Twenty Years of ADA

Aimee Wehmeier, the director of Services for Independent Living, waits Thursday for her assistant, Lindsay Pike, in the parking lot of Les Bourgeois Winery. Wehmeier was born with muscular dystrophy and has used a wheelchair her entire life. To get around, she uses a wheelchair accessible van and a 350-pound motorized wheelchair.

Aimee Wehmeier remembers maneuvering her motorized wheelchair out of a local grocery store about five years ago when a man in the parking lot gave her a quarter. She was puzzled by his action and asked what the quarter was for.

"To help you," he replied.

She laughs about it even now, joking about what practical use a quarter is for anyone - in or out of a wheelchair.

Wehmeier, who has muscular dystrophy and has been in a wheelchair her entire life, certainly wasn't raised to put her hand out to depend on an occasional quarter for sustenance.

"My mom told me, 'You better get a good job because you'll never wait tables,'" she recalled. So, taking Mom's advice, she left St. Charles after graduating from Francis Howell North High School in 1989 and moved to Columbia that summer.

It was one year before then-President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans With Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. ADA was considered the most comprehensive policy statement ever made regarding civil rights for people with disabilities.

The ADA law marks its 20th anniversary later this month, and the local Services for Independent Living office turned 30 this summer. It seems almost fitting that SIL staff have coordinated a 12-day anniversary celebration from July 21 through Aug. 1, from adaptive sports competitions and public forums to a presentation at Ragtag Cinema and a disability pride parade on July 24.

"We wanted to do a celebration," said Wehmeier, the executive director of SIL since October 2006. The single-event celebration became multiple events, then a week, then nearly two weeks long.

"It just kept growing and growing. It's just amazing," Wehmeier said. She paused briefly, repeating her mother's advice about getting a good job. "It's pretty amazing to me to have a job that is also my life."

The Americans with Disabilities Act was designed to create equality and access in three key areas for people with disabilities. Title I of the act addresses employment for individuals with a disability. Advocates of the law say a common misperception, however, is the cost of making reasonable accommodations, even though most of the accommodations - such providing elevated work stations - are less than $250.

Title II of the ADA refers to state and local government accessibility provisions. Public schools are subject to Title I for employment purposes and Title II with regard to programs, services, activities and physical access. Children who rarely participated in mainstream education before the law are now required to be educated in the least restrictive environment.

Title III refers to private, nongovernmental entities and not-for-profit services operating places of "public accommodation." Businesses governed by Title III include restaurants, supermarkets, lawyers' and doctors' offices, banks, shopping centers, privately owned sports arenas, movie theaters, private day care centers, hotels, accountant or insurance offices, museums and health clubs.

Some examples of ADA requirements include having accessible parking spaces, doorways, hallways, bathrooms and counters.

The senior President Bush called the ADA legislation "a sledgehammer" to the walls that had separated Americans with disabilities from freedoms that were not previously accessible to them.

Whether the walls of exclusion have all "come tumbling down," as the president announced, is open to debate.

"To most people, ADA is just putting up a ramp," said Wehmeier. "I don't think that's changed a lot."

But the ADA isn't just about people in wheelchairs or installing a wheelchair accessible ramp. There are other accommodation and accessibility issues. Wehmeier pointed out that Columbia has no movie theater that offers captioning for deaf people. It's also rare to find a doctor's office that has interpreters for the hearing-impaired.

And not all accommodations are a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, providing print information in Braille might be effective for one person who is blind; however, not all people who are blind read Braille. For another person who is blind, an audio recording might be more effective.

"There's still a lot of work to do," she said.

Troy Balthazor, the public information officer for the Great Plains ADA Center, headquartered at 100 Corporate Lake Drive in Columbia, pointed out that "a great number" of publicly funded facilities still do not meet ADA standards.

General, physical access to buildings and public environments, such as playgrounds and sidewalks, is at the top of Balthazor's list for ADA compliance still needed.

"A lot of changes have been made, and newly constructed facilities tend to be much more accessible to all people than they were prior to the ADA," he said.

While private businesses generally are not required to meet all ADA requirements unless they construct new facilities or host public meetings, state and local governments don't have that option. All programs and services of government agencies must be accessible to everyone. Removing "readily accessible barriers" in both public and private environments is the bottom line of the ADA.

