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Local Businesses Fail to Meet ADA Standards
Jan 04, 2012 3:36 PM PST
By Kelly Rippin, Monongalia and Preston County Reporter
Video Gallery
http://www.wboy.com/story/16448369/2012/01/04/local-businesses-fail-to-meet-ada-standards
MORGANTOWN WV -
We've told you about the University Avenue widening project in Morgantown and how some of the sidewalks there now violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The sidewalks are still not passable by a person in a wheelchair, but this is just one of many ADA violations that are happening around town.
"There are times that I'll be driving around a parking lot, and I've driven around for a little over an hour, just trying to find a space to park my vehicle so that I could set my ramp down," recalled Roger Sack, a Monongalia County resident and disabled veteran.
At most major stores, handicap accessible parking is clearly marked, and easily accessible, but at some of the smaller businesses around town, there are violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"Some of the problems we run into are some of the spaces, they may be lined, but they don't have signage. So, enforcement of illegal parking is really difficult," added Sack.
As the winter weather descends on Morgantown, without proper signage, it's difficult for drivers to see a handicap parking spot.
In some instances, the few handicap parking spaces available are blatantly ignored all together.
Roger Sack took video of a storage unit being removed from a handicap space at a local strip mall.
It has been placed there during the holiday season and took up one of only three available handicap spaces.
Sack spoke with the store earlier in the week and was told "the city gave the store permission to park the unit there."
After checking with the city, he was told this was untrue.
On Wednesday, as the unit was being removed, he filed a report with the company and was told he would hear back in the coming days.
"We have people with disabilities of all various types of disabilities. Some who can't walk more than 250 feet, some of them have oxygen, some have neurogenic problems. Some people look as if they are not disabled, but they do wear out fast," explained Sack.
The Americans with Disabilities Act has been in place for more than 20 years, and it is Roger Sack's hope that businesses will push to be ADA compliant before they are given a fine.
"I think there are some misconceptions too. There are tax credits available for businesses every year to be able to use annually to help make their business more successful. So, whatever they spend on accessibility, there are ways to get money back," suggested Sack.
The Americans with Disabilities Act web site has ways to find out if your business is ADA compliant and also ways to report violations.
Jan 04, 2012 3:36 PM PST
By Kelly Rippin, Monongalia and Preston County Reporter
Video Gallery
http://www.wboy.com/story/16448369/2012/01/04/local-businesses-fail-to-meet-ada-standards
MORGANTOWN WV -
We've told you about the University Avenue widening project in Morgantown and how some of the sidewalks there now violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The sidewalks are still not passable by a person in a wheelchair, but this is just one of many ADA violations that are happening around town.
"There are times that I'll be driving around a parking lot, and I've driven around for a little over an hour, just trying to find a space to park my vehicle so that I could set my ramp down," recalled Roger Sack, a Monongalia County resident and disabled veteran.
At most major stores, handicap accessible parking is clearly marked, and easily accessible, but at some of the smaller businesses around town, there are violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"Some of the problems we run into are some of the spaces, they may be lined, but they don't have signage. So, enforcement of illegal parking is really difficult," added Sack.
As the winter weather descends on Morgantown, without proper signage, it's difficult for drivers to see a handicap parking spot.
In some instances, the few handicap parking spaces available are blatantly ignored all together.
Roger Sack took video of a storage unit being removed from a handicap space at a local strip mall.
It has been placed there during the holiday season and took up one of only three available handicap spaces.
Sack spoke with the store earlier in the week and was told "the city gave the store permission to park the unit there."
After checking with the city, he was told this was untrue.
On Wednesday, as the unit was being removed, he filed a report with the company and was told he would hear back in the coming days.
"We have people with disabilities of all various types of disabilities. Some who can't walk more than 250 feet, some of them have oxygen, some have neurogenic problems. Some people look as if they are not disabled, but they do wear out fast," explained Sack.
The Americans with Disabilities Act has been in place for more than 20 years, and it is Roger Sack's hope that businesses will push to be ADA compliant before they are given a fine.
"I think there are some misconceptions too. There are tax credits available for businesses every year to be able to use annually to help make their business more successful. So, whatever they spend on accessibility, there are ways to get money back," suggested Sack.
The Americans with Disabilities Act web site has ways to find out if your business is ADA compliant and also ways to report violations.
