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Does anyone know why my parents had to pay to park in a handicaped space next to Anderson last game? This bummed my dad out for he is already embarassed that he has that disabled sign on his rear view mirror. My parents have had season tickets for 35-40 years and it is getting harder and harder to get them out of the house to do stuff. I wish they didn't have this hindrance to their attendence.

I just spoke with Dad and he told me that he's not going to the game tonight.
Once again, Bummer.

Did they try telling them that they needed handicap access?

In year's past you had to have a Falcon Club pass to get into the Library lot. This year they're also allowing anyone without that pass in that lot for $10. I would like to think they would allow those with handicap stickers to park there for free if they asked, but I do not know for sure.

The parking situation at Anderson is awful. You have to walk for quite a way if you're not willing to pay that $10. I don't have a problem with it, but I would hope that if you're handicapped they'd take that into consideration and let you park in the library lot in a handicap space for free.

We ahve a temp since my daughter broke her leg. At UT they have been great- free parking and right next to the building. The TPD guys wanted to make us go to another lot and bus back but the Campus guys waved us through and have been great. I'd call your campus police and explain the situation.

That's no good. Though I think you'd be better served asking that question to Greg Christopher (email is [email protected], I believe) than posting here. The people working the library lot probably are just under instructions to take money from anyone who pulls into that lot, without thinking about those who have handicapped permits.

Well, since every overweight person and their brother now has a handicapped placard, you're probably getting screwed yet again because of the actions of others.

My father and me went to the OHSAA basketball playoffs down in Columbus a few years back. We arrived about 2 hours before the first game and all of the handicapped spaces were already filled at the Schott.

Redwingtom wrote:Well, since every overweight person and their brother now has a handicapped placard, you're probably getting screwed yet again because of the actions of others.

Despite the Simpsons episode that speaks to the contrary, being fat should be no reason to get to park close. In fact, they should give overweight folks parking passes for the LAST row so they can get a little extra walking in.

Make them work out with Jillian....

http://us.video.aol.com/player/launcher ... sday&start

(you gotta watch a 14 second ad before the "fun" part)

Alright, I'll be the dick in this thread... My thoughts are not specifically directed at the instance in this thread, but this thread has brought to light something I have thought about for a while about HC accessibility.

The HC tag gives the tag holder access to a spot within a close distance to a building and perhaps near a ramp. So why does that often include free parking?

At the ballpark I work we have "handicapped seating" which are wheel chair accessible seats in the $8 box seat ticket area which we sell for $5. What has annoyed me is that people have caught on and ask for HC seats on the phone and then show up with 3-4 people (non of which are wheelchair bound) and enjoy great seats with extra leg room for $3 cheaper than they should be.

As pointed out earlier in the thread it is probably these people that have encroached on the HC sections that have ruined it for those truly in need.

Dayons_Den wrote:Alright, I'll be the dick in this thread... My thoughts are not specifically directed at the instance in this thread, but this thread has brought to light something I have thought about for a while about HC accessibility.

The HC tag gives the tag holder access to a spot within a close distance to a building and perhaps near a ramp. So why does that often include free parking?

At the ballpark I work we have "handicapped seating" which are wheel chair accessible seats in the $8 box seat ticket area which we sell for $5. What has annoyed me is that people have caught on and ask for HC seats on the phone and then show up with 3-4 people (non of which are wheelchair bound) and enjoy great seats with extra leg room for $3 cheaper than they should be.

As pointed out earlier in the thread it is probably these people that have encroached on the HC sections that have ruined it for those truly in need.

A couple of points here.

Per the ADA (acutally ADAAG - Americans with Disablities Act Acceessible Guideline), the path of travel to the building and building entry must be accessible and is the first priority per the DOJ. So - the accessible parking spaces must be on the shortest distance to the entry. There are people who don't use wheelchairs but have trouble walking distances. ie - my father has nerve degeneration in his arms and legs and can have trouble walking even for short distances. He does not use a wheelchair - he just guts it out. But shortening the distance he has to walk helps him greatly. (He has a placard for his car and uses when he is in pain - which is basically daily - but he if a non-accessbile space is open and close to the building - he uses that space)

Now - if you have an event held in a building, the accessible parking spaces must be located on the shortest travel distance to the building. PERIOD. You could argue that if the only accessible parking spaces are in the only "pay lot" - you should not be charging for those spaces. You can't logically say - hey we have free accessible spaces in lot Z ..... 1/2 mile from the event. But you also could say - we have various levels of parking for our patrons. To park in Lot A next to the building - the cost is $10. (equal treatment for the able-bodied and individuals with disabilites)

However, it would make sense to say - we have limtied accessible parking next to the building. It is provided on a first-come first serve basis. It is free. You must call 24 hours prior to the event and place your name on the list. If you show up without your placard - expect to be turned away.

It's a tricky thing and actually it is best to have a written policy to handle all situations.

Now to your handicap seating thing. The ADA requires you to provide accessible seating dispersed throughout your facility. It is based on a percentage. Meaning you need so many in each level of seating and the cost should be the same. So if I buy blue level seats - HC or not - the cost is the same. In the situation you have created, I think I could actually sue you for discriminating against me as an individual without disabilites. So actually you have created this situation yourselves and should immediately correct it.

Now if the only accessible seats are in the best section - then you actually do not meet the ADA. Who says I might not want to sit in the outfield or down the third baseline or in the upper deck.

Since the advent of the ADA in 1991, I have surveyed over 700 facilities totaling over 70 million SF. It is not hard to be accessible - its just people seem to be asses and just don't want to do it. 75% of us will have a temporary disability in our lifetime (such as H20ville Rocket's daughter). This will affect us all at some point in our lives. I can tell you lots of sad and stupid stories (like the freaking city that had a ramp without handrails ..... thought it was fine until a paraplegic fell off of it and became a quadriplegic. Then they hired me to review the entire city..... a state capital no less...... nearly 8 years after the ADA became law.... and only after they figured out they could lose all federal funding for not complying to the law.)

