Public Housing ignoring ADA
In Missouri public housing officials are ignoring pleas by the handicapped. Residents that find themselves in public housing because of the ongoing recession/depression are fighting to get into said apartments. Many are finding that the doorways are too narrow for wheelchairs or that housing managers are refusing to install ramps. One couple has been complaining for almost three years to make modifications so that a wheelchair could navigate the apartment with no success. They finally gave up and installed their own jury rig of nailed boards. While need is the moth of invention the ADA guarantees that buildings and apartments be modified to help the handicapped. (Source Komu.com)
The story does not say if any of the disabled residents have tried the legal route, but obviously something needs to be done. There is no reason why someone in a wheelchair can’t get into their apartment or rooms in said apartment because they are too narrow. These folks need to educated that the ADA exists and has guarantees that these kinds of boundaries are not legal and must be repaired. One of the many problems with hospitals is that they do not do any kind of training on the ADA, or where to go for services. Land and apartment owners know the law all too well and routinely "forget" to do the lawful thing light widening doorways and providing elevators. There are many lawyers in the country that will take on ADA cases for free and get their fees from those that are sued. Something that would be very useful is when a disabled person accesses disability payments they are automatically sent a booklet on ADA and the phone number of a social worker that can help the disabled to navigate the confusion.
In the mean time we need to keep in mind that we all need to understand our rights so that they are not trampled. Unfortunately, many property owners all out refuse to help the disabled unless they are dragged in front of a judge. Work needs to be done at the city level as well so that newly built buildings follow the ADA guidelines. In Georgia we have found many problems where city officials actually believe they do not have to follow the ADA because local laws grandfather them into letting them build whatever they want. That is definitely not the case and we plan on working with the mayors and other city officials so they understand the law is for them to follow and that lawyers can be used to force the issue. I’d rather they just do the right thing but it they are stubborn then it is off to the courthouse.
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