[nagdu] clarification on religious exemptions

[Tara Briggs]

I have a question, around Christmas time of 2013 I went to A concert in downtown Salt Lake City. The building was not a church but it was owned by a church. I was told that because of previous negative experiences, I and my service dog would not be permitted to sit with everyone else. I could either sit in a room apart from everyone else and listen to the concert on video, or I could not attend. We chose to leave. Concert was free and open to the public. There were thousands of people attending. It is my understanding that the church had the right to do this. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Tara

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 28, 2015, at 2:35 PM, Marion Gwizdala via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
>    It is my understanding that building codes and fire regulations do
> not exempt private organizations or religious institutions from their
> requirements. The ADA does specifically exempt them. As for whether a church
> must comply with the ADA if they invite the general public, it seems as if
> they must during that time when the church is open as a place of public
> accommodation. This would likely be the case for the choir competition or
> if, say, the church were to host a public forum open to the public. 
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Craig Heaps via
> nagdu
> Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2015 10:56 AM
> To: Debby Phillips; NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide
> Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] clarification on religious exemptions
> 
> So here's my question abuot churches and the ADA.  Is there anything in the
> fedral exemption that keeps states from requiging essecntially the same
> compliance as any other institution/business that welcomes the public in? 
> Can a state pass a law requiring wheelchair ramps or prohibiting the
> exclusion of service animals?
> 
> Can a local government put requirements in its building code for the
> equvialent of ADA compliant adaptions?
> 
> Craig and Chase
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Debby Phillips via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Dailyah" <dailyahpatt at yahoo.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the National
> Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>;
> <pickrellrebecca at gmail.com>; <buddy at brannan.name>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>;
> <dsykora29 at gmail.com>; <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2015 12:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] clarification on religious exemptions
> 
> 
>> Thanks for the information.  I kind of thought that was the way it is. 
>> Fortunately, my parish is fine with my dog-in fact, there are people 
>> praying right now that I get a quicker date for class.  Lol.  I love it.
>> And if I don't get an earlier date, that I can be peaceful with that. 
>> Peace and blessings,    Debby waiting for N D (New Dog).
>> 
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