annoyed by lack of wheelchair access!

[missjef]

i am so frustrated that the local Odeon which is fairly big and has 5 or 6 screens does not have wheel chair access to the top two screens! i think it is ridiculous nowadays that some places just do not accomodate(sp?) for people in wheel chairs! surely they should put a lift in or something.
it means that anyone in a wheel chair has to miss out on seeing the top releases! which is just stupid in my opinion!

clubs and bars also have poor wheel chair access too, really its a disgrace in this day and age!

[pastafreak]

surely they should by law???-tho i suppose it varies by locality. Contact your city and county council.

[funnygirl]

Yes! Complain, this is not right under the disability Act.


The Disability Discrimination Act:

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was introduced in 1996. For the first time the Government took on the challenge of ensuring that the less able are treated in a way that is equal to their able bodied counterparts. The Act covers the provision of any service and states that it is unlawful for any service provider to restrict the opportunity for the less able to enjoy the services in question.

For the owners and operators of public buildings this means that the structure of the building must not prevent the less able from being able to access the public areas of the building. So, for example, steps into a building must be augmented by a ramp or platform lift.

The Act's effects have been introduced in three stages, with full compliance being required by October 2004. From this date it is the duty of any service provider with a feature that prevents equal access to remedy the situation by either:

� Removing the feature

� Altering it so it no longer has that effect, or

� Provide a reasonable alternative method of making the service in question available to a disabled person.

[Dave G]

I believe you will find that allthough it is an apoligy for an excuse the owners of an establishment if asked, can arrange to transport you and your wheelchair by man power IE sedan chair stile to any part of thier building and this is the legal requirement
I was in a chair for a year after a motor bike accident so am aware of some of your probs Good luck Dave G

[Ethel]

The problem is that if you rely on mechanical or electrical means of escape such as a lift you can't get out in a fire.

You can still access 3 or 4 screens at this cinema. I know it must be disappointing for you.

There are many many places I cannot go due to my disabilities - I just have to accept it as it would negatively impinge on far too many people to accommodate me.

[missjef]

its just a shame that wheel chair users almost get treated as second class citizens when it comes to things like this.
i was planning to go to the cinema with some friends one of which is in a wheelchair, and i didn't even think to check which screen it is in as i always kind of forget there isn't a lift there like there is in most places. it was just such a shame we had to cancel just because it was in one of the top screens.
i even checked to see whether at least one showing of the film would be on in a lower screen this week but unfortunately not.
i have written an email of complaint to the odeon, and i hope to hear back from them shortly.

[Oneeyedvic]

Whilst I do sympathise with wheelchair users, I can also see it from the other point of view. To put a lift into your local Odeon will cost well over �100,000. Now, Odeon are a big company and can afford it without passing on much of that cost to the consumer

However, now consider a small independent retailer - who should by law have to follow the same rules. I know of a local cinema owner who certainly does not have a great income - and if he had to comply with all the legisltaion he would almost certainly close the business.

Is it therefore right that a minority (maybe 100 disabled users a year) should force the closure of a cinema used by several thousand people?

[Taran]

Oneeyedvic , if you were one of the minority having to use a wheelchair i dont suppose you would have the same opinion

[Oneeyedvic]

Taran, I have had to push people around in wheelchairs, so I do know what it is like.

However, if one person in a million gets effected, then should there be legislation in place to se4rve that person's need?

What about one in a hundred thousand?
One in ten thousand?

What exactly is a minority?

Would people in wheelchairs actually want businesses to close if they can't afford to make the changes required?

[Whickerman]

It's got to the other extreme here in Ireland now, in that if you want to build a house you need to make it wheelchair accessible - ramps, widened doors, lower light switches etc. That's even if you have no member of your family in a chair, nor anyone you know, and you need to do it at your expense. It has caused some resentment, and there's been a bit of a backlash which is unfortunate to say the least.

[Tha-Flash]

There's seats in there, get someone to carry you.