Americans with Disabilities...?

Question

Is it time we took a stand against ignorance towards people with disabilities? Seriously, what has happened to common sense and human decency? I am tired of being misunderstood, patronized, hassled etc. I am tired of going place that are inaccessible on all different levels. Who agrees that we should take a stand and tolerate nothing less than equality?

I have been fighting against discrimination and I think it is time that we take a zero tolerance approach.

Answer 1

My car has handicapped veteran's license plates. If my wife and I go shopping or out to dinner, there are times when we cannot get a handicapped parking spot because the cars that are parked there are not handicapped marked. I have called the police so many times I think 911 knows my name. On the priority list of police responses I think handicapped parking is one step below your grass is too long.

What I have been doing when I cannot park is either park right behind the guy so he cannot get out until I get back or park on the sidewalk in front of the store. This is one of the ways I fight it.

Another way is if there is no handicapped access to a business I call the headquarters of that business and tell them that I am from the National Handicapped Alliance. I tell them that unless the situation is fixed within one week we will be putting out press release to all the major networks and newspapers. You would be surprised how well that one works. As for the National Handicapped Alliance, I just made up the name.

Answer 2

Here's an interesting observation. Why is it that when I went to get a passport, there were interpreters available for about 20 different languages?
ASL, or Sign Language interpreter, was NOT on that list. You'd have to provide your own.

In order to get citizenship here, you have to speak one of our two official languages at least functionally.
In order to get a passport, you have to have citizenship.
So why do they need interpreters for other languages at the passport office?

They want to provide better customer service. Understandable. They want to make sure everyones rights are respected. Great! So how about starting with the important ones - providing the communication assistance that is needed, that people have the RIGHT to have?

If they can afford to hire language interpreters, they can afford to have sign langauge and braille service.

That is just one of many, many examples.

Discrimination is never ok.
Education is important.
Tolerance begins at home, and needs to be fostered in the school system.

Answer 3

I've been fighting discrimination against the disabled since 1992, sometimes taking my battle to straight to the White House. Please, feel free to join. We need all the help we can get to fight ignorance toward the disabled.

Answer 4

I don't know what your disability is. I have a leg brace & walk with a cane & usually people have been nice to me. I do live in a town where we have a large elderly population.

Answer 5

Let'sdo it. I totally agree. Give out some info and ideas.

Answer 6

You get a diagnosis. Other then that all you need is a lawyer to get a case going.

Answer 7

I am fighting Kaiser Permanente all alone, wanna help?

Answer 8

We are already fighting our asses off, and really if you live in a rural or suburban area it's always going to suck. Applachian people (where I live) are always backwards.

Answer 9

I'm not handicapped but I'll stand up for you.
Where do you want to start?

Answer 10

Lots of us with disabilities have been doing this - where were you? Join us!