Below is a letter to the editor I wrote to a blog moderator entitled, "Shrewsburied."
Please see the comments I received for advocating for equal rights for persons with disabilities.
I am asking for the community to support full handicap accessibility for the forthcoming conversion of the Sumner House to a funeral home that will be opening up in June 2010. A member of the Historical Commission inquired about filing a variance (when he met with the Shrewsbury Commission on Disabilities in March 2010) with the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board (AAB)to preserve parts of the Sumner House for historical purposes. The Commission made it clear in their minutes that the funeral home needs to be accessible including a handicap bathroom for the public use.
As in the past, Shrewsbury has an ugly history of preserving historical significance of old buildings at the expense against persons with disabilities. We need the community support to make the funeral home a public place for all to attend. If the funeral home does not become fully handicap accessibility, then it needs to put a big sign in neon color that says, "Persons with Disabilities" are not allowed" as a state entity would recommend to this business owner.
I guarantee that the disability advocates and this state entity and the AAB will not support a variance to be approved.
Robbin Miller
Advocate
Comments:
Robbin is just one more example of the gaunlet of pests you have to run trying to locate a business in this town. It's no wonder we have no commercial tax base to speak of. Why would a business owner subject themselves to this?
Well, I suppose it is the law, but since when is it any of the state/town's business what I do with private property. I can see making sure that it isn't a fire trap or that it is going to fall down on someone's head, but seriously, the handicap accessible laws are dumb. The mirror in the bathroom has to tilt down, that is a goofy one I have seen. These laws exist for the soul purpose of enriching lawyers who file suit.
Robbin, where did you come up with this? Don't you think you owe it to people to find out what's going on before you publicly slander them?
My comments: As you see the above comments are hurtful and people are entitled to their opinions. I did put the source on where I got the above info in a comment before these comments were posted. It is not easy being an advocate for change, but it needs to be put out there for awareness and doing the right thing.