Great Plains is promoting the "2010 in 2010" campaign, which is trying to get 2,010 public entities, private businesses and other organizations to sign a proclamation of recommitment "to full implementation" of the ADA.

The proclamation has been signed by dozens of Missouri organizations and officials, including Gov. Jay Nixon, Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid, local hospitals, the Boone County Commission, the city of Centralia and others, including private businesses.

But not everyone has warmed up to the proclamation of recommitment.

"Plenty of entities have not wanted to sign it," Balthazor said, declining to identify the counties or cities that have opted not to join the proclamation. He thinks the fear of being held to a higher standard might dissuade some from signing.

"The law's been out there 20 years," he said. "It's disappointing when entities don't sign."

The ADA Center is among nearly a dozen organizations involved in planning the local ADA anniversary celebration. SIL community relations coordinator Becky Stewart has worked to put together a jam-packed week of events.

A disability pride parade is set for 11 a.m. July 24 beginning and ending at the Courthouse Square in downtown Columbia. Other events take place throughout the community. A full schedule is available at www.thompsoncenter.missouri.edu/ada/ada.html.

Services for Independent Living provide support and services to seven counties, including Boone, Callaway and Randolph. SIL's programs include peer support groups, a residential ramp project for income-eligible consumers, transportation services, housing information, in-home services and legislation advocacy.

More than half of staff and board of directors members are people with disabilities who have personally experienced social and physical barriers associated with disability. The organization receives funding through the United Way.

Wehmeier is often the face of the organization as well as the community when it comes to people with disabilities.

"I think my purpose is to make people more comfortable" with dealing with people with disabilities, she said. "I feel like my gift is working on barriers. Sometimes it takes a lot of smiles, a lot of energy, a lot of first handshakes."

Just don't mistake her easy-going demeanor for a lack of passion. Wehmeier has thrived in the job market, for instance, but she knows that is the exception for many wheelchair-bound workers.

"The most qualified candidate doesn't always get the job," Wehmeier said. "That hasn't changed" since the adoption of the ADA. "To me, that's a huge barrier."

Wehmeier, 39, attended MU and received a degree in educational and counseling psychology. She later earned a master's degree in business administration. Before taking the top spot at SIL, she worked 10 years at State Farm Insurance, where she wore a variety of hats, including claims representative and supervisor. Another duty was representing State Farm on SIL's board of directors.

"For me, I have been able to work since I was 18 years old," Wehmeier said. "That is not the story for most people."

She also owns her home, complete with a roll-in shower, zero-entry doors and other features necessary for her to live as independently as possible. But independence begins with employment, she stressed.

"That affects every aspect of disability," said Wehmeier, who does not use her left hand and can lift only 6 ounces with her right hand.

"I want to be able to do as much for myself as possible," she said. "I want to be able to have as much dignity as I can."

When Wehmeier remembers her mother saying how important it would be to get a good job, she also hears her mom saying that she has "beaten the odds." But that characterization makes her as uncomfortable as the word "handicap."

"I kind of get tired of being the exception," Wehmeier said. "It should be the same for all."

And if she has anything to do with it, SIL's new mission statement - "We empower people to maximize their independence" - will help other people with disabilities realize the self-determination that Wehmeier exhibits.

Wehmeier gives Columbia high marks for accessibility but noted that rural communities and smaller cities don't provide as many options for people with disabilities.

One community where accessibility has been a hot topic is Centralia, in northern Boone County, where local advocate John Hinten has been officially proclaimed by Gov. Nixon as a "champion" for disability rights and unofficially as a pariah for many in the community for his unabashed, in-your-face campaign for ADA compliance for city sidewalks, parking and accessibility to local retailers.

Hinten said he's probably cast as "an angry man in a wheelchair," and his approach is less diplomatic than Wehmeier's, even if their passions are similar. He began using a wheelchair five years ago in a 20-year battle with complications from Lyme disease.

The No. 1 problem with fully implementing ADA, in his view, is "attitude of society."
"Saying, 'It doesn't affect me' is shallow thinking," he said. "It affects us all. The disability club is one you can join without applying for at any time, any place and to any degree of disability."

Late last year, Hinten filed a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, alleging disability discrimination by Mayor Tim Grenke and the city of Centralia. The complaint was investigated, and the case was closed without finding any basis to support Hinten's claim.

