★★★☆☆
1701 President Avenue
Fall River, MA 02720
http://www.usps.com/

highlanduspostofficefallriver.jpgAfter using the Auto Ambulator at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital, Ric, Amanda and I traveled to the Highland Station U.S. Post Office in Fall River. I saw a DC Comic book I wanted to buy on eBay and since Ric has an eBay account he ordered it for me and had it delivered to his Post Office. This was also an opportunity to see how wheelchair accessible this U.S. Post Office is. Sadly, I’ve discovered that NOT all U.S. Post Offices are wheelchair accessible. I was happy to find this Post Office wheelchair accessible with only a few obstacles.

fallriverpostoffice-002.jpgParking is not a problem for there is a handicap parking space located right in front of this Post Office. Wheelchair access to the sidewalk is easy for the access slope is located here as well.

fallriverpostoffice-003.jpgYou will need help with opening two separate entry doors for neither are automatic.  I was in my manual chair for that is the one I take to use the Auto Ambulator so Amanda had to hold both doors open while Ric pushed my chair inside. I did find that both entry doors are wide enough for my wheelchair to fit through with ease.

fallriverpostoffice-005.jpgI first went into the room to the left where there is a document service counter; a mail slot and post office boxes are located. The document service counter where you fill out mail forms is of a perfect height for my wheelchair. The mail slots are reachable from a wheelchair as well.

fallriverpostoffice-004.jpgI then went to room on the right side where three customer service counters are located, but NONE are wheelchair accessible for they are too high for me to reach.

I asked a postal employee if there is a wheelchair accessible service counter. He was very courteous and told me if a customer in a wheelchair needs to purchase stamps or mail a package, they can knock on a door, which is located in the other room next to the mail slot near the document service counter. A person in a wheelchair wouldn’t know where to go unless they ask. The door’s top section opens to a half door and here is where you can complete all your postal business.

I give the Highland Station U.S. Post Office THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Two Stars they need to install automatic entry doors; lower one of the service counters to a wheelchair accessible height so a person in a wheelchair can have equal and full access to complete their postal business.