Feeling a lot less shame
In response to Beth Dolinar’s column, “Feeling a lot more shame,” in the July 21 edition of the Observer-Reporter, I’d like to offer some guidance in dealing with shame.
I had a very similar experience this past winter while working out of town on a project involving an accident on a public highway. A light blanket of snow covered the parking lot of the hotel as I pulled in looking for the closest spot. Heading toward the front of the building, there it was, only three spaces from the front door. It certainly seemed as if it had been waiting there exclusively for me.
I believe that, for the most part, we all seek that prime parking space, and feel really good when we find it. However, later on the next morning, after the sun had warmed the snow into water, I headed out to my car and underneath, there it was. I had parked over a painted International Symbol of Access.
Being fairly familiar with the standards, I looked to see if I had missed the required mounted sign. Although I satisfied myself that there was no sign, I felt terrible. Was someone with a disability endangered because I had taken a spot reserved for them? Just a year before, at another hotel, there was a guest with a disability who was forced to wait out in the cold for almost an hour to access his van because of a vehicle that was illegally parked. I thought to myself, not only do I need to deal with this feeling of shame, but I need to do something to help improve this situation.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) establishes requirements to ensure that accessible spaces with certain features are available. One of the requirements for qualification as an “accessible” parking space under the ADA, is that “accessible parking spaces shall be designated as reserved by a sign showing the symbol of accessibility” and “such signs shall be located so they cannot be obscured by a vehicle parked in the space.”
After speaking with the hotel manager, she assured me that the company would address the deficiency. The Department of Justice has a hotline (800-514-0301) with information about filing a complaint under the ADA for anyone who believes that parking requirements are not being complied with.
Through educating ourselves and discussing or reporting such deficiencies, we may be able to help improve this situation and all feel a lot less shame.
Chris Childs
Eighty Four
Childs serves as president of Inca Roads, LLC, a pavement engineering firm based in Eighty Four.