments - to design, equip, and maintain their boats and boarding infrastructure so that people who use wheelchairs can board, ride, and disembark independently and without exposure to unreasonable risk. Compliance generally encompasses transition plates and ramps within permitted slope limits, gangways and passageways of adequate width, conforming handrails, accessible restrooms, and trained staff support, with shortcomings in any of these elements potentially supporting claims under federal civil rights statutes and parallel state and municipal protections.
Introduction
Statue of Liberty Ferry Service Sued for Alleged Failure of Safe and Lawful Access
United Spinal Association member employee and wheelchair user, David Heard, filed a lawsuit Thursday against Statue Cruises, LLC, for its failure to provide safe and lawful ferry access for wheelchair users, thereby violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws.
Main Content
Wheelchair using tourists from all over the world are among the 4.2 million people who visit the Statue of Liberty every year.
The complaint states:
"Tens of thousands of disabled Americans who depend on wheelchairs for mobility - including many military veterans who were disabled in the service of this country - cannot easily visit the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, because defendant Statue Cruises, LLC ("Statue Cruises"), which holds the exclusive right to operate ferry boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, does not make its ferry boats accessible for wheelchair users."
United Spinal President and CEO, James Weisman, sent a letter last December to the National Park Service that described significant and dangerous problems regarding wheelchair accessibility on the ferry and requested appropriate changes be made in order to comply with the law.
These problems included transition plates and ramps that are at an unlawful slope, gangways that are too narrow with unlawful handrails and restrooms that are inaccessible and unusable.
In a letter responding to United Spinal, Superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument stated that "the National Park Service and Statue Cruises believe that the ferry is in full compliance with all applicable accessibility laws" and declined to take any steps to compel Statue Cruises to remedy the alleged violations.
United Spinal had received multiple notifications from wheelchair users identifying accessibility problems on the ferry boats. As a result, plaintiff, David Heard, visited the Statue of Liberty where he too faced the same dangerous obstacles and difficulties using the inaccessible ferry boats.
United Spinal
United Spinal is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. United Spinal played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with SCI/D. United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation that has been used as a model for many United States cities.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Access to iconic public sites like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is more than a matter of tourism - for disabled Americans, including the veterans whose service is honored at those monuments, it speaks directly to whether the promise of full participation in civic life is reflected in the country's most symbolic spaces. Disputes of this kind illustrate how thresholds for "compliance" can differ significantly between operators and the disability community, and why third-party expert review of ramps, gangways, restrooms, and signage often matters as much as the operator's own assessment. Travelers who encounter accessibility barriers at federally affiliated attractions can document the conditions, request reasonable modifications, and file complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice or relevant state and city human rights commissions to support broader enforcement.Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by United Spinal Association and published on 2016/02/12, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.