AND THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR NFL LAWSUIT
THAT PROVES ME RIGHT
When
facility architects and government regulatory officials swear anything new is
automatically 100% accessible "because it was built since the ADA was
enacted" -- they are being idiots.
To the tune
of tens of millions of dollar$.
When I
worked for a major American city, I would see plans for developments and public projects
that clearly had great gaps in accessibility – both to a usable and ADA
compliant standard.
Being the
spouse of a person who uses a wheelchair for mobility – and knowing the cost of
universal design is almost zero when done up front – I would point out these
errors to public works, capital improvements, building and land use officials.
I would
always get “Steve, you’re being too aggressive and out of line – the ADA has
been around for years, so it HAS TO BE ACCESSIBLE.”
It was the
ultimate “stay in your lane jackass” put down.
And I would
think okay, brilliant one…so if something is written down in the rules
somewhere, it magically guarantees 100% of human beings will follow it.
No one will
ever be tempted, for whatever reason, to break the rules and not give a damn
unless caught.
Wow, that’s
why the at the next City Commission meeting, we’ll be disbanding the police
force.
Because if
burglary, robbery, arson, rape, murder…are on the books somewhere as being
forbidden, everyone will just behave and comply 100% -- with no oversight,
supervision or consequences.
Oh, they don’t.
And we need to dedicate resources to making them behave and not run roughshod
over innocent people.
Wow, then I
guess maybe some city officials and departments better get off their lazy duffs
and review plans, send warnings and police
designers/contractors/developers/builders who are all too willing to flout federal
law enacted to ensure access for all.
