Grex Disabilities Conference

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Grex Disabilities Item 6: accessing aaypsi
Entered by mwarner on Mon Jan 16 03:29:37 UTC 1995:

  Public access is an ongoing, wide ranging subject for consideration,
particularly in urban areas where nearly all places (even "natural" areas
and parks) are constructed or modified for the purpose of facilitating
human access.  These elements include transportation, parking, lighting,
building access, ...any and all facilities for getting into and using
public areas and buildings. 

  What's happening in the aaypsi area, or elsewhere by comparison?

7 responses total.

#1 of 7 by mwarner on Mon Jan 16 03:36:27 1995:

This item is linked between the aaypsi conference and the disabilities
conference.

#2 of 7 by suzi on Thu Jan 19 01:44:59 1995:

I have just come from Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn where my daughter
is a patient.  Their handicapper parking is at the bottom of a *very*
steep ramp a long ways from the nearest entrance, and consists of about 12
total spaces.  Closer by comparison is the valet parking.  While they do
give a discount for valet parking with a handicap sticker, I don't like
feeling that I am forced to valet park by their inconveniencing tactics.
The only other alternative is the parking garage, which is about a
quarter mile from the hospital entrance.  Get real, people - this is a
*hospital* where there are many of us who need special access!

#3 of 7 by rcurl on Thu Jan 19 05:02:59 1995:

This sounds like a candidate for writing a letter to the editor of
an appropriate newspaper.

#4 of 7 by mwarner on Thu Jan 19 06:11:15 1995:

I visited the Taubman medical center at the U o M several times last week
and noticed that the valet parking was away from the doors and the hc
parking on each of the floors in the parking structure.  All the parking
near the doors is restricted to handicap spaces with no charge.  I thought
this was a normal setup for a hospital....  I guess not.

#5 of 7 by ajax on Fri Jan 20 07:45:41 1995:

In general, if a building's parking lot is a quarter mile away, would reserving
handicapped spaces fulfill legal public access obligations?  The valet service
definitely sounds a little scam-like...for a hospital of all places!  I would
think a lot of people entering/leaving wouldn't be up for a long trip to the
car, whether in a wheelchair or not.  On the other hand, hospitals are known
for billing for each aspirin - they seem averse to spreading the cost to
everyone when they can bill people separately.

#6 of 7 by simcha on Mon Jan 23 17:40:34 1995:

I'm surprised and shocked.  I thought such fees were waived, not reduced for 
handicapped if the designated handicapped parking was not as convenient or
was full.

If the institutions receive public funds, local or federal, you can
write to your elected officials.  That may scare them into improving.
I beleive the laws mandate how steep ramps can be, etc.

#7 of 7 by raywms on Fri Jan 27 18:46:09 1995:

The Americans With A Disabilities Act of 1990 is most specific. Also, the 1973
Rehabilitation Act should apply to an organization which receives Federal
Funds.

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