[Travelandtourism] ADA Suit Against Disney May Expand

[Cheryl Echevarria]

This was posted yesterday on www.disabilityscoop.com
<http://www.disabilityscoop.com>  and online e-newsmagazine.

 

Now for those of us, who went to Epcot this past summer, the Travel and
Tourism Officers did go, we had some issues not with the rides, but other
things, we are working with Mark Jones about.

 

I have to say that when we were in Orlando, we didn't have an issues with
the rides, but you never know.

 

Here is the story, and Mark if you can chime in after the holiday or
whenever you can. I am still waiting for you to get back to me to give you
information with our credit card. 

 

Anyway, here is the article.

 

The number of families looking to sue Disney over changes to its theme park
access policy for people with disabilities is growing substantially.

 

An additional 30 families including 36 individuals with disabilities are
seeking to join a lawsuit originally filed this spring that accuses Walt
Disney Parks and Resorts of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by
failing to accommodate their special needs. Initially, 14 families including
16 people with disabilities were part of the lawsuit.

 

The allegations stem from modifications last fall to Disney's procedures for
accommodating visitors with disabilities. Prior to the change, those with
special needs were provided passes that often allowed them and their guests
to skip to the front of long lines for park attractions. Now, however,
individuals with disabilities can schedule a return time for rides based on
current wait times.

Disney officials said the changes were necessary following "widespread"
abuse of the old system.

 

Since the new policy took effect, the families say in their lawsuit that
visits to Disney theme parks have been marked by long waits and difficult
interactions with Disney employees. What's more, the suit cites cases of
kids with developmental disabilities who have experienced meltdowns
allegedly because they could not handle waiting for rides.

 

After the initial complaint was filed earlier this year, attorneys for the
families "received an outpouring of phone calls and emails" from others who
were similarly affected by changes to the disability access policy at
Disneyland and Disney World, according to documents filed with the U.S.
District Court for the Central District of California this week.

 

"Most of the victims wanted to offer cheers of support and witness
assistance; some were in search of counsel. Ultimately, the undersigned
counsel agreed to represent many of them," the attorneys, Andy Dogali and
Eugene Feldman, wrote.

 

Disney vehemently denied the allegations in a court filing last month saying
that "all guests with disabilities are provided the level of accommodation
required by law." At that time, the company requested that the lawsuit be
dismissed.

 

Attorneys for Disney have indicated they will fight efforts to add more
families to the case when the issue goes before the court in October.

 

The case is not expected to go to trial until 2016.

 

 

Cheryl Echevarria, President

National Federation of the Blind's Travel and Tourism Division

A proud division of the 

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND - "Live the life you want"

www.nfbtravel.org

631-236-5138

cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com

 

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

 

 

Cheryl Echevarria is also the owner of Echevarria Travel
www.echevarriatravel.com; 631-456-5394 or reservations at echevarriatravel.com
and  has partnered with Braille Smith. www.braillesmith.com for all her
braille needs.  Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama