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Special Needs, Mobility and Disabled Use Information and discussion for those with special needs interested in the Segway.

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Old 11-19-2010, 12:20 PM   #21
Lily Kerns
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Sorry to have skipped of this question, I got off topic. I do not have a handicapped symbol or anything displayed. I do wear braces on both my legs, so the second day in vegas I opted to wear shorts to try to get hassled less, and it didn't help.

I will be the first one to argue the fact that it should not be required, and if it is then it should also be required for all types of mobility scooters. I guess I don't understand why the segways are so discriminated against?
I agree with you but as nearly as I can figure there are several roots to the prejudice against them--One, of course, is the newness, the you've got to be kidding, it can't possibly be safe factor. I can understand that. I was a bit dubious too, but I knew my son uses one and what it has done for him, so I was game to try it. Prejudice has been defined as "being down on something you are not up on"...or haven't had a chance to try for yourself! So probably their rareness is also a factor.

Another factor--and I've been told that this is what Congress apparently had in mind when they lumped Segways with golf carts etc. as OPDMDs-- is their marketing as as a recreational device, not a disability device. This creates the image of wild and reckless "extreme" sports behavior. The person who has to decide to allow them, under current rules, has no way of knwing whether the person using one is actually disabled or not. And there are people who would take advantage of that to get privileges they are not entitled to. Anyone could joyride in a wheelchair, of course, but that is not too likely to happen although some might try to get away with it for the advantages--but the "reckless behavior" image factor isn't a big part of that kind of deceit.

Current law does not mention Segways by name which is also part of the problem. They would have to come in under the "other devices" category. Actually it defines wheelchairs and mobility scooters as "3- and 4-wheeled devices." If you want to get technical, any power wheelchair with 6 wheels would also be illegal under that bit of logic...and of course that isn't going to happen.

There is a lot of education to be done. It is almost Thankgiving--I guess we really should be grateful for the opportunity and challenge of being part of shaping new attitudes and understandings...

Lily
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Old 11-21-2010, 10:30 AM   #22
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Default Just some general thoughts

I've been reading this thread for while and it brings up some interesting issues.

First was the situation with Southwest. Karl pretty much sums it up.

I feel sorry for you brother, I have always found Vegas a very easy town to get around on a Segway. We've been in and out of pretty much all the casinos and the only problem we encountered was with the rent a cop. He really didn't stop us because he was walking away telling us we couldn't be in there. We blew them off one about our business.


Regarding the issue of whether or not to fly a "Gimp Sticker", it's up to the individual. Some people tell me that they do not like to use the packard because they want to blend in with the able bodies. Let's tell it the way it is once you set foot on a Segway and go out in public you might as well have a clown nose on. There is really no way to blend.

I choose to fly a large handicap symbol as I see it as a educational tool. I can't count the number of people I have heard say as I rode past them in an airport "I never thought of the Segway being used that way, very cool".

But the main reason I fly it is because it has avoided me a lot of questions over the last five years.

The new ADA regulations.
The fact that the Segway is mentioned is a milestone. Of course this doesn't mean that the message is going to find its way to people who make the rules in many of these places of public accommodation. And then of course we can look back at the original implementation of the ADA in 1990 and there is still building that are not accessible.

We will also see people test the new regulations. That's to be expected

The bottom-line is the glass is far more full than empty. Those of us that have been doing this for the last five years understand that we always need to know our rights and have the ability to press them.

It's also a help to new users to read and print some of the information found in the following link:

http://www.draft.org/EducationAdvoca...5/Default.aspx

the new regulations are not a panacea it will not solve all the issues, they give us some legal leverage that was not present in the ADA before the new regulations were issued

Be Big,
AMAC
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Old 11-21-2010, 11:53 AM   #23
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That's a great sign !

Why not say "we don't want disabled persons in here !". At least the violated the law in every direction. LOL.

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Old 11-21-2010, 01:49 PM   #24
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That's a great sign !

Why not say "we don't want disabled persons in here !". At least the violated the law in every direction. LOL.

Be Big,
AMAC
And perfect proof for your claim of illegal rules and discrimination!
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Old 11-22-2010, 12:39 PM   #25
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And perfect proof for your claim of illegal rules and discrimination!
Amen to that !
Go get'm brother.

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Old 11-22-2010, 02:50 PM   #26
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Amen to that !
Go get'm brother.

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AMAC
Some people just won't get it until and unless you give them a reason for getting it...
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Old 11-26-2010, 10:53 AM   #27
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KTrends, Welcome to our community! You are young, look cool and your disability disappears when you step on your seg and wear long pants. You will be hassled! Handle it with grace, seems like you have already. Seriously, you have the support of our entire group. DRAFT gets it, the DOJ gets it, but security guards don't read memos. We are breaking down barriers for you and the guys and gals that will follow you. I live in So Cal and I like to say that if we got rid of all bad drivers, the freeways would be wide open. Same type of thing, if we got rid of all idiots....

I may have a lead for a cheap gen 1. Send me a Private Message with your phone #.

Good luck!

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