My las vegas adventure!!

[ktrends]

Let me start with a little history.

So I own a vehicle wrap company, many of you are probably wondering what in the world that means? Well basically we put the huge decals on the vehicles mostly for advertising purposes but also just for customizing sometimes (ie: buses with pictures etc covering the entire sides). Anyways there is a huge trade show every year in vegas called the SEMA show that covers all things in the automotive aftermarket. This show is HUGE, i'm talking literally millions of sq/ft, I haven't been to the show in over 5years due to my disability (spina bifida) and the hard time I have walking for any type of extended distance. So ive had to send my biz partner and other ppl that work for me to see the show, and basically report back to me all the new products etc.

Ok, so early this year I was lucky enough to finally get my hands on a segway i2. This machine has really changed my life! It has allowed me to do things, go to events, and see things how I never thought I would have the chance to see them. So it seemed like a natural fit to take this great machine to SEMA, I can't explain to you how excited I was at the thought of being able to see this convention first hand! I never thought the day would come that I would actually be able to go and experience this incredible event.

TRAVEL....

Ok so I live in Kansas City, and Las Vegas is roughly 1500miles away, so air travel is the only way to make this trip make sense. I get online and figure out that southwest airlines not only has the best price, but also pretty much the only non-stop flight to vegas. A quick search of there website showed that they allowed the transportation of "mobility scooters" so I went ahead and booked the tickets. A few weeks before the trip I decided to call and double check that the segway wasn't going to be an issue. The lady at southwest's customer service told me that they would allow any type of mobility scooter at no cost, and was giving me the run down on the process, part of the way through she asked what type of battery's my device had, I told her, and she said that those were the type of battery's used in segways. I of course at that point told her that a segway was in fact what I was using for my "device" and she informed me that they do not allow segways on any flights, even if it was disassembled and "checked". Have any of you ever flown with a segway?? I got online and searched to try to find a rental segway in vegas, and had no luck. There are a few websites that claim to rent segways but when you call the numbers on the sites they are all out of business.

So the only other option I could think of was to crate my segway up and ship it. I called the hotel I was staying at "planet hollywood" and told them my situation, there customer service rep told me the only way they would receive my "shipment" is if I paid them a $125 fee to receive it and a $125 fee to let it be picked back up. So long story short, I shipped it to the freight companies terminal 20miles north of las vegas, flew in, rented a car and drove to the terminal and tried to figure out how to load everything in to my rental car (crate and all) and headed to my hotel.

Get to the hotel pull all the segway parts out of the crate and put it together in the parking garage. Finally get everything together and head inside to check in, i get about 25feet inside the door of the shopping mall that connects the parking garage to the hotel and get stopped by security. Security informs me they do not allow segways and that I would have to leave the property! lol..

I'll finish the story later, gotta run.... it gets better, or should I say worse?!

[cms1001]

I went to Vegas in early 2009. The company was Vegas Segway but that name has changed but the phone# is the same. I just spoke to them & they still rent segways. Email me & I'll give you their no. I don't know if I'm allowed to put it in a general post.

[Lily Kerns]

Originally Posted by ktrends

Let me start with a little history.

.... how excited I was at the thought of being able to see this convention first hand! I never thought the day would come that I would actually be able to go and experience this incredible event.

TRAVEL....

.......
So the only other option I could think of was to crate my segway up and ship it. I called the hotel I was staying at "planet hollywood" and told them my situation, there customer service rep told me the only way they would receive my "shipment" is if I paid them a $125 fee to receive it and a $125 fee to let it be picked back up. So long story short, I shipped it to the freight companies terminal 20miles north of las vegas, flew in, rented a car and drove to the terminal and tried to figure out how to load everything in to my rental car (crate and all) and headed to my hotel.

Get to the hotel pull all the segway parts out of the crate and put it together in the parking garage. Finally get everything together and head inside to check in, i get about 25feet inside the door of the shopping mall that connects the parking garage to the hotel and get stopped by security. Security informs me they do not allow segways and that I would have to leave the property! lol..

I'll finish the story later, gotta run.... it gets better, or should I say worse?!

Was that a Simon owned mall by any chance? That seems to be typical of their attitude. I was threatened with arrest by one of their security guards when I tried to explain that I am disabled....

Whatever it was, try the link below immediately and tell your story!
Then begin educating yourself on the new ADA standards that go into effect in March. This kind of thing won't always happen, but it can and is difficult to deal with.
Waiting for the rest of the story... <G> and don't give up on using your Segway!

