What is the name of your state? Colorado
I am disabled (Polio - 1953 - SSDI - 2001)
The episode occured in the San Juan National Forest.
I saw an event advertised on the Internet as Open to the Public to be held in a National Forest (San Juan in Colorado). I contacted the local Forest Service Office (Saguache, CO) and confirmed that this 'gathering' was a public event - anyone was welcome to attend.
When I arrived at the event I asked for the location of Handicapped parking. I was told there was none. I was told that the Forest Service by issuing the permit had suspended Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA by issuing a non-commercial special-use group permit for the event. I again confirmed with the permit holder and with the Forest Service personnel that any may attend the even - it was open to the public and had been advertised on the internet and in other media as a Public Event.
They took an event that was advertised as open to public and put it under a "group" permit thus allowing the permit holder to decide who could attend and who couldn't attend.
Here's a copy of the group permit form
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/fs-2700-3b.rtf
Here's the FAQ sheet noting the suspension of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (#14)
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/documents/ncgu-q-a-2002.doc.
I presented a demand letter to the Forest Service asking to have my rights under the ADA immediately enforced at this Public Event and again asked the permit holder to provide handicapped parking. Both refused to take any action.
As result I was not able to equally participate in and enjoy the event. I was denied access and reasonable accomodation. There was also an incident where the permit holder told me to held fill in a fire pit - I refused - I can't use a shovel - the permit holder threatened to have the Forest Service evict me from the event.
I have filed a program discrimination complaint at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_program.html
What else can I do?
Pissed in Denver
[email protected]
I am disabled (Polio - 1953 - SSDI - 2001)
The episode occured in the San Juan National Forest.
I saw an event advertised on the Internet as Open to the Public to be held in a National Forest (San Juan in Colorado). I contacted the local Forest Service Office (Saguache, CO) and confirmed that this 'gathering' was a public event - anyone was welcome to attend.
When I arrived at the event I asked for the location of Handicapped parking. I was told there was none. I was told that the Forest Service by issuing the permit had suspended Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the ADA by issuing a non-commercial special-use group permit for the event. I again confirmed with the permit holder and with the Forest Service personnel that any may attend the even - it was open to the public and had been advertised on the internet and in other media as a Public Event.
They took an event that was advertised as open to public and put it under a "group" permit thus allowing the permit holder to decide who could attend and who couldn't attend.
Here's a copy of the group permit form
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/fs-2700-3b.rtf
Here's the FAQ sheet noting the suspension of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (#14)
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/permits/documents/ncgu-q-a-2002.doc.
I presented a demand letter to the Forest Service asking to have my rights under the ADA immediately enforced at this Public Event and again asked the permit holder to provide handicapped parking. Both refused to take any action.
As result I was not able to equally participate in and enjoy the event. I was denied access and reasonable accomodation. There was also an incident where the permit holder told me to held fill in a fire pit - I refused - I can't use a shovel - the permit holder threatened to have the Forest Service evict me from the event.
I have filed a program discrimination complaint at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_program.html
What else can I do?
Pissed in Denver
[email protected]
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