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Exciting news from the ADA Center

Andy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:34:00 +0000

After years of struggle, the ADA has finally been amended to improve access at recreational facilities across the country, including golf, playgrounds, amusement rides and more. In addition we're especially excited about the addition of concert ticketing fraud prevention, see "ticketing" below. Learn your rights and start enforcing them!

This JUST in from the Rocky Mountain ADA Center:

1. Revised ADA Regulations Implementing Title II and Title III

On Friday, July 23, 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder signed final regulations revising the Department’s ADA regulations, including its ADA Standards for Accessible Design. The Department has prepared fact sheets identifying the major changes in the rules at http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm.

Among the changes that will affect both rules are:

Adoption of the Revised Design Standards – New accessible design standards are established for a variety of recreational facilities, including swimming pools, playgrounds, golf courses, amusement rides, recreational boating facilities, exercise machines and equipment, miniature golf courses and fishing piers; as well as for such public facilities as courthouses, jails and prisons.

Element by Element Safe Harbor – The department is mitigating the cost of design changes by adopting a “safe harbor” under which existing building elements that already comply with the 1991 ADA Standards for Accessible Design would not be required to be brought into compliance with the 2010 Standards until the elements were subject to a planned alteration.

Ticketing – The department has added provisions that provide guidance on the sale of tickets for accessible seating, the sale of season tickets, the secondary ticket market, the hold and release of accessible seating to persons other than those who need accessible seating, ticket pricing, prevention of the fraudulent purchase of accessible seating and the ability to purchase multiple tickets when buying accessible seating.

Service Animals – The regulations define “service animal” as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for benefit of an individual with a disability.

Wheelchairs and Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices – The amended rules provide a two-tiered approach under which wheelchairs and scooters must be permitted in all areas open to pedestrian use.

Timeshares – The Title III regulation also makes clear that timeshare and condominium properties that operate like hotels are subject to title III, providing guidance about the factors that must be present for a facility that is not an inn, motel, or hotel to qualify as a place of lodging.

Reservations at places of lodging – The Title III regulation includes provisions for reservations made by places of lodging, including requirements for procedures that will allow individuals with disabilities to make reservations for accessible guest rooms during the same hours and in the same manner as other guests.

2. The Justice Department (DOJ) has published four new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) proposals.

These advance notices of proposed rulemakings, published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2010, address the accessibility of websites, the provision of captioning and video description in movies shown in theaters, accessible equipment and furniture, and the ability of 9-1-1 centers to take text and video calls from individuals with disabilities. The Department invites written comments from members of the public. Written comments must be postmarked and electronic comments must be submitted on or before January 24, 2011. In a speech at the Department of Justice's ADA 20^th Anniversary Commemoration, Attorney General Eric Holder also announced that as part of DOJ's new Diversity Management Plan, there will soon be a new position filled called Special Assistant for Disability Resources.

2010 Mtn Resorts Behind the Boat Watersports Camp

Andy — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:05:00 +0000

July 20-23 with STARS and Adaptive Adventures

Despite some intermittent stormy weather, this week's 5th annual Watersports Camp outdid itself. With double the local participation as well as veterans and visitors from all over Colorado and as far as Idaho, and of course the usual amazing coaching and volunteers, the two days on Bald Eagle Lake were a huge success. In addition, half a dozen of the participants were brand new to wakeboarding and waterskiing including Edward (below) who spends his time between Steamboat and Georgia.

The Watersports camp is the 5th and final camp in the 2010 STARS Adaptive Camp Series lineup in Steamboat, and a great way to end the season with a relaxed yet fun lakeside atmosphere where families and friends can come hang out and watch/photograph the watersporters.

The coaches from Adaptive Adventures are truly amazing at not only introducing these fun sports to newcomers, they are adept at pushing campers to their limits and beyond with new techniques and equipment every year. Local 8 year old Kyle (below) was able to let go of the outriggers this year and cruise the lake independently on a waterski. While Kyle loves skiing Steamboat in the winter, he "could spend all summer waterskiing," he loves it so much.

STARS hopes to add equipment in order to have more events like this one next year so local kids like Kyle CAN waterski all summer!

Today about half the camp members will be floating the Colorado with Colorado River Company to conclude this year's 3-day event.

For more photos check out the event's photos here.

Custom Color Bikin’ the ‘Boat Adaptive Cycling Camp

Andy — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:55:00 +0000

STARS' and Steamboat Springs's first handcycling camp was packed with two days of fun on Steamboat Ski Area and in the backcountry area of Dry Lake and Spring Creek.