Lily

Andre, Jack <Jack_Andre@ios.doi.gov>

or this information:

Jack Andre
Chief, Public Civil Rights Division
DOI Office of Civil Rights
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240

202-208-3455

[ktrends]

Originally Posted by ktrends

I'll finish the story later, gotta run.... it gets better, or should I say worse?!

So I tried to explain my situation to the security guards, and they ended up telling me they would let me continue to the hotel but find another way back to the parking garage (don't cone back into the mall). So after checking into the hotel my biz partner and I decide to go check out the new sites in vegas, I had been to vegas several times before but never had the option of "walking" the strip, and I was very excited to do so. We decided to hit "city center" after hearing a lot about it being the new big thing in town to try to find a cool place to eat, so we headed out of the front door of planet hollywood and crossed over the pedestrian bridge that led to city center (directly across the street from planet hollywood). We get inside the front door to the city center shopping mall and security is on me immediately, "we don't allow segways on any of our properties", "we are going to have to ask you to leave our property immediately". I explained my situation, they used there radios to call the security office and finally decided that if I could prove I was "handicapped" they would allow the segway. At this point they were so rude and disrespectful I went ahead and pulled up my pants legs and showed them my braces and told them I would rather spend me money elsewhere and we left. We ended up be visiting the city center property a few days later, we headed to one of the casinos called Aria, this time I was with my biz partner and a friend of ours we had met up with, we made it into the casino a good distance and were looking for a empty table to sit down at when we met there not so friendly security staff. This time was probably the worst most unprofessional interaction ive had with someone regarding my disability in my life. The security guard told me I was to immediately leave the property, he was extremely rude and treated us as if we were caught stealing?! I explained to him I was disabled and that was the reason for the segway, he told me he didn't care and again demanded we all leave, at this point I was pretty outraged and asked to speak to his manager. He then demanded that I "SHOW him my disability" I have never in my 31yrs ever been asked by anyone to SHOW them my disability, I don't think words can explain how absolutely offended I was! My reply to him was absolutely inappropriate to ask someone to SHOW you there disability, I then demanded to speak to his manager, he replied that we had to immediately leave and move toward us like he was pushing us toward the exit (without touching us), I then pulled out my wallet and presented him with my state issues disabled identification card, he then literally turned around and walked away and quickly disappeared from site (acting as if he wanted to get away from the situation because he knew he was in the wrong and didn't want to get in trouble). We made it another 50 or so feet before being met by another security guard, I quickly explained what had just happened, however all this security cared about was the fact he didn't the segway there (not the unprofessional treatment we had received), we were escorted to security phone in one of the casino pit areas, then after being held there for 10mins I was told I was "code 4" and fine to go ahead an continue using the segway. Needless to say we exited city center and never went back.



I will continue my story this evening...

[ktrends]

Originally Posted by cms1001

I went to Vegas in early 2009. The company was Vegas Segway but that name has changed but the phone# is the same. I just spoke to them & they still rent segways. Email me & I'll give you their no. I don't know if I'm allowed to put it in a general post.

That is who I called, it went to a cellphone with a generic voicemail msg (like the mailbox was never setup). Left several voicemails and never got called back.

http://www.segwaylv.com/Segway/Home_Page.html

[ktrends]

Originally Posted by Lily Kerns

Was that a Simon owned mall by any chance? That seems to be typical of their attitude. I was threatened with arrest by one of their security guards when I tried to explain that I am disabled....

Whatever it was, try the link below immediately and tell your story!
Then begin educating yourself on the new ADA standards that go into effect in March. This kind of thing won't always happen, but it can and is difficult to deal with.
Waiting for the rest of the story... <G> and don't give up on using your Segway!

Lily

Andre, Jack <Jack_Andre@ios.doi.gov>

or this information:

Jack Andre
Chief, Public Civil Rights Division
DOI Office of Civil Rights
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240

202-208-3455

The new ADA standards are a GREAT thing to hear about! I am printing it off and keeping it with the segway for this exact reason!

This site is great, and I wouldn't of known about it other wise!

[Lily Kerns]

Originally Posted by ktrends

The new ADA standards are a GREAT thing to hear about! I am printing it off and keeping it with the segway for this exact reason!

This site is great, and I wouldn't of known about it other wise!

