accessibility

My email written to Interim President Hannan of Edinboro University: This email is being written in regards to the rash decision made by executive staff at Edinboro University. First, I would like to give you a little background information about myself. My name is Alyssa Briglio, I’m 20 years old, and I’m attending Edinboro University to complete my bachelors degree in biology. I am slightly different than traditional college students since I am wheelchair bound due to a progressive form of muscular dystrophy. I’ve required extensive personal care my whole life and will continue to require it as my disease progresses. Yet, the one thing unaffected by my disease is my brain and I hope to put it to the test by becoming a pediatric neurologist. Edinboro University, for at least the past 30 years, has been known around the country for their 24/7 personal care staff and other disability related services. This service is vital to my success as a student, and if nothing else, to my existence. Yet beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, this service will be terminated. We will be left with an outside agency to cover around 36 students needs. I can say from personal experience that this is not effective. This decision was made without the input from the students and senior staff members directly involved in the program. Edinboro University should realize that taking this program away is equivalent to taking the students’ independence away. They should realize that there is no correlation between the functionality of our legs and the functionality of our brains. They should realize that although we may need to be lifted out of bed, or need help picking something up off the floor, or need medication placed on our tongues because we simply can’t reach our mouths, we deserve a fair chance at getting an education in a place where we feel safe. If Edinboro prides themselves on their diverse campus and numerous disability services, why would they want to abolish it? I live with 35 students who fear that their degrees will never be completed because of this change. I know staff who have put in 30+ years of work into this program and got handed their notices while on duty today. I know Edinboro University is better than this and I will not give up until my voice and all of the other affected voices are heard. Help us keep the ability to attend college without worry of being stranded in bed. Sincerely, Alyssa Briglio

Adult Changing Tables are desperately needed on all major Interstates through the United States! More and more children are being born with disabilities and are unable to walk and when our children become of age (Teens to Adult), it is very difficult for parents to care for them while traveling. An incident happened to me on August 6, 2017 while traveling on I-95 from Orlando Florida to Savannah, GA. My 15 year old daughter has Cerebral Palsy and can not walk therefore, she is wheelchair bound. While traveling home my daughter soiled her diaper about an hour into our drive. This was no ordinary soil as my daughter had an accident in her diaper and needed to be changed. Not wanting to change her in the vehicle, my husband and I decided to stop at a hotel in St. Augustine, Fl to ask if we could briefly use a bed to change my daughter's soiled diaper. I even asked to use a room which some one had recently checked out of but, I was told NO by the Front Desk Clerk. I then asked if I could use a blanket or sheet to lay on the floor (bathroom or room) to change her and the answer was still NO. The clerk decided to ask the Manager but the answer was once again NO! Therefore, we decided that surely an Urgent Care facility or ER would say YES so we proceeded to the nearest "Care Spot" location. Explained our situation to the medical clerk and was told that we had to sign in to see a Doctor in order to be seen in the back. Needless to say, we were turned away once again! As I held back my tears we purchased a blanket from a nearby Walgreens and proceeded to change my daughter on the floorboard of our vehicle. This was embarrassing to my daughter who is well aware of what is going on. I said all that to say that there NEEDS to be proper facilities at all Rest Areas and Welcome Centers throughout the U.S. off of major Highways and Interstates! No mom should have to change their teenaged and/or adult child's  diaper in a car, on the filthy bathroom floor, picnic tables at rest stops, etc! This is disgusting and down right disgraceful to all people with disabilities. I need your help so that others do not have to experience what has happened to me and many many other mothers of special needs children. In some cases, the only way we can travel is by car therefore there needs to be proper facilities available. Family Restrooms are great but, whats the use if there are NO ADULT CHANGING TABLES inside!!!! Help Me Help You.  May God Bless you.  PLEASE SIGN and SHARE 

The Americans with Disabilities Act fails to address an imperative part of access in hotels and other lodging facilities; bed design. Two Major Issues in lodging facilities: Bed Height Clearance Under the Bed Call for Action: Address bed height standards in ADA Standards to have minimum and maximum bed heights Address clearance under bed in ADA Standards to require minimum clearance to ensure access for lifts Require lodging facilities to provide bed height and under bed clearance in room description Currently there are no regulations that apply to beds in wheelchair accessible rooms. For wheelchair users, the importance of bed height and clearance under the bed is undeniable. Many wheelchair users traveling alone are unable to achieve transfers into beds that are too high or too low. Regulating the bed height is a simple but majorly impactful way of ensuring people with disabilities have access to travel, one of our fundamental Constitutional rights. Furthermore, people traveling with lifts are unable to utilize lifts if there is no clearance under the bed. Requiring a certain amount of clearance under the bed will ensure that individuals needing lifts will have the ability to use them. I ask that the access board regulate beds in lodging facilities to ensure that people with disabilities can travel independently and seamlessly. At a very minimum require lodging facilities to provide bed height and clearance in their room descriptions or require they have the information available on request. Too many people with disabilities have been negatively impacted by extreme bed designs, and it poses a risk of injury to so many. It is imperative we address the issue.

Trader Joe's! We need you and your selection of healthy and delicious foods at fair prices in our community, Bismarck, ND! Our nearest TJ's is about 370 miles away--that's about 6 hours driving time. Many people in the area drive 30 minutes or more to get to Bismarck's grocery stores. The Bismarck-Mandan area boasts a growing population, and has been ranked as one of the nation's best small cities (http://bmda.org/about/ If fellow supporters of the cause would care to share more, here are some ideas for comments: Have you lived in an area with a Trader Joe's before? If so, what was your experience? How often would you anticipate visiting Trader Joe's if we had one in Bismarck? For how many people in your household would you be shopping? What is your favorite thing at Trader Joe's that is difficult to find elsewhere? If you would like to send an individual message to bring Trader Joe's to Bismarck, they can be contacted through this website: https://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/location-request