STARS is still building its equimpent arsenal which will soon include some handcycles of our own, so for this camp we were lucky to have Darol Kubacz of the Freedom for Life Foundation bring four one-off handcycles up from Arizona, and Mau Thompson and Matt Feeney of Adaptive Adventures bring in three road handcycles from Evergreen, CO.

Four local participants and one from Crested Butte along with about ten volunteers got two awesome days of riding in, July 7 and 8. Several knowledgable and enthusiastic local riders helped make the camp a huge success. Longtime camp volunteer Doug Hecker pre-ran our Spring Creek Trail and jumped ahead of the pack to saw a downed tree in half, and even beleed one participant down the steepest grade of the trail.

The weather cooperated perfectly for two sunny days, and we local organizers believe this was easily our funnest camp yet; getting Craig into the backcountry of Steamboat in the summer months was amazing, seeing terrain he hasn't seen in 15 years. Darol, who has brought his one-offs from Tahoe to Miami, says Spring Creek was one of the most beautiful trails he's seen.

A big thanks to all our sponsors locally~ Custom Color, Resort Quest Steamboat, Steamboat Ski Area, Gondola Joe's, Colorado Bagel Company, the Egg and I, Old Town Pub, Steamboat Smokehouse, and Creekside Cafe ~ from all of us at STARS and Adaptive Adventures

CLUB HONORS ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR; INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS

Mike Forney — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:15:00 +0000

Outgoing President Suzanne Schlicht and Rotarian Mignon Stetman congratulate Jane Denning (far right) on her selection of 2009-2010 Rotarian of the Year for the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs.

The selection of Jane Denning as Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs Rotarian of the Year was one of the highlights of the club’s annual Changing of the Guard. ceremonies on June 29th at Rex’s American Grill. It was a double honor, since Denning also was also inducted into the office of president of the noon club later on that evening.

‘Jane Denning was deeply involved in all aspects of our club over the past year,” according to outgoing president Suzanne Schlicht. “One of the toughest jobs your president has is singling out one Rotarian from so many of you who have given so much to our club and our community. But Jane’s contributions this year really stood out,” Schlicht said.

Denning is an escrow officer at Heritage Title. She began her term as president on July 1. She has been active in a wide variety of the club’s programs and activities and recently graduated from the Rotary District 5440 Rotary Leadership Institute. She also attended this year’s Rotary International conference in Montreal.

Scott Marr assumed the position of vice president and president-elect. Marr owns the Steamboat Springs Holiday Inn and served for several years as club treasurer. Bill Kennedy, a retired school superintendent from update New York was named treasurer. Winnie DelliQuadri, a City of Steamboat Springs employee will serve another year as the club’s secretary.

New board members this year include Steamboat Springs School Superintendent Shalee Cunningham, restaurant owner Rex Brice and attorney James Moylan. Other board members serving the second of their two year terms include Nancy Spillane, Ed Allbright and Angela Catterson. Suzanne Schlicht will remain on the board this year as past president.

HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB SCORES AT CONFERENCE

Mike Forney — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:04:30 +0000

The Steamboat Springs Rotary Interact Club was named the outstanding Rotary youth group in Rotary District 5440 at the recent gathering of some 450 Rotarians from Wyoming, Northern Colorado, Idaho and Nebraska in Casper, Wyoming on June 5^th.

The award was presented during the Rotary district conference at the Casper Events Center. The local Interact Club includes 40 Steamboat Springs High School students who complete at least two community service projects each year. Interact members were recognized for their work on two projects with seniors at the Doak Walker Care Center, their canned food drives for the Lift-Up Food Bank and for their participation with local Rotarians in delivering holiday gift packages to more than 100 orphan children in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

Members of the Steamboat Springs High School Rotary Interact Club pose with Rotary president Suzanne Schlicht with the top award they won at the Rotary District Conference.

The three-day conference also featured several national keynote speakers including Jason Ryan Dorsey a prolific author and recognized authority on the “Gen Y” generation, polio survivor and polio eradication activist Ann Lee Hussey, and cowboy ethics author James Owen.

FLOWERS FESTOON CITY THANKS TO ROTARY!

Mike Forney — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:59:14 +0000

Neither orange traffic cones nor missing street surfaces stopped the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs from making their rounds once again this year with hefty barrels festooned with brightly colored spring flowers. 187 barrels were delivered by about fifty Rotary volunteers in less than two hours.

