[Ansteorra] What is "Reasonable Accomodation"?

Sat Jul 16 22:37:47 PDT 2005

I would not feel any trepidation in your case. I too use a CPAP (among some
of my friends, it is called "The Muffler", and for a very good reason!!!).

I have not yet made a battery system to power it, but I simply ask the event
steward/autocrat if there is a place I can get electricity from.  I bring my
own extension cords, power strip, and whatever else is necessary.  If it is
not available, I simply do without.  Probably not the best idea from a
medical point of view.  But it works.  (Oh, and thanks for the link to the
battery thingie.)

My theory in all events, is to try and do my thing and make the least amount
of hassle for others.  I can see Chass' point of view on wanting the vehicle
that will last all day and recharge easier.  But I can also see the point of
view that the stewards did allow the electric chair (ok, you know what I
mean) as a reasonable assistance, but didn't want to go to the next level
that would be more convenient for Chass.  I'm not handicapped (mental issues
notwithstanding).  But I've been handicapped due to temporary injuries.  I
think we should make a reasonable attempt to make things accessible.  But no
one (except maybe the Crown) should expect to be catered to.  Chass is a bit
militant on this, and he has every right to be given the difficulties he's
had to face.  (Luv ya Chass, but you do get a bit "riled up" on this issue.)

Let's all just admit this isn't perfect, and try to find a reasonable
compromise on this.  OK?

Now, having done the peace-making thing, I'd like to say that I'm sick of
this damn topic and will delete all further emails on this.  It's been
batted around for 4 days, at about 1,398,481 emails a day.  Let's move on to
something a bit more entertaining.

Anyone want to talk about brewing?  I can do that for hours!!!!  ;)

Matthias the Brewer

-----Original Message-----
From: ansteorra-bounces+matthiasthebrewer=cox.net at ansteorra.org
[mailto:ansteorra-bounces+matthiasthebrewer=cox.net at ansteorra.org]On
Behalf Of Carl Chipman
Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2005 1:40 AM
To: Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc.
Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] What is "Reasonable Accomodation"?

Like many others, i have been timid about replying to this topic due tofears
of being labeled insensitive or uncaring. However, your phrase

"A person should not have to call ahead of time to request access to
electricity for their powerchair or medical equipment, it should be
available."

Struck a cord in me.  I too require electricity for medical equipment.  I
have a CPAP  machine, and pretty much must use it nightly.  However, it is
my need, which I plan for (http://www.cchipman.com/cpap_on_batteries.htm)and
do not require others to do my work for me. I understand that myneed is not
as severe as others, but I still feel that I take thepersonal responsibility
for what I need to do the things I want. I feelit is unfair to demand from
volunteers that in addition to arrangingthe site, the cheap camping, the
cheap food, the free service, and theorganization of recreational
activities, they should also try toimagine any foreseeable disability and
plan for all of them.

People in the SCA are helpful and kind, and if notified of needs will work
to assist.  People can not read minds, nor can they plan for every possible
contingency.

With trepidition,
Sieur Jean Paul de Sens

Carl Chipman
Nomadics, Inc.
http://www.nomadics.com

----- Original Message -----
From: Lisa <silvina at allegiance.tv>
To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 19:11:16 -0500
Subject: [Ansteorra] What is "Reasonable Accomodation"?

> It has been posted that the SCA has changed it's policy to require all
events to
> be legal under the ADA.  Now comes the question... What is Reasonable
> accomodation????
>
> To explain my perspective on this I would like to digress a little.  we
recently
> had a discussion as to what a reasonable attempt at period garb was.  This
is
> very subjective and pretty much the decision of what is reasonable lies on
the
> individual making the attempt correct?  With reasonable accomodation, the
ADA
> does give us some guidelines, but it is impossible for them to give
specifics on
> every possible situation.  What needs to be done is to take those
guidelines
> (and there IS a secion on building codes and what is acceptable for
facilities)
> and use a little common sense.  For example, if a site is pretty much
nothing
> but sand and swamp a golf cart is not an unreasonable request if the
person is
> normally confined to a wheelchair and it is obvious that their manual or
power
> chair is unable to traverse the terrain.  Hopefully, with this new ruling,
we
> won't have that issue as people will become more attentive to the sites
chosen
> and look at them for ADA compliance and accessability.  A person should
not have
> to call ahead of time to request access to electricity for their
powerchair or
> medical equipment, it should be available.  With cabin reservations, if a
> disabled person requests a cabin ahead of time, they should have first
priority
> regarding accessible cabins rather than being told "it's on a first come,
first
> serve basis and all of the cabins are full because you didn't call/contact
me
> fast enough."  I'm not saying that a person who calls at the last minute
needing
> a cabin because of a disability should be able to boot someone out, but
perhaps
> open the reservation process a little early for those with disabilities to
> contact instead of all 15 (number picked out of the air) cabins being
filled in
> 15 minutes and a disabled person and their family/household being unable
to
> attend the event because of lack of accomodation.  An event steward
looking at a
> site for an event should print out the ADA requirements for facilities and
make
> a checklist.  I realise that this is a lot to ask, but look at what a
disabled
> person goes through when a facility is not accessible and they attend the
event.
>  For example, no electrical access... my husband would not be able to
recharge
> his power chair and would be not only stuck in the camp, but also unable
to get
> back into the van to go home unless some strong individual was kind enough
to
> push his chair up the ramp into the van.  Why not bring a manual chair as
a
> backup?   He has severe rotator cuff damage and cannot push a manual chair
> without ending up in severe pain.  His power chair is one of the "lighter"
ones
> on the market and it weighs around 300 lbs, he weighs around 170 lbs.  I
am 5'4"
> and weigh around 100 lbs... I cannot manhandle the weight of his chair and
him
> very far at all, and definitely not up a slope or through loose sand.
Even
> pushing his manual chair is difficult for me for long distances.
Reasonable
> accomodation is using common sense, and doing what is right instead of
coming up
> with excuses of how hard it is or how there are no facilities that fit the
> requirements that are affordable.
>
> Elizabeta of Rundel
> _______________________________________________
> Ansteorra mailing list
> Ansteorra at ansteorra.org
> http://www.ansteorra.org/mailman/listinfo/ansteorra
>

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