[nfbmi-talk] call for enforcement of ada

joe harcz Comcast joeharcz at comcast.net
Tue Jun 21 12:44:26 UTC 2011


 

June 21, 2011

 

Open Letter to Advocates in MCBVI and NFB MI

 

Colleagues,

 

All no by now the requirements of the ADA relative to signage and the accessible meeting requirements of the ADA. Now there is a special charge for the Michigan Commission for the Blind in these regards that is self-evident yet, once again the only accessible signage in Constitution Hall where MCB held its quarterly meeting on Friday last was on restrooms and elevators. To make matters even worse the ill-named Constitution   Hall was built after the effected regulatory date of the ADA, Title II (January 26, 1992.) I am shocked particularly at the disregard for enforcing these requirements or even a peep about them from the Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired especially in light of its 2002 resolution (attached after my signature line) in this regard. I am especially insulted by Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services which has been derelict in enforcing the ADA in these regards and routinely goes to meetings such as the aforementioned without a peep and which ignores multiple complaints. There is not a single state building with exception of state colleges in compliance. Not one.

 

I urge all blind people to join together in multiple complaints with appropriate agencies for immediate remedy. I urge our brothers and sisters with MCBVI to put their money where their mouths are.

 

Respectfully,

Attached Resolution:

 

Resolution 2002-04



 

WHEREAS, raised character and Braille signage has long been required to be mounted on every permanent room of every public building by the Americans With Disabilities Act access guidelines and

 



 

WHEREAS, such signage aids people who are blind and visually impaired in independently accessing the programs, services, benefits, and activities provided in these public buildings, and

 



 

WHEREAS, such signage represents the major structural element afforded the blind in the ADA; and

 



 

WHEREAS, this requirement has been grossly overlooked in this state, with many buildings having no accessible signage whatsoever, and

 



 

WHEREAS, many programs, policies and procedures are not easily accessible to citizens who are blind in Michigan,   

 



 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired in CONVENTION ASSEMBLED AT THE Clarion Hotel in Lansing, Michigan that we urge the new Governor to make funds available for barrier removal in buildings owned or operated by the state; and

 



 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the new Governor form a Taskforce on Disability to assist each department of state government in identifying and rapidly removing these barriers.

 



 

Cc: NFB MI

Cc: MCBVI

Cc: MCB Board

Cc: Michigan Protection and advocacy Services

 

 



 



 

 



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