Opening Doors: Reasonable Accommodation Is Just Business!

To the visitor, it may seem that Cape May is in the midst of the “hazy, lazy days of summer,” but to businesses that depend on these summer visitors it is now more like “show time!” Hotels, motels and B & Bs have been putting on fresh coats of paint, dusting off outdoor furniture, and sprucing up the landscape in preparation for their welcome guests. Stores and restaurants have beefed up their stock, increased their staffing and stepped up their advertising. Recreational and cultural attractions are poised and ready for the seasonal influx of vacationers. It’s summertime in Cape May!
At this time of year, my office receives many calls regarding accessibility issues from vacationers with disabilities who want to patronize our businesses and enjoy all the recreation and relaxation opportunities Cape May is famous for. Many call ahead, as they plan their visit, to determine which local accommodations and restaurants are wheelchair accessible, which beaches have the best access and provide surf chairs for those with disabilities, where in the area a family can rent a surf chair or an accessible van for their own use, among other questions. In my experience, this advance preparation works best for the satisfaction of both visitors and local businesses.
Some of the calls I receive during this season, though, are ones of distress either on the part of visitors or the businesses they are expecting to accommodate them. A vacationer calls to complain about hotel accommodations that are not as accessible as expected, or that a business is refusing to allow a service animal, or that his/her car with handicapped plates was unfairly ticketed. A business owner calls to ask if the modifications to his policies being demanded by the vacationer with a disability are reasonable, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), even if there was no advance notice given.
According to current government statistics, more than 50 million Americans (18 percent of our total population) have disabilities. These individuals and their families are participating more actively in their communities and want to patronize businesses that welcome them. In addition, by the year 2030, more than 71 million Americans will be over 65 and will be demanding services and environments that meet their age-related physical needs.
Nearly all types of businesses that serve the public are covered by the ADA and are required to modify their business policies and procedures when necessary to serve customers with disabilities and to communicate effectively with those customers.
Fielding questions as I do from both visitors and local businesses, my sense is that in Cape May common sense and business sense work reasonably well to ensure that people with disabilities are fully included in the life of this community. There may be individuals on both sides that jeopardize progress in this regard, but a spirit of good will and a willingness to become more informed should prevail.
The U.S. Department of Justice sponsors an ADA website (www.ada.gov) that is the prime source of information and guidance on the particulars of this landmark civil rights legislation. A recent publication on that site, ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business, is a must-read for business owners who want to be confident that they are not unintentionally excluding people with disabilities from full enjoyment of their services.
Next Time: Frequently Asked ADA Questions . . . Is That Your Final Answer?
DID YOU KNOW?
• The Cape May County Health Department will offer free skin cancer screenings on Sat., July 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beach Patrol Headquarters, Beach Avenue and Grant Street in the City of Cape May. Dr. Coyle S. Connolly, Board Certified Dermatologist, and members of his staff will be available to the public, on a first come, first serve basis. Pre-registration is not required
• Community Quest, Inc, whose mission is community housing and employment is sponsoring the Second Annual “Cruising For A Cause”, a fundraising event to support their veterans housing programs. The two-hour sunset ride through the back bay waters of Atlantic City departs from Gardner’s Basin at 800 N. New Hampshire Avenue in Atlantic City. Boarding is at 7:30 pm, rain or shine. Ticket price of $30 per person includes food, music and fun. A cash bar will be available. For more information call Community Quest at 609-646-0388
• The Arc of Atlantic County is sponsoring a free workshop, Using Multiple Intelligence to Help Children Learn, on Sat. July 30th from 10 am to 12 noon. This workshop will explore how you can learn to identify each child’s unique gifts and strengths that may not be identified through traditional assessments. Teaching strategies designed to help bring out the best in each child will also be presented. Pre-registration is required. For more information contact Mary Ann Philippi (609-485-0800 or maryphilippi119@comcast.net)
Pierson is the Coordinator of the Cape May County Office of Disability Services