Kim, what would happen, if anything, if we all bombarded the senator in your
state complaining about that hotel and the probable
others that treat handicapped people the same way? That is an awful position
to put anyone in - where they do not feel safe.
Janice
----- Original Message -----
From: kimr1...@bellsouth.net
To: Kevin Wolfthal ; Akua ; tmic-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Relationships
Ok not the same issue but here one of my gripes
I am in a wheel chair on a business trip in LA, the hotel puts me on the 16th
floor in a ‘wheel char accessible room” ok now tell me how am I to get to the
ground floor if something were to happen? Can’t use the elevator, hum am I
supposed to fly? Went to complain to manager and he looked at me like I just
grew a third eye!! Then had the nerve to tell me “Oh if something were to
happen, we would send someone to come get you” I just laughed at him… and
demanded to be put on the ground floor, room was difficult to get around in but
felt safer. To date hotel has yet to make any kind of change in “wheel chair
accessible rooms” I wrote a letter to the corporate office but never heard back
from them.
Kim
-------------- Original message from Kevin Wolfthal
<wolft...@optonline.net>: --------------
>
> Akua,
>
> Yes, there are other people with disabilities in my building. They are
> afraid
> to fight for their rights, and I don't have the energy to organize
> them. I have
> gotten small things done (curb cut) by emailing a state Senator who
> contacted the Fair
> Housing Association for my state.
> As the population ages, I think the ADA laws need to be re-examined or we
> are going to be stepped on even more.
> Have you contacted local TV stations? Sometimes they have advocates that
> help people.
>
> Best wishes,
> Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
> Akua wrote:
> > Kevin, I remember your tales of struggle with your condo.
> >
> > I was in exile at the time, waiting for my home to be rehabbed.
> > Now I'm home-- private house-- and everytime I want to invoke the ADA,
> > I'm told it doesn't apply--- from the ramps that don't meet
> > ADA specs to being able to be dropped off in front
> > of my house where there is one concrete break in the grassy
> > median.
> >
> > My house is on a corner.., neither my neighbors across the street
> > nor next door to me park in front of my house.
> >
> > It's the illogic that gets me... there is plenty of room. okay. so why
> > can't I reserve the space in front of my house, which i starved and
> > suffered
> > to retain and continue to pay taxes on for the handicapped.... in this
> > case me?
> >
> > There are signs warning of Children at play and Deaf children, why is
> > my request resisted?
> >
> > Are there other handicapped folks in your condo? Can you get them
> > to ask?
> >
> > I wrote well crafted letter after letter to the newspapers about lack
> > of paratransit.
> > My drummer wrote a rant about not being able to get a bus to see me
> > ( he can walk and could, but it would be extremely arduous) and they
> > published it! Sometime, I guess they need to hear more than one voice,
> > no matter how clear and lucid that one voice is.
> >
> > Thanks for sharing.
> > Akua
> >
> >
> >> Akua,
> >>
> >> The laws regarding handicapped parking don't go far enough imo, and
> >> there should be state inspections of buidings like mine, (a high-rise
> >> condo complex),
> >> to make sure they are meeting code. There is exactly ONE handicapped
> >> parking
> >> space on my street for approx. 200 condominiums. I have learned that
> >> there should
> >> be at least THREE spaces, still not that many. I have been forced to
> >> park a block
> >> away, and as a result have not been able to access my car for a very
> >> long time. I used
> >> to be able to walk to my car with a cane, now it's too far, and I can
> >> only get to
> >> it with a power wheelchair, which I can't get in my car.
> >>
> >> It sounds like you live in a private home? It seems the ADA laws do
> >> little for private
> >> residences than public buidings, but there shouldn't be people
> >> blocking your access.
> >> That's just wrong.
> >>
> >> Kevin
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Akua wrote:
> >>> Ah Kevin: curb cuts
> >>>
> >>> After a year and half of lettert writing and countless calls, the
> >>> city manager and a cop are meeting with me to review my request for
> >>> a handicapped parking sign in front of my house.
> >>>
> >>> I have a curb cut right in front of my house, but some idiots park
> >>> there, blocking it. Despite the fact that it is in front of my
> >>> house and my ramp. I was initially refused the sign because
> >>> I was told there are LOTS of places to park in my single-family home
> >>> neighborhood.
> >>>
> >>> I said that's my point! There are lots of other places for able
> >>> bodied people to PARK( like their own
> >>> homes and driveways) and I need access to my house. I was told that
> >>> handicapped parking signs are
> >>> not for homes....argggghhh.... but they're coming to meet with me to
> >>> understand what it is I am saying.
> >>>
> >>> Akua
> >>>
> >>>> Akua,
> >>>>
> >>>> I am sorry that you are going through these difficulties.
> >>>>
> >>>> I had to get my state involved to get a wheelchair curb cut
> >>>> put in front of my condo complex. The building resents me
> >>>> because it cost money, even though they were breaking the law.
> >>>>
> >>>> Kevin
> >
> >
>