Hinten has returned to the community's accessibility committee, and the town recently featured beefed-up accommodations at the annual Anchor Festival, but Hinten continues to beat the ADA drum, if only more softly - for now.

"Enforcement" of ADA law "is a problem, but apathy is just as bad," Hinten said, chiding people for turning their heads and doing nothing when they see someone who is not disabled park in a handicap spot.

And he gets especially agitated at the suggestion that the ADA is "too expensive" for compliance.

Big-ticket items under ADA often qualify for grants, tax credits or similar incentives, he said.

"Most things that require modification and change to comply cost very little. Some cost nothing," he said. Hinten contends that the society's priorities is the likely the biggest obstacle to ADA compliance.

"Until we as a society make ADA compliance a priority," he said, "we will be where we are today at the 40-year anniversary."

Balthazor is more optimistic about the future, partly because he sees the aging baby boomer generation driving the economy by creating markets for disability accessibility, pharmaceuticals and other goods and services geared toward that
population, many of whom might develop some level of age-related disability.

ADA advocates claim that one in five Americans currently has some level of mental or physical disability.

Moving forward, Balthazor would like to see Missouri government adopt a state building code that implements ADA guidelines.

"A lot of our neighbors are significantly ahead of us on that," he said.
He's also eager to see the "symbolic measure" of signing a recommitment to ADA bloom into actual steps toward achieving compliance.

Balthazor pointed out that the ADA law is a work in progress, not a one-time fix for the civil rights of people with disabilities.

"Like any other civil rights movement, society has a lot to do with it," he said. "It is a massive undertaking. It is a massive change."

This article was originally published by the Columbia Daily Tribune on July 11, 2010 by Jodie Jackson Jr.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/jul/11/twenty-years-ada/

Mobility Conquest Trike Featured On Denver's Channel 9News

On Tuesday July 13th, Adaptive AutoMobility was proud and fortunate to welcome Gregg Moss from Channel 9News to feature the latest in adaptive technology, the new Mobility Conquest Trike. The Trike is a revolutionary new motorcycle designed specifically for a wheelchair user to drive from their wheelchair. Your wheelchair goes where you go, unlike some bikers with non-accessible trikes that are forced to have someone follow them in a van with the wheelchair while they are riding with their friends. In this bike, your chair is with you and you are in control again, on your own, on the open road with the wind in your hair, the ultimate feeling of freedom!

The Mobility Conquest was invented in England by Alan Martin. Mr. Martin’s son was injured in a work related accident and he wanted to help his son ride motorcycles again. From those modest beginnings they have now sold more than 100 bikes in the UK in the last year, and have ventured across the pond to the United States. And don't think for a second that this bike is built for anything other than performance! Many people assume that this trike would go slow for safety reasons or because it is being driven from a wheelchair, but this machine was built with both safety and performance in mind.

Performance comes from the BMW's 1170 CC engine, the most powerful engine and front end suspension BMW makes, combined with a Formula One rear suspension. Everyone who rides it says the same thing, "Wow, this is surprisingly powerful". With 0-60 mph only taking 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 105 mph (due to a governor) you will have no problem keeping up with your friends.

The bike is well balanced as a result of the three wheel design and the push-button gear shifter is much easier to use than the original foot shifters. This bike has passed all U.S. road safety requirements, which is more than one can say about all the one-off creations people have come up with on their own.

For that rider who would like to customize and make their bike unique there are many options including radios, windshields, luggage racks, and custom colors. Not that you will need it though, as this bike is truly a head turner. With Batmobile references on an almost daily basis, you can rest assured this is one unusual, eye-catching bike!

This bike is particularly popular with Veterans and was the hit of the 2010 National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Denver over the July 4th weekend. The Conquest is truly a reminder to consumers with physical challenges that they can enjoy independence and the freedom of the open road just like any other biker!
Interested in knowing more? Contact us to schedule a demo ride!

Click on the picture below to visit 9News.com for the full story and video which ran July 14th. It can be found on the home page, the link below, or look for the Gadgets segment by Greg Moss.

Exercise Ideas for Individuals Dependent on Wheelchairs

Sure, getting from point A to point B in your wheelchair accessible van is easy but being healthy and prolonging your life takes a little more work and dedication.

