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Here's a new situation: Our co-op has built a wheelchair ramp in the rear of our building. We are not a new building. There are regulations for new construction that signs must be posted showing where the wheelchair ramp, or handicap access is, on that new building. So in our case, for example, a sign would be installed on both the front and back of the building, to aid people who otherwise don't know about the ramp, to show that the building is accessible.
Some on our Board adamantly don't want to install signs giving these reasons: (1) we're a residence not a commercial building; (2) we are not a nursing home; (3) if a person using a wheelchair is visiting, the handicapped person will be told in advance about the ramp.
Others on our Board say we should respect the dignity of the handicapped and post the signs, and since we've just spent thousands of dollars on the ramp, and we ought to let people coming to the building know about it.
The City on the Commission of Human Rights was consulted and gave us guidance to post the 2 signs, even though the code is for "new" construction.
What would you do? Many thanks.
Peggy, I thoroughly agree with you and thank you for your sincere and speedy response. As soon as our ramp was ordered I also ordered the signs, and at our recent board meeting was stunned and dismayed that even one director, let alone 3, would fight them. There is one person in our building using a wheelchair and I was very pleased that he gave the Board a letter requesting the ramp, requiring us to build it. Now he can get out of the buildling again. The day after the directors fought the signs I phoned the City Commission on Human Rights and that office was also stunned that any director would argue about them, and offered to speak with anyone on the Board who wanted to discuss it. One director did, and amazingly is still unconvinced. The terrible prejudice of those directors shows their ignorance, but the signs are going to be installed.
Our back door, like yours, is too heavy for most people and will have to be changed. One possibility is an electronic door that would enable us to key in a code rather than use a key and I've asked the property manager to call an expert to look into it.
Peggy, I am sorry for your plight at Lido Towers. Please call the City Commission on Human Rights and learn what your rights are -- force Lido's action on your behalf. My husband became a paraplegic instantly as the result of an accident and lived only until age 48, dying before NYC had the protections for the handicapped that it has now. Ramps and curb cuts were not yet required and his life was very difficult. Everyone who is disabled or advocates for those who are should be aware of the protections this City affords. Harvey Fisher at the CCHR can be reached at 212) 306-7510 and hfisher@cchr.nyc.gov. He is compassionate, patient and a great asset to the City.
Thank you again for your reply which with your permission I'll print and share with my Board.
PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE!
Lido Towers WAS WILLING TO INSTALL THE ELECTRONIC DOOR THAT YOU SPEAK OF ~~~
AT MY EXPENSE!
That is right, I will tell you EXACTLY who said it the building manager SHARRIE MOORSE said that she would INVESTIGATE THE COST & I COULD HAVE SUCH A DOOR INSTALLED - AT MY EXPENSE!
She ALSO told me to WALK MY SERVICE DOG OFF THE PREMISES using the REAR VEHICLE ENTRANCE near the "E" LOT she said that the PLATES that were put on the ground for the constructions workers would be REMOVED WITHIN ONE WEEK.
That was ALMOST 4 MONTHS AGO. She NEVER did give me a COST on the ELECTRONIC DOORS, MAKE ANY EFFORT to make this place more accessible & NOT ONLY ARE THE PLATES STILL BLOCKING THAT REAR EXIT - THE REAR EXIT HAS BEEN UNUSABLE BY ANYONE FOR CLOSE TO A MONTH BECAUSE "MORE CONSTRUCTION" is being done in that area & the WHOLE SECTION IS BLOCKED BY CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES
I THINK the ONLY REASON I stay is is to SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. Sharrie Moorse & her band of merry men (the board of directors) TRY ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE HANDICAPPED TO GET AROUND THIS BUILDING & GROUNDS.
I have HUNDREDS of PHOTOS of the LOONESY that goes on here. Of the 5 HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES 2 ARE NOT even MARKED as HANDICAPPED (no signs). I found (& took a picture of the fallen signs) THROWN IN A PILE OF CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS.
My mom is almost 80 years old & if anything happens to her INSTEAD OF FIGHTING TO REMAIN HERE IN MY HOME, I WILL GO IN A NURSING HOME because there seems to be NO ONE that can DEFEAT SHARRIE MOORSE.
PLEASE PASS ON MY MESSAGE & ANYONE NEEDING MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAW & ACCESSIBILITY PLEASE LET ME KNOW I HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION - THE ONLY PROBLEM IS LIDO TOWERS FEELS THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW!
Peggy, The situation you describe is outrageous and probably unlawful. (You should not be asked to pay for the door, for example). Please call Mr. Fisher at the NYC Commission on Human Rights: (212) 306-7510. If Mr. Fisher is not in, please ask for Mr. Finkelstein. They are there to help.
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Why do condo owners want to hide the handicapped? Why are you embarrassed to admit that people are handicapped?
Did you know that anyone of you could be in an accident have a stroke or get a disease like I have & within momments go from being able bodied to being handicapped?
Because of advancing disability I had to move in with my mom in January. She lives in LIDO TOWERS in LIDO BEACH NY. ALMOST EVERY DAY I CONSIDER GOING INTO A NURSING HOME (I am not even 50 years old) because IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN LIVING HERE.
These *(#)_#@_)(@($*#( PEOPLE have spent $18 million over several years to refurbrish & rehabilitate this building. You cannot imagine how much money they spent on painting this building PINK so that it would look like the original "PINK HOTEL"
Through all of this THEY HAVE SPENT ZERO/ NADA/ NOTHING ON ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE HANDICAPPED.
Right now my wheelchair is broken but I DON'T CARE because when I would use my wheelchair IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. The ONLY DOOR I could get in & even then WITH A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY was in the very back of the building & MANY TIMES I WOULD NOT go out BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TOO DAMN HARD TO FIGHT WITH THE DOORS
The sidewalks on the property are BROKEN & DISCHEVELED so when I walk with my walker I am ALWAYS TRIPPING.
There are 5 HANDICAPPED PARKING PLACES FOR THIS HUGE COMPLEX & ONLY 2 near my condo. MOST of the time I am able to get one of these handicapped spots but if I can't I AM FORCED TO PARK IN A SPOT THAT IS TOO SMALL FOR MY VAN BECAUSE THE CONDO MANAGER DOES NOT FEEL THAT HANDICAPPED PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVE PRIORITY PARKING
So next time you or anyone else lies awake at night trying to think of ways TO HIDE THE HANDICAPPED realize that you are all ONLY ONE STEP AWAY FROM BEING HANDICAPPED YOURSELVES & NO YOU DO NOT RUN A NURSING HOME but SHOULD ALL HANDICAPPED PEOPLE be hidden away & warehoused in nursing homes so that you do not have to deal with them?
It was not too long ago that BLACK PEOPLE WERE REGULATED TO THE BACK OF THE BUS it took a great deal of fighting & loss of life before they earned the right to be treated like THE EQUAL CITIZENS THEY ARE. The handicapped have fought a similar fight & while the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT of 1990 GRANTED HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ALL KINDS OF THINGS there are still MANY PEOPLE (like condo owners) they try really hard to "KEEP US ON THE BACK OF THE BUS" so to speak.
Wake up & smell the cofffee folks - it could be you someday!
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