UN adopts disability convention

It is easy, TW, for many to forget how "simple" these things are.
There was a show on TLC, not too long ago where some motivational speakers (remember that, what they do for a living) lived other's lives for a month.
After a week in a wheelchair, just during the day, one of them said that they would kill them self.

I can honestly say that I can remember being on a ramp, as described above, twice, in the last three years, other than hospitals and my home.

I went to a dinner recently and was discussing the bathroom with my wife quietly (she wanted to make sure I was ok... it can be difficult for me sometimes and I was not feeling well), someone overheard and a discussion about facilities began.
I really did not participate. I don't get out much and wanted to focus on positive things... my wife told the story of how we were charged more for a smaller room with no view at a four-star hotel known for the view and how I had been told that this is common in a SCI forum.
Apparently, there was a hospitality major there and he said that he was not surprised. It upset him... he wanted to check his hotel (he was not completely sure about the pricing, he said) but he was not surprised, even though it is illegal. That much he did tell me.

Oh... the entire side of the restaurant had to be rearranged for me to get to my table. It was very strange and a bit embarrassing. I wonder if that is a fire hazard?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by tw

How do we eliminate such complexity? We make standards. ADA should not be so 'something special'. Much of it should be standard construction practice.

Absolutely. Laws, especially Federal laws, should be incorporated into the building codes at their next publication.

That said, part of the reluctance for change is that in many areas, in order to do any alteration/remodeling/up grade on a part of the building, at least that part and sometimes the whole structure, must be brought up to code. That can be a very expensive proposition.
Imagine you want to replace the kitchen sink and add a dishwasher. But in order to hire a plumber and get a permit, you have to rewire the whole kitchen, widen the doorways, buy a new stove and install sprinklers.

I'm being ridiculously extreme in that example, but you get the idea, it's those code changes that bite you later.

Another problem is local building inspectors. They tend to work on trust with the contractors, and a new contractor will receive close scrutiny until the inspector is comfortable with their work. If they see anything that's not customary, it'll be sure to send up a red flag.

If you violate local code, or even what they are used to seeing, in order to comply with ADA, they could shut your job down until it's straightened out, and possibly fine you $1,000 a day, until it's fixed.
Straightening it out (convincing them) could be in a couple weeks...... at the next planning/appeals board meeting...... when you can document it for the inspector's boss...... if you can get documentation from the feds.
It'll cost you time, money and good will with the inspector.