I’m in the mood for a fractured fairy tale.
Tell me again the story of how your business or college can’t modify bathrooms for people with wheelchairs or put assistive devices in the hands of students or staff. Tell me over again how this minor and utterly legistlated matter is just too hard for you, even as you spend money on non-essential things like computerized security cameras or a new fleet of trucks or fancy copiers or expensive coffee or, well you get the drift.
People complain that the ADA is an “unfunded mandate” as though Democracy requires a hand out. But the ADA says that when you’re doing the daily business of your business you will make modifications to help people with disabilities even as you modify the rest of your programs and services. In short, all the ADA requires is good budget planning when management is performing the routine task of doing business.
Someone told me not long ago that the ADA was “a burden” and they explained how replacing a broken elevator in a parking garage was a horrible expense.
I suggested that if you didn’t replace the elevator you might as well tear down the garage since people will stop using it.
Its not always fair to blame the ADA because the real life pressure of doing grown up business is hard.
But people still do it.
Tell me again how you can’t do your jobs and how the people who need elevators or ramps are just killing you.
Its estimated that people with disabilities and their families have half a billion in disposable income here in these United States.
The ADA is just good business. Unless of course you don’t like your job.
S.K.
Planet of the Blind 
Oh yeah, and there’s plenty of money for administrators to get very expensive new furniture. Automatic door openers, not so much. Too expensive. A burden. Yes we are. A burden. So unbearable that the university president upon seeing me in a restaurant post-surgery, got upset because I wasn’t using a wheelchair there (short distance) and thought I was a faker. What he didn’t see was us debating for 10 minutes outside before going in whether to take it or not, the relative merits versus difficulties.
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More from frida, a frida rant. My university, while complaining there was no money for very inexpensive changes (such as a different hinge on some bathroom doors, all of $5), completely renovated other bathrooms with fancy new tile, automatic faucets and paper towel dispensers, etc., but doing nothing to make the disability stall in that restroom more accessible (tight turn in very limited space–taking out a stall divider and toilet could have fixed it). Yes, and no money to fix the sidewalk canyons–a 30 minute fix with cheap quick set asphalt. And won’t allow disabled people to use spaces in an almost empty lot even though disabled parking is always full by 8:00 a.m. No, instead we must walk or roll further through dangerous parking lots and through rain, which is very bad and negates warranties for power wheelchairs/scooters, because we’re not among the Elite, who complain and have someone ticketed if someone with a blue tag parks next to them in their always already nearly empty lot.
And this of course is only the tip of an iceberg, ice being the key, because of course if one is an administrator, the only way to respond to a disability request is first to ignore it each time, then thoroughly berate the requestor in icy, hostile, and disrespectful tones that implies said person shouldn’t exist or have needs. There’s also the issue of blaming–requestor should have known to ask y person, not x person, even though x person also denies responsibility. Lovely in one’s first emotionally and physically difficult week of using a wheelchair and beyond. Let’s see, refusal to change classrooms, refusal for cost-free but needed academic accommodations, “losing” one’s file continually, lying and telling one’s boss that one has never “registered” with HR or disability services, general disorganization. Initially telling people they can park in the nearest parking when accessible parking is unavailable, then lying and changing their story. It was time consuming and interferes with work and is an undue emotional burden in addition to very extreme physical pain and 10 hours of doctor’s appointments a week.
Oh, my vocational rehab counselor has stories to tell about this university. The university wants each person to think that they as an individual are a problem.
Once I saw a job announcement that welcomed people with disabilities. It was awing.
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I find the excuses of which they are many to avoid the ADA annoying at best and illegal at worst. Think of it this way: we could save a ton of money if we eliminated stair cases. Why not eliminate doors too–windows are cheaper.
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