SAE J3261 FEB2026 is a Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice that provides design and development recommendations for Automated Driving Systems-Dedicated Vehicles (ADS-DVs) to better accommodate people with disabilities. It addresses accessibility needs across the complete ADS-DV journey, including trip planning, vehicle request, pickup, vehicle identification, authentication, ingress, in-vehicle interaction, drop-off, egress, and destination finding.
The document covers considerations for users who are blind, have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have cognitive disabilities, have upper or lower body limitations, or use wheelchairs. Recommendations include multimodal interfaces, accessible mobile applications, human assistance, wheelchair and service animal accommodation, tactile and audible cues, clear pickup and drop-off locations, and accessible onboard controls.
Application Scope: Intended for ADS-DV manufacturers, developers, mobility service providers, human factors engineers, accessibility specialists, and transportation planners designing automated vehicle services that support independent travel for people with disabilities.
