Shouldn't theaters be required to offer wheelchair accessible standing-room tickets?

Question

My friend and I were trying to get cheap theater tickets today, and after losing a couple $25 lotteries, we decided to try for standing-room, thinking it would be a great deal for my friend since she uses a wheelchair to get around and therefore wouldn't have to stand. Well, one theater was willing to let her pull up behind an ailse so long as we didn't tell the Fire Department, but another one told her she couldn't do standing room because it was fire hazard to block the aisles. Since standing room tickets are the cheapest tickets they offer, they're effectively requiring handicap people to pay more than non-handicap people. Isn't that considered discrimination?

OK, I want to make a couple of things clear.

First off, I'm talking about Broadway shows, not movies. Movies never have standing room.

Secondly, I'm talking about theaters that do have standing room tickets. It's not a fire hazard given that the theater does have space to accomidate it.

Third, I'm not talking about having no handicap seating at all. My complaint is with the price difference. For one show we wanted to see, I could get in for $21, whereas my friend would have to pay $65 simply because she's in a wheelchair.

And another thing... the theaters in question already have handicap seating. It wouldn't require changing the buidling in any way, just what they charge to get in. The fact is, my friend has to shell out an extra $44 on what would otherwise be a $21 ticket in order to bring her wheelchair in.

Answer 1

You should write to the box office manager, chief executive or customer service manager of the theatre and raise the issue with them. I think that they are within their rights to refuse to let wheelchairs in the standing area because of health&safety but it seems wrong that customers in wheelchairs have no choice but to pay for expensive tickets when the only reason they can't take advantage of cheaper tickets is due to their disability. The theatre should allocate some concessionary seats in the theatre to disabled customers.

I'm not sure for definite but they may be in breach of the "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990."

"No qualified individual with a disability shall be subjected to discrimination or excluded from the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity due to his or her disability."

Answer 2

No. The theater accommodates by providing spots for wheelchairs and for access. If the movie was sold out, there should not be standing room due to fire regulations, even for someone who is not a wheelchair user. This is not a discriminatory action, but was done for public safety. If you have more questions regarding the ADA, please find the location nearest you at the website below.

Answer 3

No. The reason that theaters do not allow wheelchairs in standing room only areas is because it violates fire codes. If there was a fire, than your friend would more than likely get her wheel chair knocked over and be trampled. Theaters are required to offer wheel chair accessible seating, but they do not have to do so at all price levels.

Answer 4

Dang straight. If it's a publicly available venue, they're required to have disabled access, for the same prices, etc. It's referred to as "equal access" (for the other answerer) If I understand it correctly, if the establishment has'nt suitable facilities for the area, they're obligated to offer the nearest to, but at the same (or lower if applicable) price. The standing room "fire hazard" sounds a little forced. I'd look into it at least. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/
Rock on for standin by your friend. it says alot about ya that you're so fiercely loyal. I KNEW my 6 mos in a wheelchair was temporary. (while uncle sam built me a new pair of knees) and it was a serious eye-opener. People shy away from ya, and avoid eye contact. If they have to deal with ya, it's like they're sucking on lemons, trying to pretend not to notice. It sounds like that's what was going on here.

Answer 5

Many laws were written that do not apply to some establishment, as they pre-existed the law..

Many could argue, that in modern venues like the Verizon center, they have special areas which are center stage front and get them at a lower rate, that it is unfair!

They are not going to tear down a theater to get your friend a cheaper price!

Some places don't offer even offer standing room!

How would you like the city to tell you to tear down your house because they passed an ordinance that your house now violates?

Answer 6

while you're contained in usa touch your interior of reach center for self reliant residing. you may google it. they have made such incredibly some places available for people in my section. we've an advocacy club. This year we went around and found each and all the inaccessible parking places and we advised the chief of the club. He went out and appeared on the web content we got here across. He wrote letters to the business enterprise asking them to make the ameliorations so they're following the regulation. He provides them time to make the ameliorations if the do no longer comply he writes yet another letter in the event that they nonetheless do no longer comply then he records a criticism against them and that they get fined. So see in case you center for self reliant residing dose some ingredient like that. If no longer then recommend it. Like some smart man or woman advised me, " I constantly theory, 'Why does not somebody do something?' Then i found out i advance into somebody."

Answer 7

well they do offer handicap accessible spots in theaters its just a new idea and not every theater has them yet. Like the Lenox the theater i go to has a huge section reserved for hadicapped people.

Answer 8

it's really sad. handicapped people should have seating suitable to them . they make parking, restrooms, and other things to make easier on the handicapped but seating in some places are an issue. so yes my answer is yes it's a form of discrimination

Answer 9

yes emily u hav hit the nail on the head.obviously wen physically challenged pepl r made 2 suffr 4 der liabilities dey realize dat dey r strange people .dey start feelin deprressed and start to think dat dey r a burden to evryone.dis happens nt only in your country bt also in my country i.e. INDIA.b'coz dey don hav d physicality 2 undertake tasks nrmally taken by us.
dis puts tremendous pressure on dem 2 show hw much dey r normal bt it is actuaaly we who are uncivilized n mentally as wellas physically challenged.
watevr happened wid ur frnd was jus an anecdote of the various vagaries of human nature.
i m very ashamed of my own human kind 2 treat der own people as animals.

Answer 10

If we're talking "shoulds" here, no private company should be required to offer any wheelchair access in any way. It should be entirely voluntary. The company should be able to decide for themselves whether they wish to alienate the wheelchair-using segment of the market.

However, since there are laws compelling private companies to offer such access, I agree with you. It should extend to all service areas reasonably adaptable.