You've heard that everyone should be exercising, but what if you have a disability? It's hard enough taking care of the basics if you're in a wheelchair or have other physical handicaps. If you've neglected your exercise routine, now is a good time to get started because it really can make you feel better. Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart and lungs, improves mobility and can increase upper body strength. Don't forget that exercise also reduces stress and fatigue and will increase your energy level and endurance, among other nice things.

One of the most important aspects of life with a disability might be maintaining emotional health. People with disabilities or chronic illnesses may feel angry, depressed, frustrated and confused. Exercise is an excellent way to help you cope with a disability. Not only will it make you stronger, but studies have shown that exercise helps combat depression. Keep in mind many exercises can be used no matter what your disability, especially stretching and range-of-motion exercises.

Generally, when you are in a wheelchair the exercises you should be concerned with are resistance exercises to improve your upper body strength and help reduce your chances of injury. One good place to start is with exercise videos which can be done in the privacy of your own home any time you want.

If you're interested in doing all of your working out at home, you might want to think about investing in some specialized exercise equipment. There are many new strength training machines available for people in wheelchairs, as well as hand-cyclers and other cardio equipment. But, don't let a lack of special equipment keep you from your work out. If you have upper body mobility, try lifting your arms straight out in front of you, hold for a few seconds then lower. Next, lift your arms out to the sides (stopping at shoulder level), hold, and then lower. Do both of these exercise 15 to 20 times and, as you get stronger, hold light hand weights. More specific upper body activities include shoulder shrugs, overhead presses and bicep curls.

If you're competitive, why not get involved in organized sports? Participate in Wheelchair sports. Find events near you that include basketball, archery, fencing and more. If you need help with training for a specific sport or event, the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) can help you find fitness programs in your area.

Now, hop into your accessible van and drive to a gym or to buy workout equipment for your home.

VMI Announces Next Generation Slide-Away Platform Lift For Wheelchair Accessible Vans

PHOENIX -- July 8, 2010 Vantage Mobility International (VMI) announced that its much anticipated next generation Ricon Slide-Away platform lift for wheelchair accessible vans is now available for purchase from VMI/Ricon dealers nationwide. As an innovative manufacturer and distributor of accessories and vehicles for mobility restricted individuals, VMI/Ricon developed the revolutionary platform lift design to allow full functionality of the front passenger seat and provide greater access for able-bodied passengers.

"Our new Slide-Away platform lift is a bold step forward in design, functionality and quality," said Doug Eaton, president of VMI. "The team of engineers has worked tirelessly to give it exclusive features and technology that will make it the most advanced design in our industry. Not only does it integrate the highest quality parts, but its functionality is unmatched, giving mobility impaired and able-bodied users more versatility than ever before."

In addition to the new, exclusive features on the Slide-Away, VMI/Ricon also re-engineered a variety of systems and components that give it improved performance over previous models. These enhancements include a pressure relief valve in the hydraulic pump to better protect platform components and an upgrade from steel to extruded aluminum on the outboard barrier material to reduce overall platform weight.

"While our proprietary Slide-Away platform lift represents over two decades of design ingenuity, that is only a piece of this new product," added Eaton. "How we manufacture the Slide-Away is just as important as its new design, parts and technology. We've spent the last two years improving our lift manufacturing processes with our Lean quality initiative. Using our Certified Sustainable Quality (CSQ) System we've increased the level of our manufacturing process to better ensure the Slide-Away will perform as our customers expect."

"Attention to detail is an integral part of our business culture at VMI," said Steven Crandell, vice president of operations and quality at VMI. "A part of building the best products is making sure they're built to the high level of quality our customers have come to expect from us. Before making the Slide-Away available to the public, we conducted exhaustive field tests and developed a production readiness program that meets FMVSS requirements. The end result is a quality lift that will perform as promised."

Adaptive AutoMobility is the authorized dealer for the VMI Slide-Away Platform Lift in the State of Colorado with locations in Denver and Colorado Springs. Further information can be found at www.AdaptiveAuto.com or by calling 1-800-748-3695.

Additional information about VMI's proprietary Slide-Away Platform Lift can be found at vantagemobility.com or by calling 800-348-8267.


