Two weeks ago, Ian had an away game at a school across town. When I arrived, I was shocked to see this as I looked for a parking space:
Every single handicapped space
was being used for food truck parking.
Every. Single. One.
Not only is that illegal, but it's just plain wrong. This was a school - what was being taught to the students (and their parents) by that?
I got hot. It takes a lot to make me angry, but I was TICKED.
I'd never taught at that school, but I knew the principal, and spied him over by the ticket gate. I pushed my walker over to him and asked for a minute of his time. He looked surprised and then he looked very wary when he noticed my walker. He knew that using those parking spaces for food trucks was wrong; I could read it in his face.
I was cordial but firm and I pointed out that that was wrong as well as illegal, and asked him to stop. He said he'd "consider it" and so I thanked him and rolled off.
After I'd gotten home, I did some research. I wanted to be sure of my grounds because I certainly intended to push the issue if a change wasn't made. I looked up the American Disabilities Act and I was right - blocking those handicapped spaces was illegal.
Then I called Kathy and ran what had happened past her. She was just as shocked as I was and agreed - it was illegal and wrong.
I decided to give the principal a chance to do better, so I drove out the next week during the football game and checked.
Food trucks were again blocking the handicapped spaces.
There were fewer trucks this time and it looked as thought they'd been moved down a bit
which opened up three handicapped spaces, but still, handicapped spaces were being blocked.
It was time to address the issue. I would contact Dr. Hanback, the Superintendent of Schools. He knows me and who I am, both as an educator and a human being. I felt he would take my concern seriously and address it.
Dr. Hanback and me in May, 2018, my last day of teaching. He'd surprised me by dropping into my classroom to thank me for service in the classroom.
So I sent him the following email.
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Hello, Dr. Hanback,
I am letting you know of issues with the use of handicapped parking spaces at Wea Ridge Middle School. They are being blocked off and used as spots for food trucks to set up and sell. There are no other marked handicapped spaces in that parking lot - I drove around and checked.
I spoke to Fred Roop on Thursday, 9/17 at the game. He listened and told me he would "consider it" when I asked him to keep the handicapped spaces open for those of us who need them. (I now use a walker and I need them.)
Yesterday I again went to WRMS for a football game. Again, the handicapped spaces were being used for food trucks. Not all of them this time, but then, there were fewer food trucks present than there had been the previous week. Mr. Roop may have considered my request (and I appreciate that) but he continued to use handicapped spaces for food trucks to park.
This is not acceptable and is a violation of the ADA. For those of us who need those spaces, it is not a matter of convenience. It is a matter of accessibility.
I was not the only one using a walker or an assistive device at those games. Where did the woman in the wheelchair have to park? The elderly man moving slowly on his walker as he looked for a seat? As for me, it was a long hike from the parking lot and into the stands.
Attached are photos. The first two photos were taken at the Wea Ridge Middle School football game, Thursday, September 17. The second two photos are from the Wea Ridge Middle School football game, Thursday, September 24. Both sets of photos clearly show that food trucks are blocking the handicapped accessible parking spaces.
I am asking that TSC look into these violations and ensure that handicapped parking is not being used for anything except those who have disabilities and a handicapped parking plate or tag. At WRMS or at any other TSC school.
Thank you.
Lynn Isenbarger
TSC Teacher
Hershey Elementary, 2006 - 2018
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I don't expect to hear from Dr. Hanback until next week at the earliest. I am sure he will contact Fred Roop and hear his side of the story first before taking steps to address the issue. Just as I gave Fred Roop a chance to make a change before contacting the superintendent, I will give Dr. Hanback some time to respond and make changes, too.
In the meantime, I will continue checking the parking situation at that school. And if for some reason I don't hear back from Dr. Hanback (or I do and he's going to allow the practice to continue), then I am prepared to file a complaint with the ADA offices.
In my two years of using a walker, I have learned that those parking spaces are extremely valuable to those who need them.
And as I said to Dr. Hanback, they're not about convenience. They are about accessibility. Accessibility that is necessary for living your life when you have a disability.
Stay 'tooned.