Stepping down off of soap box now...........

Dayons_Den wrote: The HC tag gives the tag holder access to a spot within a close distance to a building and perhaps near a ramp. So why does that often include free parking?

The guy said his parents have been Falcon season ticket holders for forty years. My God, haven't they suffered enough?

Don't get me started on perks for HC people. Yeah, it's tons of fun being the wheelman for someone in a chair, I laugh every time I get to park in the HC space, get the chair, help the person, wheel the chair, and get to sit in a place I wouldn't ever pick if I were alone. And Anderson Arena has such wonderful accomodations, what with the entrance in front (or is that back) and no ramps.

If someone can park right next to the Ridge Street doors and negotiate the step into the arena, that would be wonderful....if only someone thought to do that.

You"re worried about someone's family saving $3 a ticket? Pray you don't ever become disabled.

HoopsFan and yes I'm pissed

HoopsFan wrote:Don't get me started on perks for HC people. Yeah, it's tons of fun being the wheelman for someone in a chair, I laugh every time I get to park in the HC space, get the chair, help the person, wheel the chair, and get to sit in a place I wouldn't ever pick if I were alone. And Anderson Arena has such wonderful accomodations, what with the entrance in front (or is that back) and no ramps.

If someone can park right next to the Ridge Street doors and negotiate the step into the arena, that would be wonderful....if only someone thought to do that.

You"re worried about someone's family saving $3 a ticket? Pray you don't ever become disabled.

HoopsFan and yes I'm pissed

Having just pushed my daughter around for 3 months I learned all these things too well. Usually its not much fun for the person IN the chair either-but hey, most of them are just fat so what the heck...

h2oville rocket wrote:

HoopsFan wrote:Don't get me started on perks for HC people. Yeah, it's tons of fun being the wheelman for someone in a chair, I laugh every time I get to park in the HC space, get the chair, help the person, wheel the chair, and get to sit in a place I wouldn't ever pick if I were alone. And Anderson Arena has such wonderful accomodations, what with the entrance in front (or is that back) and no ramps.

If someone can park right next to the Ridge Street doors and negotiate the step into the arena, that would be wonderful....if only someone thought to do that.

You"re worried about someone's family saving $3 a ticket? Pray you don't ever become disabled.

HoopsFan and yes I'm pissed

Having just pushed my daughter around for 3 months I learned all these things too well. Usually its not much fun for the person IN the chair either-but hey, most of them are just fat so what the heck...

If that last swipe was directed at me, I was not talking about people in wheelchairs, troll

HoopsFan wrote:Don't get me started on perks for HC people. Yeah, it's tons of fun being the wheelman for someone in a chair, I laugh every time I get to park in the HC space, get the chair, help the person, wheel the chair, and get to sit in a place I wouldn't ever pick if I were alone. And Anderson Arena has such wonderful accomodations, what with the entrance in front (or is that back) and no ramps.

If someone can park right next to the Ridge Street doors and negotiate the step into the arena, that would be wonderful....if only someone thought to do that.

You"re worried about someone's family saving $3 a ticket? Pray you don't ever become disabled.

HoopsFan and yes I'm pissed

I don't think anyone was talking about any privelages here....... And the proper term for you is "Companion" - not wheelman. Let's use people first language. Its the young man who uses a wheelchair - not wheelchair boy.

I have told people if they want to see how accessible a place is - push a baby stroller. (now my kids are too old for that, but when I started doing a lot of accessible design/barrier removal, I was pushing a stroller around). Go to the local Mall and push your child through the place. Make sure to stop in the big department stores and go into the center of the area with lots of clothing racks. You won't get through without taking the entire Spring Collection with you. Take the stroller into the changing room with you and try on some clothes..... probably a tight fit.

Like I said elsewhere, one of the BEST college sports venues for accessiblity and experience for all fans is the East stands at Yager at Miami. I hope the new Convo center has accessible seating dispersed through out so all fans can enjoy the game at all ticket levels.

BTW - the front seats are usually not the best seats for some folks using a wheelchair. Many times they have a neck injury and can't support their neck up enough to view the movie screen or sports floor. A higher vantage point can sometime be best to allow the individual the ability to view the court and not have to have the neck strength it takes to sit in the front row.

BTW #2 - The ADAAG is based on a 28 yr old male with strong upper body strength (thing about a lateral transfer at the toilet). So quite honestly, many of the "Accessible" design features are not really acceessible to everyone. A ramp with a run over 12 feet long without a landing can be exhausting for someone who does not use a motorized chair.

Thanks for the great insight on the topic Tech, it has been very informative and enlightening.

I have a question regarding "accessibility" and specifically referring to my place of work here.

The HC seating I mentioned is accessible to those in a wheelchair. Like I said, though, people have caught on that you can order these excellent seats and save money in doing so. My question would be regarding the law and accessibility is could we require folks to be with a person in a wheelchair to sit there? The seats are accessible, but if the HC is shortness of breath, weak legs etc. there are seats much closer to the walkways/entrances that would be more beneficial to those folks.

HoopsFan- easy there tiger. I am not bitching about losing the money per ticket. What happens is the HC areas fill up, often times with people who are not in a wheelchairs thus limiting the space and area for folks in a wheelchair that actually must sit in those areas.

Which brings me to another legal type accessibility question. We sell out from time to time and on busy nights our HC area sells out first. Is that okay, or do we always have to have HC seating available until our last seat is sold before we go in to a Standing Room Only mode? Can we say "all of our HC seats are sold out, but we have some blue section seats left"?