I (Spike) am a wheelchair user. No apologies here folks. I know that sometimes it is hard for TAB's (temporarily able bodied people) to imagine our lives. Most people think that their lives would end if they became people with disabilities. NOT TRUE !

People with disabilties work, play, eat, sleep, love, marry, have children and that being the case we must have sex. WOW ! Who'd have figured ! :-)

I have often said that being in a wheelchair give you a unique viewpoint. You see bellybuttons, beltbuckles and backsides, not always the best view of people but every once in awhile the view is worth the wait.

My wheelchair gives me freedom. The legs that I was born with were weak but my chair it made of titanium. My tires don't get lame when it rains and I can "run" faster than most folks, as long as its a downhill !

I have a wonderful wife (married 15 years), a 7 year old son and a 1 year old daughter who love me and yes I was in the chair when my wife and I met.

I have a great job, served as a two term elected official in my home town, am a fairly well respected disability rights speaker.

I hold a Masters in Disability Studies and a Doctorate in Education.

I've been invited to the White House 3 times and have spoken before Presidents, Congressmen, Justices, Governors and CEO's.

I've "run" many 10k roadraces and have done a 26 mile marathon.

I lead a very active, "normal" life. My frustration comes from people that can't accept something that really doesn't affect them nearly as much as it does me.

I enjoy taking my wife shopping but, 15 YEARS AFTER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT BECAME LAW, some places are STILL NOT accessible. We love to go out to eat, to the movies, dancing or stay in a nice motel but, (SEE ABOVE SCREAM !) some businesses still don't realize that they MUST BE ACCESSIBLE.

In July of 1990, Pres. George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA is a Civil Rights Law that prohibits discrimination against People with Disabilities. The law does NOT grant special priviledges but instead provides a level playing field.

The ADA requires most businesses to make changes, either by changing their building or their policies, that will allow people with disabilities access to their business. Most employers must acommodate "qualified" employees with disabilities as well.

Shortly after the ADA passed, Congress set money aside to fund what came to be known as:

The ADA Training and Implementation Network

This was a joint project of the US Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that offered a two phase ADA Compliance training to people with disabilities.

The training was provided by the staff of the Disability Research, Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) through a federal grant.

I was one of 400 people nationwide to be selected for PHASE I of the training which covered the basics of the ADA law, enforcement info and training on how to help others understand.

Based on my performance in the training and on my success once I returned back home, I was selected to be one of 150 people asked back to PHASE II training. This training was a very intense look at the ADA law, how it would be interpreted and enforced and how to mediate between people with disabilities and business owners/employers.

My hands on ADA experience is extensive, having been a consultant for clients like the State of Vermont, Dartmouth College, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and a host of other businesses in New England. I have also had the honor of providing testimony related to disability policy, before the US Senate on Capitol Hill.

In an effort to get the most out of my ADA Compliance training I offer some of my services, FREE OF CHARGE, to people with disabilities that feel that they may have been discriminated against.

DISCLAIMER ! I am not an attorney and only offer my opinion, based on my training and experience, on ADA Compliance. As with any complex Federal Law your attorney should be consulted for a Legal Opinion.

With that said I would be happy to answer employment or access questions and will provide you with whatever resources that I have available to me.

Areas covered by the ADA include;

Recruiting, hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, benefits and all aspects of employment.
Modification of policies and proceedures
Construction, renovation and physical access issues
Transportation and
Effective communication

I continue to work to get the Americans with Disabilities Act implemented and enforced. The business community doesn't understand that there are over 54 Million Americans with disabilites and we all need to shop, eat, travel, work, play and just live "normal" lives. Businesses would not hang a sign on their front door reading "WHITES ONLY" but a set of steps instead of a ramp says "ABLE BODIED ONLY" very clearly to people with disabilities.

Noone supports discrimination, but what can we do about it ? The easiest thing for everyone to do is: DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY IN A BUSINESS THAT DISCRIMINATES ! No matter who they discriminate against, Spend your money elsewhere.

If you're disabled and feel that you may have been discriminated against, Please contact me today to get your ADA information today.

Wagoner & Associates, Inc. - ADA Compliance Consultants

ADA Consulting - Exhaustive list of ADA and Disability Law Resources

Yellow Dream Machine's Disability Rights Page

Do you have ADA questions ? Write to Me !

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This site last update: Feb. 17, 2006
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