The Traveling Wheelchair

25 South Street
Bridgewater, MA 02324
Phone: 508-697-0919
http://www.bridgewaterma.org/Government/Selectmen/index.shtml

After visiting  Bridgewater Town Hall yesterday, my friends and I headed to the Memorial Building, the office of the Bridgewater Selectmen. We were very disappointed to find that it was not accessible due to the lack of any snow removal from the handicap parking space or the wheelchair accessible ramp, that leads to an elevator to take a person in a wheelchair to the side accessible entry door.

The front entrance is not wheelchair accessible for it has steps leading to the entry door. Posted in front of the building is a large wheelchair accessible sign directing you to enter on the side of the building; as we drove into the side parking lot, we saw even a larger wheelchair accessible sign directing you to the wheelchair accessible entrance.

We parked our van in the side parking lot; there was NO ACCESS to the handicap parking space because it was FULL OF SNOW; it appeared to be full of ALL of the snow that has accumulated from all our winter snow storms.

This handicap parking space is conveniently located close to a beautiful wheelchair accessible ramp; there was NO ACCESS to this wheelchair accessible ramp because it was FULL OF SNOW; it also appeared to be full of ALL of the snow that has accumulated from all our winter snow storms.

This beautiful wheelchair accessible ramp leads you to an outdoor elevator that will bring your wheelchair to the side entry door. AGAIN there was NO ACCESS to this elevator because the ramp leading to it was FULL OF SNOW.

The snow that blocked access to the handicap parking space, the wheelchair accessible ramp and the wheelchair accessible elevator did not appear to have been plowed or shoveled of snow all winter long!!!! Yet all areas for normal access has been plowed or shoveled and is clean and clear.

Ric, my friend entered the front entry door; he was going to ask an employee why the wheelchair accessible parking space and ramp had not been shoveled; as our last snow storm was more than a week ago; we didn’t have much accumulation for it turned to rain.  Ric also wanted to gather some information on this building.

Ric returned and told Tony and me that he spoke with Lisa, a Selectmen’s Secretary. Lisa told Ric that the Selectmen always like to follow all the ADA guidelines and they are well aware of all the ADA guidelines.

Lisa then explained to Ric, that the three buildings that are part of Town Hall only have two maintenance employees and that only one was on duty this day.  Ric still questioned why the wheelchair accessible entry way had not been cleared, as the last snow fall, which didn’t amount to much snow, was over a week ago. It appeared to all of us that no snow had been removed from these areas all winter long.

Lisa then told Ric that their maintenance employees go by a set precedence; they do buildings they consider more important first and buildings that are used more often and other places for the elderly are priorities. 

Ric then asked Lisa how persons in wheelchairs would be able to attend a Selectmen’s meeting, obtain a permit, or speak with a Selectman about other important issues, if there is no wheelchair accessible entrance due to the snow. Lisa told Ric that if a meeting was to be held, the snow would be removed. She went on to say that there have been no recent meetings. Lisa then told Ric if someone in a wheelchair needed a permit they could call in advance and someone would go outside and help the person fill out the permit forms and some permits can even be done over the phone.

Ric also told Tony and me that the building’s interior is spacious and very wheelchair accessible.

Once we returned back home, Ric, Tony and I checked out the website of the Bridgewater Selectmen. 

Bridgewater Selectmen’s Mission Statement states: “The Bridgewater Board of Selectmen, as duly elected officials by the voters of the Town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, act as agents to all residents, businesses and visitors to uphold the high values and ethics that are the foundation of our community; to foster positive change within our community through wisdom and courage; and to govern in a manner that does not infringe upon our freedom or rights as Americans.” 

We believe that the Bridgewater Selectmen have violated the rights and freedom of persons in wheelchairs, by not providing equal access. The Selectmen’s Office had all other areas of access free and clear of snow i.e. the parking lot, sidewalk and steps. WHY COULDN’T THEY DO THE SAME FOR THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE ENTRY ??

I give the Memorial Building – Bridgewater Selectmen Office ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility.  In order to earn all Five Stars, they would need to ensure that their office building is fully wheelchair accessible to all at all times it is accessible to the public by removing the snow from the wheelchair accessible parking space and wheelchair accessible ramp after every snow storm as they do for all other access ways. I am thankful to Lisa for taking the time to speak with my good friend, Ric !