Stand up! Stand up for your rights! There has been civil rights for everyone else, now it's our turn.
Since ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was passed a lot of things are happening. Some are good, some very bad.
One good thing is that every new apartment complex that is federally funded, that goes up has to have 5% of its units wheelchair accessible. Wonderful, right? Wrong! 100% of all the units they call wheelchair accessible are not done to code and are not wheelchair accessible. There are laws out there that say they have to be, but they aren't. Why? Because somewhere down the line somebody just didn't care. They avoid the laws and regulation codes for a multitude of reasons. Number one being money and number two being ignorance.
That's where you come in. Anytime you see or hear about an apartment building going up, check it out for yourself. Never and I mean never take anybody's word that it's wheelchair accessible. Believe me, they really don't have a clue.
First, all it takes is a phone call. Ask the questions and if you're in a motorized wheelchair you'll know the questions to ask.
If the units are not wheelchair accessible, call HUD and file a complaint. And don't be afraid. They can't hurt you. They can't keep you out of their apartment if you qualify. They can't throw you out once you're in just because you filed a complaint. And don't let them try and tell you they've done you a favor by building any unit accessible or not. It's the law, they have to build them and they have to be accessible. You've got your right. And the major one is freedom to have an apartment you can get around in.
Don't take anybody's word for anything. I know it's sometimes physically hard to check things out. But it's only going to get better if you stand up for what's rightfully yours! I really don't believe it's our job to watchdog these people. But there is an old saying that says, "If you want a job done right, do it yourself!" My husband and I have fought for our wheelchair accessible apartment and will continue to help fight the cause. But we can't fight alone. Do you have the accessible apartment you want and deserve?
Please write us with any questions or comments: Rick and Helen Jackson, 3290 Imani Dr., Columbus, OH 43224.
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Recently we moved to an area where we must use propane to heat with.
After forty years of ignorant bliss, I discovered there were two classes of Ohioans, one group who has never paid state sales tax on home heating fuel and another group who has always paid sales tax on home heating fuel at an exorbitant rate.
I called the utility companies, the suppliers of fuel oil and propane and finally the Ohio sales tax department, and found uninformed unconcern. The reason one group of Ohioans pay tax on home heating fuel and another group does not is because the tax department exempted one group and not the other.
The sad reality is, that even if both groups were taxed, the users of much higher priced fuels like oil and propane would pay a much proportionately higher tax.
If you find this double standard intolerable, call or write your representatives and tell them you will hold them responsible at the polls.
Sincerely, Vincent Yancey