ADA Was: Nite out

[Guest guest]

wrote:

Yes It is very upsetting

We went to see a Broadway show I brought my own water to sip during

the performance The usher said I was not allowed to drink my

bottle But had to buy it from the Back Bar for $5 a bottle

....

This is probably covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In the ADA Title III Technical Assistance Manual, at:

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/taman3.html#III-4.2100

It says:

III-4.2100 General. A public accommodation must reasonably

modify its policies, practices, or procedures to avoid discrimination. If

the public accommodation can demonstrate, however, that a modification

would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities,

privileges, advantages, or accommodations it provides, it is not required

to make the modification.

In the Title III Technical Assistance Manual

1994 Supplement, some illustrations were added to that section, including

illustration 7. See:

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/taman3up.html

ILLUSTRATION 7: A movie theater has a policy prohibiting

patrons from consuming food and beverages purchased outside the theater.

The theater may be required to make an exception to permit a parent to

bring in appropriate food for a child with diabetes.

If anyone wants to contact the Department of

Justice for more information, information about the ADA Information Line,

800 - 514 - 0301, can be found on this page:

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/infoline.htm

Perhaps they could send you a flyer you could show to convince people

to modify their policies for you.

notan