The accessibility of Atlanta’s sidewalks have been brought to task in a recent lawsuit filed in Federal Court. Among other things the lawsuit holds that obstructions include, “uneven sidewalks, sidewalks obstructed by trees or utility poles, sidewalks obstructed by ongoing construction, intersections with missing curb ramps, curb ramps that are broken or otherwise unusable, and other impediments”. Continue reading
Tag Archives: ADA
DOJ Tables Bed Height Rules
Have you ever checked into a hotel only to find that the bed in the accessible room was too high or too low for you? Well you’re not alone. Trust me, I get a lot of mail about this issue. It’s a real problem for managers and guests alike, as there are no regulations regarding bed height. Continue reading
Should We Celebrate the ADA Anniversary?
Recently I’ve seen a lot of posts and comments from younger people who think we shouldn’t celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), quite simply because it does not go far enough. They claim that without any real enforcement, public entities are not held to the standards laid out by the US Access Board. Continue reading
Uber Erects More Accessibility Roadblocks
Although Uber has long claimed that it’s not bound by the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it just makes common sense to make this service as accessible as possible. In fact, I had high hopes when Uber introduced their new WAV app that allows customers to order an accessible vehicle with a few taps and a swipe or two. And in theory that works; however since Uber doesn’t have enough accessible vehicles to meet the demand, it falls short of a viable solution. Continue reading
Detroit Airport Under Fire by Disability Advocates
Like many wheelchair-users, Paul Palmer uses public transportation to get to and from the airport. And for a long time that worked out just fine for him at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. That is until the airport moved their bus loading/unloading zone from the terminal, to the far end of the half-mile-long Ground Transportation Center located across the street. Continue reading
Wheelchair-Users Entitled to Compensation Under Greyhound Consent Decree
Are you a wheelchair-user who has experienced an access-related problem with Greyhound in the past three years? If so, you might be entitled to compensation. Continue reading
What Does the Carnival ADA Settlement Really Mean?
The media is all a buzz about the recent Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) settlement agreement between the Department of Justice and Carnival Corporation. Basically it requires Carnival to make access improvements on 62 Carnival, Holland America and Princess ships, pay a modest fine to the government and reparations to the damaged parties, and appoint compliance officers to oversee access on the ships. And of course, as in most settlement agreements, Carnival admits no wrongdoing or violation of the ADA. Continue reading
DOJ Clarifies Service Animal Regulations
New Service Animal FAQs from the DOJ
Although some news sources have reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently “revised” their regulation on service animals, they have instead clarified regulations that have been on the books for many years. Early this week the DOJ released “Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA” a user-friendly technical assistance document that answers many commonly asked questions about service animals. The publication stems from questions posed to the DOJ and provides guidance on the ADA’s service animal provisions. Continue reading
Drury Gets Access Right
I have to admit that I love Drury properties for the little extras they provide – the popcorn and soda snacks, the Kickback happy hours and the full hot breakfasts. But beyond that, they also seem to have a good handle on access needs; and by that I mean they remember the little things that are often overlooked by other hotel chains. The Drury Suites in McAllen, Texas is a prime example of that, and here are a few of the sometimes forgotten access features that they nailed. Continue reading
Why You Should Bother to File an ADA Complaint
I get a lot of feedback from my readers, and a good chunk of it pertains to what I call “access shortfalls”. In most cases the incident usually involves a hotel or other travel related business that failed to provide appropriate access. And although the degree of severity varies from case to case, my advice is usually the same; “File a complaint with the Depart of Justice (DOJ) for a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Unfortunately that sage advice is usually met with a deafening silence. Continue reading