Traveling With Disabilities Forum: Help! What are my rights in public places in the USA?

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jane n

san diego

posts: 1

Help! What are my rights in public places in the USA?

Dec 28, 2012, 2:49 PM

I have been disabled for years but I am now going outside more and must always be with my canes or a wheelchair.

Often I get abused, harassed and swore at in public places when I use or ask to use disabled bathrooms, seating, etc...

I live in San Diego and most people are decent but many scream and swear and tell me they are fed up with accommodating the disabled. For instance...in the past week I went to the movie theater and was in disabled seating and was abused when I politely asked the healthy non-disabled seated patrons behind me to please remove their feet off of the disabled seating poles which were next to my head. I was repeatedly screamed at, told to get out of disabled seating because they didn't want to move their feet and had to get the manager to help me.

At a casino with my family I went to the women's bathroom 3 different times and politely asked if any women in line were disabled so I could take my turn after them and use the disabled bathroom. ALL 3 times I was swore at by healthy women in line and ORDERED to get back into line behind them! I was even told by a employee at the casino that disabled MUST wait in line with everyone else and CAN NOT go to the front of the line and use the disabled bathrooms! I thought disabled bathrooms were for the disabled before healthy people could use them...am I wrong???

I use a wheelchair and people swear or block me when I ask may I go through the aisle. I often get hit with purses and baggage...no apologies ever given to me. I am ready to go back into my shell.

Any suggestions? Do I have any rights?

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4 replies to this topic

Lynn B

Sydney, Australia

posts: 15,451

reviews: 38

1. Re: Help! What are my rights in public places in the USA?

Jan 15, 2013, 10:07 PM

Jane, of course you have rights and your treatment is appalling.

<<In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, and it provided comprehensive civil rights protection for people with disabilities. Closely modeled after the Civil Rights Act and Section 504, the law was the most sweeping disability rights legislation in American history. It mandated that local, state, and federal governments and programs be accessible, that employers with more than 15 employees make “reasonable accommodations” for workers with disabilities and not discriminate against otherwise qualified workers with disabilities, and that public accommodations such as restaurants and stores not discriminate against people with disabilities and that they make “reasonable modifications” to ensure access for disabled members of the public. The act also mandated access in public transportation, communication, and in other areas of public life.>>

What can't be policed easily is the reaction of individuals to people with disabilities and I really feel for you. May I suggest you look for an organisation that works with and supports people with disabilities in your area. This will help you with ideas for where is welcoming as well as providing ideas for various responses you can make and letting you know exactly what your rights are.

Take heart and don't retreat.

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Margaret M

Dunfermline

posts: 25

2. Re: Help! What are my rights in public places in the USA?

Jan 16, 2013, 12:20 PM

Not interested in USA

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Abs140

Sydney, Australia

Destination Expert

for Edinburgh

posts: 3,244

reviews: 141

3. Re: Help! What are my rights in public places in the USA?

Jan 19, 2013, 8:00 AM

I have a friend who uses a wheelchair. After getting thoroughly sick and tired of rude treatment when on trips or out and about in unfamiliar places, she had business cards printed (cheap to do off the Internet). The business cards said she was a 'Chief Contributor' for the accessibility and equality section of a well known travel company (she changed the name to avoid plagiarism). Anyway if she was maltreated by waiters or cinema ushers or shop attendants etc etc, she would smile sweetly and hand out a card, with a well timed comment along the lines of "your rude treatment towards me today will be helpful for when I write my review of your establishment". Things usually became more pleasant after that!

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