Re: [QUAD-L] ADA Bad For The Disabled!

[David K. Kelmer]

Hi John,

 

The ADA was passed in the 101st Congress when Senator Dole was the Minority Leader.  I think Mr. Perry's remarks directed toward Senator Dole had something to do with this fact. 

 

HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ADA

In remarks before more than 3,000 people, predominantly individuals with disabilities, gathered on the South Lawn of the White House for the signing ceremony on July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush described the Act as an "historic new civil rights Act ... the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities." He added that "[w]ith today's signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence and freedom."...

Other officials were equally as enthusiastic in their assessments of the new law. Senator Bob Dole called the ADA "landmark legislation" that would "bring quality to the lives of millions of Americans who have not had quality in the past."

At the time of the ADA's passage in the Senate, Senator Dole observed:

The ADA is ... a good example of bipartisanship in action. The bill originated with an initiative of the National Council on Disability, an independent federal body comprised of 15 members appointed by President Reagan and charged with reviewing all laws, programs, and policies of the Federal Government affecting individuals with disabilities.
135 Cong. Rec. S 10790 (daily ed. Sept. 7, 1989) (remarks of Sen. Dole).

http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2002/rightingtheada.htm

 

With Love,

CtrlAltDel aka Dave
C4/5 Complete - 29 Years Post
Texas, USA

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

I gotta read this book. I don't remember bob dole having much to do with the framing of the ADA. I remember it being a big thing with Metzenbaum and a group of rich liberals. Like it was their gift to the handicapped. It doesn't work unless someone with money goes around sueing over infractions and it makes it easy for the defendant to correct the problem, or not and get off.

It is a second class law for people considered second class too. Even when you win a lawsuit that requires a store to move its racks so wheelchairs can get through, you won't get any money to pay your legal fees. Gov't buildings are suppose to be accessible. Anyone what accessible can be defined down to. If I go to a baseball game I got to get a special wheelchair seating ticket and I promise it isn't a better place to sit and its certainly not cheaper or given to groups.

I went to a new restaurant. It is TGIFridays. I can turn and sit at a table to the left after entering, or a table to the right. Stairs lead to the other seats and bar. The new football stadium is a joke. A place owned by the the Shriners, no less, has a fire exit leading to a ten inch curb. The city buys busses that are handicapped accessible then has the hydraulics disconnected even through they keep the wheelchair sticker on the buss. Because they have special busses for handicapped, but you can't ride them unless you set up an appointment 48 hours ahead of time. The drivers are never on time and obviously, never drug tested. This all would make a great comedy routine except, if your crippled, it is not funny. I don't know how you find one politician to blame. They all took the teeth out of the ADA one tooth at a time. Enjoy your parking places.

 

john

 

In a message dated 6/16/2005 11:11:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

I really don't agree that the ADA is bad for PWDs. (It isn't good, but it is all that we got!) I think that the ADA is not enforced often enough and that it has been weakened by both the legislature and judiciary. Approximately 90% of ADA cases are found in favor of the defendant.

 

Keith

Dana Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Thats the impression I got from what little I saw and read of the review of
his book. I agree with your using the ADA as it was "meant" to be used.
Instead it has become this huge monster that people use for sueing
everything and everybody. There is a guy from Florida who is a sociopath
and unfortunately has a following in the service dog world. He now goes
around the country suing places for not only not allowing services dogs in
their businesses, but getting them for counter heights, bathrooms, parking,
ramps, how much it takes to pull a door open, and ailse widths. He tells
his followers to look for the same things and then to sue for big bucks. I
don't think its working very well. BG!

Dana
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "David K. Kelmer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Dana Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "quad"
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] ADA Bad For The Disabled!


> Hi Dana,
>
> I caught a little more of this program so was able to hear a little more
> about what Mr. Perry was talking about. From what I heard it sounded like
> any other person that has a problem with a government program. He
> highlights some reasons why he thinks the ADA is bad and why people with,
> and without, disabilities would be better off without it. Unfortunately,
> to me, he sounded like the typical "big government is bad" so lets get rid
> of it all, instead of trying to find ways that the ADA can be fine-tuned
> to make it do what it was intended to do. I do agree that the ADA needs
> to be used less like a wreaking ball and more like a paring knife, but it
> sounded like Mr. Perry would like to throw the baby out with the bath > water. Of course he is a very successful writer and businessman inspite
> of being born with a disability, but he does seem to put Senator Dole and
> the Republican Party in a bad light for getting the ADA passed as law.
>
> This is just my impression from what I heard. I haven't read the book but
> plan on it, but I disagree with his opinion that the ADA "law is ugly."
>
> With Love,
>
> CtrlAltDel aka Dave
> C4/5 Complete - 29 Years Post
> Texas, USA
>
> Dana Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> I caught the last 10 minutes of C-Spans book program. The author talking
> about his book was Greg Perry. I have never heard of him and missed his
> entire talk about how bad the ADA has been for those of us who are
> disabled.
> I did find a rather interesting book review of his book "Disabling
> America"
> The website is www.townhall.com/bookclub/per! ry.html ! There also many
> other reviews and comments about him and his books and life if you do a
> search on 'greg perry author of Disabling America'
>
> Just thought it might be interesting. I wish I had heard his opinion. The
> little bit I did catch and the 2 questions that were asked made me feel
> like
> he was an uneasy speaker. He has been on a radio show, think I'll see if
> there is a transcript. take
> care,.
>
> Dana
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
>
>
>
>

Keith

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Keith

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