From the New York Times:

People with disabilities have brought a federal class-action lawsuit against the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California.

Federal law requires the Park Service to provide universal access to its land and attractions. [Ann] Sieck (above, with her husband) and other people with disabilities say they cannot gain entry or use many of the Golden Gate area’s historic buildings, trails, museums, restrooms or water fountains.

The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in San Francisco, contends that the Park Service and its local administrators have “systemically discriminated against plaintiffs on the basis of their disabilities,” failing to make adjustments, required for decades, to assist people with restricted mobility, poor or no vision, hearing loss or other needs.

“To some extent it’s a money issue,” said Laurence Paradis, a lawyer and the executive director of Disability Rights Advocates, the public interest law center leading the legal challenge. “But to a larger extent, there is a lack of commitment to the overall concept.”

… In 2005, Disability Rights Advocates won a similar case against the California park system. California agreed to repair and remodel 270 parks at an estimated cost of $100 million.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm and is filed under ADA, accessibility, discrimination, law, wheelchair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post