Keeping Your Word!

Dear Mr. William Trahant and Mr. Richard Collucci,

This letter is addressed to both of you because both of you were present at the September meeting of the Highlands Coalition, Inc. stated that you were going to have the state come to the Ford School to verify whether or not the modifications made to the wheelchair ramp are adequate to meet ADA accessibility standards,

I was wondering about the status of the progress of your promised request. As both of you are aware, reestablishing the Ford School as a polling place is of vital importance of the citizens of the Highlands. For me, Ford School is a much more readily accessible location and I am sure it would be for other disabled and elderly citizens that have mobility issues
.
I realize when you made the promise it was the night before the Primary and too late for that election but I was wondering when your promise was going to be fulfilled. I am requesting to be updated on your progress going forward.


Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

Status Quo, Here We Go!

Dear Mayor Kennedy,

Even though I heard indirectly from three different sources that you were going to give me a letter of introduction for my independent audit of Lynn's polling places for their compatibility with ADA voting regulations. The letter never came.

Despite your lack of follow through, I proceeded with my task. I shared the results of my findings immediately in two separate letters. I tried to be helpful in my suggestions and even helped to make suggestions for better  compliance.

Unfortunately the pattern of your failure to follow through continued and my efforts were not even acknowledged. It seems that your ignoring the rights of certain segments of our citizens leads me to believe that your administration is playing politics as usual.

Your lack of leadership on this matter only places you in the same category as the last administration who used a perversion of ADA to bolster their plans to gerrymander the precincts to influence the elections. This was done by removing Ford School as a polling place.

I had high hopes for you and your administration coming into your term. Given your past experience as a Ride driver I thought you would bring a greater level of sensitivity to the Mayor's office. Sadly it appears that your background in real estate law has been the greater influence. I am disappointed.

Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

Letter To Mayor On Primary Day

Mayor Kennedy,

I completed my independent analysis of Lynn's polling places in regards to their compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. I have had no recent special training or education on this law. I am only a disabled private citizen. I have been on the Consumer Advisory Committee in my district for the West Virginia Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Many years ago, I was also on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Head Injury Foundation. I have worked with Sen. Rockefellar of WV on some head injury related issues.

Shortly I Will send you a more detailed report shortly but I wanted to assure you that an assessment was done Because of your past work I am sure that you share my concern that every citizen is able to exercise their constitutional right to vote. There were some problems at every polling place in the city today. The good news is that they were minor ones and recognizing them now gives us the perfect opportunity to avoid problems going forward.

Sincerely,

Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

Voting Rights

September 11, 2010
Dear Mayor Kennedy,
I am sure of your personal commitment to all of the citizens of Lynn so I was not surprised when I heard from three different sources of your plan to give me a letter authorizing me to observe the various polling places on election day to take note of their handicap accessibility.
The prospect excited me and caused me to do the necessary research to insure an adequate job was done. I found an excellent “ADA Polling Place Checklist” published by the Department of Justice. It provides all the necessary guidelines and offers even temporary solutions to common problems.

Attention to the rights due disabled citizens has long been ignored by past administrations and I applaud your level of concern. Your efforts to insure the rights of every citizen are to be commended. You are progressive and pragmatic at the same time.

Between your busy schedule and my recent accident that you were made aware of at the Sept. 9 School Committee meeting, I have been unable to obtain any letter from you. Hopefully I can get one on Monday, if not I will proceed the best I can

Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

781 248-8933

Who You Helping Now?

The Americans what Americans with Disabilities Act should not be thought of as being targeted toward protecting the rights of a specific group of citizens. Although at first glance it looks like that is exactly what it does. After all, there is this segment of the population and they all share some sort of handicap. The segment is large because there is such a wide range of disabilities, physical, mental, and emotional.

But ADA protects more than some special interest group, it protects everyone because everyone has the potential to become disabled and need some kind of exrra assistance to maintain their human dignity. It's not how you get there, it's that you have a chance to show up.

Hidden Blessings!

The worst thing a disabled person can experience is to be referred to in the third person. This often happens from people you would least expect it from - caregivers and social workers. I have plenty of experience at both ends of the spectrum.

I suffered a brain injury in 1981. My life changed in both good and bad ways. The bad ways are easy to point out. My speech is slurred and it seems to want to echo in my nasal cavity. My balance is severely affected making my gait terribly unsteady. I was a "golden" child, academics were not a challenge and lots of education opportunities were open to me. Having those many gifts taken away from could only leave a disastrous prognosis.

Despite all of my losses I got to appreciate the biggest gift of all - to learn to be grateful for what you have and how much fun it can be to make the most of it. Concentrating on your losses can only bring you down to a dark place. Don't waste precious energy on regrets but be OPEN to explore new possibilities. Good things don't just happen. You  have to be ready for them.

"Half-full" ot]]r "Half-empty". The kind of beverage you drink depends on the glass you choose.

ADA, MY WAY

• In this blog  hope to tackle issues related to disability. Since I have been disabled since last century(1981), I am a self proclaimed expert o what it means to be disabled. If you want a legal opinion contact lawyer If you want to know what I think, read on.