Transportation Freedom

Transportation Freedom

We at the UAAAC, believe that access to safe transportation is very important for freedom for us. Without transportation, people with disabilities cannot work and cannot enjoy their life. During 1950's, the lift was developed to get people with disabilities and out of vehicles. But currently most areas of the world do not have lifts on vehicles.

By Sharon Riguer

An Accessible Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Josh Management operates apartments. It has a rental office with a parking lot. The parking lot has accessible parking. The apartments have accessible units.

Josh has a website that advertises the apartments. The website has pictures of the pool, clubhouse, units and gym. However, there are no pictures of the accessible units or the accessible parking.

Pat uses a wheelchair for mobility. He uses the bus. Before he travels he wants to know if his destiny is accessible. Pat wants to move to a new home. He finds the website by Josh Management but it has no accessible pictures. Can Pat bring a valid lawsuit against Josh Management.

The Americans with Disabilities Act says a person using a wheelchair cannot be denied the opportunity to participate. Is Pat denied the opportunity to participate in the picture website experience because Josh posts pictures for surfers without disabilities but does not posts pictures for people with disabilities? No court has decided the issue yet.

The UAAAC filed lawsuits asking the California Central and Northern United District Courts to decide the picture issue.

Penned by Sharon Riguer

UAAAC President

WHAT'S ADA?

ADA stands for Americans With Disabilities Act. It is a civil rights law.

The ADA idea is to reward ability. It says persons with abilities and physical or mental impairments, and their associates have full and equal access to jobs, government programs and business services.
The ADA has several ways to make sure the idea of full and equal access is followed. First way is by prohibitIng intentional discrimination. Second way is by prohibiting unintentional discrimination. Third way is by requiring reasonable accommodation in employment. Fourth way is by requiring the opportunity to participate. Fifth way is by requiring integration. Sixth way is by requiring the effective communication related to providing the auxiliary aid. Seventh way is by requiring physical access. Eight way is by requiring removal of communication barriers.

By Theodore Arthur Pinnock, JD
UAAAC Secretary

What's A Reasonable Accommodation?

A reasonable accommodation is any action to facilitate the abilities of a person to do something. The phrase was first used in disability law to implement the Rehabilitation Act. It was next used in the Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988. Finally, it was used in the employment and public service titles of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

An employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

A government has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation upon request.

A residential landlord or residential manager has a duty to make obvious reasonable accommodations.

Penned by Theodore Arthur Pinnock, J.D.