Merchants were thrilled to have the flowers delivered this year. Many feared that Rotary would not come through for the first time in more than ten years. “The Rotary flower barrels have become a real tradition in Steamboat Springs and we were not about to disappoint,” Lori Elliott, Rotary chair of the event

Rotarians Jeff Steinke and Greg Stetman move one of the heavy flower barrels onto a flatbed trailer for delivery to downtown Steamboat Springs.

said. Rotary volunteers fill the barrels with fresh flowers, deliver them early in June and pick them up in mid-September.

The City of Steamboat Springs waters the barrels in downtown locations with a small motorized vehicle that also is used to water hanging flower baskets. “It’s a real community effort to beautify our downtown,” Elliott said.

ROTARIANS PITCH IN TO HELP COMMUNITY

Mike Forney — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:51:55 +0000

Local Rotarians traded their cell phones and “business casual” clothing for rakes, hoes, shovels, garbage bags and paint brushes during the Routt County United Way Day of Caring on Wednesday, May 19^th and the Routt County Road Clean-up project on May 22^nd.

“Rotarians really do pitch in on projects like the United Way Day of Caring” according to Dan Hagney, who coordinated Rotary’s participation again this year. “It’s pretty amazing how much work you can get done in just a few hours with a few hard-working volunteers,” he said.

Rotarian Ashley VanNess organized a team of 20 Rotarians and family members to clean up more than 4 miles of Route 40 near the Milner Land Fill the following weekend. “It was incredibly windy,” VanNess said. “But, we persevered and filled a lot of garbage bags with debris.” Among other treasures the group found: a full set of automobile tires discarded along the highway.

(L-R) Rotarians Jane Denning, Mike Forney, Cam Boyd and Scott Marr hold up a thank you letter from the children at Holy Name Preschool after the team completed restoration of the playground surface.

Fly the “Friendly Skies” again with faith

Andy — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:10:00 +0000

In 1966 United Airlines coined the term "Fly the Friendly Skies." Throughout my childhood, my parents and I did just that, wracking up miles like a rain gauge in Oregon, with never a worry about service or smiles.

But as I started to travel with Craig after 2001, my view of the Friendly Skies changed as dramatically as the company's financial situation. We started to notice drastic differences between the airline companies and their employees, and began picking and choosing our flights no longer based on price, but on pleasant experience. After many of Craig's wheelchair parts and other mobility devices suffered extreme damages from many companies, often without apology, and also after many unpleasant experiences with the staff and lack of knowledge of Craig's rights, we of course had our favorites to fly. Surely from our previous posts here, you can guess who those were.

And for almost five years we simply didn't fly United for all of these reasons.

But this past June, we had no choice but to get back on the horse. United is the only service out of the Steamboat/Hayden airport in the summer, and our schedule didn't allow us to fly out of Denver this time.

So we reached out to one of United's top supervisors, explaining our fears, and hoped that this trip would be different.

We were more than pleasantly surprised. I don't remember United employees ever being so pleasant, helpful, accommodating, and even downright chipper.

Something drastic has changed in United Airlines' infrastructure, and frankly I don't need an explanation. I am thrilled to say that this company now handles customers with disabilities and their equipment with care from start to finish.

The highlights:

The staff knew we were coming, and knew we needed assistance.
They also didn't balk at the medical equipment free-baggage allowance for his toilet seat.
The flight crew knew we wanted Craig's wheelchair on board, and made every effort (when possible) to make this happen (both DEN-IAD flights) and knew it was in his FAA rights to do so.
Everyone greeted us with a smile.
No one ignored us. (Really, that's a highlight!)
The pilot even introduced himself. When does that EVER happen?
None of Craig's mobility equipment was damaged.

While I would like to assume this would be the standard treatment without the big red flag warning we sent out (an email that seemed to make it all around the company, as many of the supervising staff helping us mentioned it- hopefully it was well written!), they won us over nonetheless.

Of course we returned the favor with Life is Good stickers for everyone, and now I'm proud to say that this company is joining team with one of our favorites (Continental) at the end of the year.

I do hope that Continental Airline's Disability Advisory Board is retained through the big merger however- despite the positive message this post, there's still a lot of work to be done on all fronts in the airlines, but we see progress, and progress is always good.

But we will be flying with United again someday soon, I guarantee it. We hope you give them a shot too.