Glad I could be of help. <G>

Do try the Andre email or phone link. I got an immediate response--and Mr. Andre's email said they would be talking with that state agency. Much to my surprise, they also filed a formal complaint based on what I had told them.

A formal complaint, of course, is another story--I have heard nothing more about its progress yet. The formal complaint I had previously filed with the DOJ took more than 5 months to even be acknowledged--and I have heard nothing further on that one either... The speed of bureaucracy! In reading through the entire law I also discovered that the DOJ is obligated to "promptly" acknowledge complaints and notify the agency or business that a complaint has been filed. I guess it depends on your definition of prompt..

BTW, your complaint would come under Title III of the ADA if you had not yet made that distinction.

Lily

[KSagal]

One thing that I do (I do not glide on a segway as a result of a disability) when a private security or even a real cop starts to get rude or disrespectful, is immediately ask for their name and badge number. If I ask for a manager and they do not respond by calling on the radio for one, I make it clear that I asked them to bring it up the chain, and make sure they know I am writing it and their name down.

I have found that the first instinct of the offending would-be authoritarian is to be angry, but then they often realize that any further disrespect they show will be brought to the attention of their management. We all work for or answer to someone.

Be polite, even when they are not, but stand your ground, if you have the high ground. (morally)

One note that resonates with me is that you choose not to give your money to people who hire or tolerate rude employees. Good for you!

[Lily Kerns]

Originally Posted by ktrends

The new ADA standards are a GREAT thing to hear about! I am printing it off and keeping it with the segway for this exact reason!

This site is great, and I wouldn't of known about it other wise!

I meant to ask--do you display a disability symbol on your Segway? Technically this should not be necessary. The purpose of the ADA is to integrate the disabled as seamlessly as possible into the general public. Advertising that you are disabled does NOT meet that goal.

If everyone were obviously disabled that might work, but that is not the case of course. Under current rules, the only question they can legally ask you is some form of, "Are you disabled?" That's it, and they most certainly cannot ask you to show them your disability. The rule does makes it very difficult for the agency or business to determine if you are actually disabled when you are not obviously so.

The new rules will make it possible for them to ask you to prove you are disabled by showing something like your disability tag for a disability license plate. There are some other ways to deal with this, so study the ADA rules that go into effect in March. It does place an added burden on the disabled, but as I see it, the older rule was not fair either.

What is not at all clear--as I read the new rules--is whether or not they can _require_ you to display the disability symbol. I don't think that is what it says, but I'm sure some will interpret it that way, especially if they really don't want to let you in anyway..... It should not be necessary when they have the right to stop you and ask you to show proof of your disability.

There are a good many unanswered questions about the new rules and, as far as I am concerned, this is one of them. I have chosen to display the symbol simply as a courtesy to those who must decide whether or not to let you use the Segway on their property. Sometimes it works to avoid confrontation, sometimes it doesn't.

Lily

[ktrends]

Sorry for not finishing my story yet. Honestly posting this here has been pretty therapeutic for me. After the situation happened at Aria I moved on and put it out of my mind, then after typing it all out here it sort of made me re-live the events in my mind, and I decided I should do something about it so others don't have to go through it. I called Aria's customer service on Monday and told them I would like to file a complaint, they transferred me to the security department where I spoke to the "manager on duty", he was very un-helpful and told me I was "lucky" they let me use the segway at all and if he was on duty as the manager that night he wouldn't of allowed it. I then asked him if he knew that was against current ada standards and grossly against the ada standards that are about to go in to effect, he told me those "didn't matter" to them as they are "private property and can do whatever they want". I asked who was in charge of the security departments policy's in dealing with these types of things, he told me "your talking to him". I then asked if they had had rails, wheel chair stalls, etc in their bathrooms and he replied yes, I then asked him if he understood that ada is the reason for those things and it is not optional to follow the ADA standards if they are open to the public. At this point he went in to *** covering mode and wanted off the phone, he told me someone would contact me to file a formal written complaint. I got a call a few hours later from a security officer that took down the info, when I asked who I should follow up with he placed me on hold for a while, then cam back on a told me he wasn't allowed to give out the names, or contact info of his managers, I then asked for their titles, he told me he couldn't give me that either. Sounds like they are trying to cover for themselves?

I'm going to keep calling, and if I don't get ahold of someone high enough to figure this out I will start calling the contact at the DOI.