Is This Place Really Handicap Accessible?

Many of you may or may not know that I am a advocate for persons with disabilities since 1996. I fell into this role by accident as I was looking for a job after being out of work for nine months. I did not learn how to advocate for any populations in graduate school as a counseling student. I learned these skills hands-on from a few mentors who are disabled and are active in promoting their civil rights.

One of things I want to point out to you is to become more diligent in scrutinizing places or locations that offer services and programs for the general public. One of my pet peeves I am finding in Worcester County area is how one place will advertise "handicap accessible" and really be not fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

For example, a place of business will advertise that their place is accessible when there is only an accessible exit/entrance-way to get in and out of. Furthermore, if they have a public restroom let's say in a restaurant; human service entity; school; etc, some of them will not be handicap accessible under the codes of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and of the Architectural Access Board (AAB) regulations.  

Another example is entering a place of business and finding the length of the aisles are not ADA/AAB compliant. It needs to be at least 32 inches under the latter and 36 inches under the former. Too often, you will see wheelchair or power chair/scooter users knocking down items as they are not able to safely move through the aisles. Please note that parents with baby strollers also can not move safely through as well. I knock down the merchandise when I take my son in the stroller in department stores as well.

The last example is going to place of business where the entrance-way is accessible, but the bathroom is another location in the building. For example, a wheelchair user would have to go outside of the building to go to the accessible bathroom while the able-bodied can go upstairs to use this restroom. Is this fair or ethical? What do you think?

I don't think it is intentional that most places are not fully accessible for consumers with disabilities. It is just an oversight and possibly ignorance or unawareness on their part.

Here are some things you can do to advocate for yourself or for others:

1) Read up on the laws under the Americans Disabilities Act and the Architectural Access Board.

2) New England INFO is a wonderful website to find information on providers'; agencies; support groups; etc for your questions on disability issues.

3) Take a training to be a Community Access Monitor. The Mass Office on Disability offers a few trainings a year.

4) Contact the Center for Living and Working. They are the local independent living agency for persons with disability.

5) Contact the Shrewsbury Commission on Disabilities at 508-841-8448.