The Traveling Wheelchair

346 Bedford Street
Lakeville MA 02347
Phone: 508-946-8800
http://www.lakevillema.org/

Yesterday, my friends and I traveled to Lakeville Town Hall to get my Massachusetts Fresh Water Fishing License. My Aunt Nancy and I LOVE TO FISH. We usually go salt water fishing, which does not require a license, yet the ocean is still too cold and the fish are not back close to shore yet.

Last weekend my Aunt and I discovered some great wheelchair accessible fresh water fishing locations, close to my home on Long Pond in Lakeville. We were told we needed a Massachusetts Fresh Water Fishing License, which can be purchased at most Town Halls, Walmarts, Dick’s Sporting Goods and some bait and tackle shops.

If you are interested in obtaining a Massachusetts Fresh Water Fishing License, information can be found at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/fishing_home.htm

Lakeville Town Hall has three handicap parking spaces, located in the parking lot right next the only wheelchair accessible entrance. This entrance is located in the front next to the Board of Health and Fire Department. There are other entrances but none are accessible. The wheelchair accessible entrance is not marked as an accessible entrance, yet we figured it was because it was the only accessible entrance.

The entry door is wide enough for my chair but not automatic; my friend, Kate held the door open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside.

Once inside, my friends and I approached a desk and asked the woman sitting at the desk where we could get a Fresh Water Fishing License. This very kind woman, a town employee told us the Office of the Town Clerk has the licenses. Yet the Town Clerk’s Office, located on the second floor is not wheelchair accessible; there is no elevator to the second floor. All other Town Offices are located on the first floor and are accessible.

She called an employee at the Town Clerk’s Office; another very kind woman from the Office of the Town Clerk came downstairs and helped me fill out the form for my fishing license.

This nice assistant of the Town Clerk informed me that a Massachusetts Fresh Water Fishing License is FREE for Massachusetts residents who are; age 70 or over; paraplegic; blind or developmentally disabled. She was very nice and helpful to me. I quickly obtained my fishing license at no cost.

My friends and I checked out the restroom before leaving; there is a Men’s, Women’s and Handicap Accessible restroom. The handicap accessible restroom is fully ADA compliant; it is spacious; the safety grab bars are located at a perfect height on the rear and side wall of the toilet; the accessible sink is of a perfect height for my chair; the pipes underneath the sink are covered, which is a new ADA requirement; and the soap and towel dispenser is withing my reach;

I give the Lakeville Town Offices Building THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn can earn the other Two Stars, they would need to clearly mark the wheelchair accessible entrance; install an automatic door so a person in a wheelchair can enter independently; and install an elevator or move the Office of the Town Clerk to the first floor.