ABOUT VANTAGE MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL
VMI is a manufacturer and distributor of the most innovative, reliable, highest quality and easily accessible transportation in the world. Their full line of products include domestic and import minivan conversions, full-size van conversions, platform lifts, scooter and wheelchair lifts and transfer seats. VMI's mobility products enable consumers to travel with comfort, convenience and peace of mind.

How to Find a House or Apartment that is Already Wheelchair Accessible

Looking for an apartment or house is a major undertaking and requires attention to details such as location, price range, floor space, number of bedrooms and more. The same considerations are important for a person with a disability, but are overshadowed by the need for a house that is wheelchair accessible. For some it may be as simple as grab bars in the bathrooms. For others more extensive needs must be met such as: wheelchair ramping, wider doorways, lower countertops, etc. Local Ads may be a good source for accessible apartments, but approach them cautiously.

FOR RENT: 2-bedroom wheelchair accessible apartment with ramped entry way and wide door; central location; no pets.

This particular apartment may have a ramp or elevator for easy access to the front door, but it's worthless if wheelchair users can't navigate bathrooms or hallways. Also, the location may be great - close to schools, jobs or friends. However, if curb cuts are missing or public buses lack wheelchair lifts, a good location may turn into a "landlocked" situation.

The hunt for housing has been simplified by the National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse. NAAC is a free service that maintains a data base of 10,000 apartments in 40 states. "Callers can also list their requirements so that the apartments will match their needs," says NAAC spokesperson Ruth Seyler. NAAC will also provide information about low-income properties, and assistance programs.

The ADA, Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 1989 have made the search for accessible living easier.

Housing Built Before 1991
-People with disabilities have a right, sometimes at their own expense, to make reasonable modification to existing premises that will premises that will provide them full enjoyment of the residence (In some cases, landlords may require that the tenant restore the property to its original state before moving).

-Landlords must make reasonable accommodations for all people to use common areas such as lobbies, laundry facilities, clubhouses and other recreational areas, unless doing so results in undue financial hardship.

Housing Built After March 1991
Multifamily buildings of four or more units must follow these FHAA provisions concerning construction

-Common areas like laundry rooms must be accessible.

-All doorways within housing units, including entry doors, must be wide enough to allow wheelchair passage.

-All electrical outlets, power switches, thermostats and other environmental controls must be in accessible locations.

-Kitchens and bathrooms must be designed to allow individuals in wheelchairs comfortable maneuver in them. Technical guidelines follow the standards set by the Amercian National Standard Institute (ANSI).

-All units must be adaptable. For instance, grab bards aren’t required in all bathrooms, but the walls must be reinforces to allow for future installation adaptive equipment.

The best tip for finding a wheelchair accessible apartment or home is to start early, give yourself plenty of time. It may take many months to find the right place.

Handicap Parking Fraud Increasing In the United States

Many states are now noticing the fraud that is prevalent in handicap accessible vehicle parking, and are cracking down to give people larger fines and make it harder to fake handicap parking placards.

South Carolina put a low into effect earlier this year which required the disabled person to have a photo on their placard. Other states that have had new laws go into effect in 2010 are North Carolina, and California.

A new website has also been set up by a Californian woman that had a terrible time parking with her handicapped grandfather. Handicapped Fraud.org has users send in tips that she then sends to the officials at the particular state’s department of motor vehicles.

The founder of the handicapped fraud website, Maureen Birdsall, recommends that when someone sees a driver abusing the system, they shouldn’t confront them, though. Some people who use handicapped parking have invisible disabilities, and it would be very upsetting for them to feel as though their illness or disability was not valid.
Some of the changes in handicap parking across the United States are:

-Connecticut: Republican Governor Judi Rell initiated a media campaign; new technology to make it easier to make sure someone has a valid handicap vehicle parking placard, and window stickers instead of the placards that hang on rear view mirrors.

-California: January 1st, a law went into effect that gives cities the control over whether they increase penalties for handicap parking violations. These fines can be up to $1,000. Also, parking officers can issue them now, where before violations could only be issued by law enforcement. After the bill went into effect, the city of San Francisco raised its fine to $750 from $100.

-North Carolina: Handicap parking placards will now have expiration dates that are in a very large font. This way they can be seen over fifteen feet away.

If you notice handicap accessible vehicle fraud be sure to report it.