|
COLLIER COUNTY—
Every day people in wheelchairs face challenges getting into
businesses and government buildings, even though there is a
federal civil rights act to protect the disabled. The Americans
with Disabilities Act doesn't extend to the beach and one local
man is ready to rally for his rights to get to the water's edge on
his own.
"It's very
frustrating," said Scott Straub SEE
THE VIDEO
______________________________________________________________
Consider
the handicapped Editor, Naples Daily News:
We had three elderly handicapped folks in two
vehicles for a visit to the pier on March 6.
Yes, it was a busy place, with people being
dropped off at the turnaround, people waiting to be picked up
along with their beach paraphernalia, and we with our walker and
wheelchairs.
This was a first time for us with all the assorted
hardware necessary for a short stroll on the pier with three
octogenarians. We did not see the sign stating "no drop off,
no stopping" in the turnaround" and stopped and dropped
off the folks.
And we got yelled at loud and clear by the beach
patrol officer, really just doing his job.
Would there be a possibility of modifying the sign
to read Handicap Only Drop Off and let the young and agile walk to
the end of the sidewalk with their beach chairs and stuff as we
were instructed to do in no uncertain terms?
On the outbound trip we walked slowly and
carefully to the end of the sidewalk while watching the
beach-chair-and-stuff folks being picked up in the turnaround.
Marlene Donoghue/Plymouth,
Mich
|
Bart
Brophy goes as far as his
chair is capable Friday at
Islander's Beach Park on Hilton
Head Island.
NBC 2