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Michigan Stadium Hates the Handicapped

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OSU_Buckguy

OSU_Buckguy

Head Coach
U-M told to alter stadium

Feds fault it for violating wheelchair accessibility rules at stadium, threaten to cut funds; university denies findings.

detroit news
Millions of dollars in federal financial aid to needy students at the University of Michigan may be in jeopardy because the university continues to discriminate against wheelchair users at its football stadium, according to the federal government.

U-M has 10 days to respond to a scathing report released by the U.S. Department of Education on Oct. 26, chastising the university for providing inadequate access to wheelchair users at its Michigan Stadium football games.

...

The Department of Education says U-M has reconstructed almost all of the seating bowl, which makes the modern-day accessibility requirements kick in. U-M has maintained the changes to seating over the years have been repairs and not alterations under the law. Specific violations cited by the report include:

- The stadium has 88 wheelchair seats, far fewer than required. U-M demolished and rebuilt the concrete bowl over the last decades, affecting 90,000 seats and triggering a higher compliance rule that mandates 1 percent of seating be accessible.

- Wheelchair seating is not dispersed throughout the stadium, as required by law, but is limited to one row in the end zones.

- U-M does not provide accessible routes -- with proper ramps and handrails -- to entrance gates, the concession stands and bathrooms.

- The Big House lacks proper accessible toilets.

Continued...
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From a spring post sportsline
Disabled vets suit: Wheelchair seats scarce at Big House

DETROIT -- A disabled veterans group sued the University of Michigan on Tuesday, saying there aren't enough spaces for wheelchair users at Michigan Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in the country.

The federal lawsuit, filed by the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America, claims university officials are intentionally sidestepping the rules of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A $226 million renovation is planned for the 107,000-seat stadium, which currently has 90 wheelchair-accessible seats. The schools says the renovation work will increase that to 282 seats, but the suit argues that about 1,000 wheelchair-accessible seats are required.

Cont'd ...
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The Department of Education says U-M has reconstructed almost all of the seating bowl, which makes the modern-day accessibility requirements kick in. U-M has maintained the changes to seating over the years have been repairs and not alterations under the law. Specific violations cited by the report include:
Click to expand...
I'm no lawyer, but this looks like more than simple 'repairs'

10436018_46b07e4fa5.jpg
 
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I do find it ironic that the school administration was suggesting a few years back that they might ignore a court ruling that overturned preferential admissions at UM, yet here they are trying to circumvent the ADA. I suspect there might be a lot of alumni that want to keep the Big House the biggest, and that's hard to do with the ADA.

Not trying to flame, just thought it was a little amusing...
 
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BuckeyeBill;977330; said:
I do find it ironic that the school administration was suggesting a few years back that they might ignore a court ruling that overturned preferential admissions at UM, yet here they are trying to circumvent the ADA. I suspect there might be a lot of alumni that want to keep the Big House the biggest, and that's hard to do with the ADA.

Not trying to flame, just thought it was a little amusing...
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Fact is, I really have no defense to offer of the U-M administration. They're absurdly arrogant, and this coming from a member of a fanbase that gets called arrogant every day, especially this week. Remember when Columbia University invited the president of Iran to speak a little while ago? The Columbia president, Lee Bollinger, is the previous Michigan president, which should give you an idea of the mindset in the Michigan administration. Mary Sue Coleman is no better. Might be worse.

I love the teams, I love the school, and I love the town, but I try to separate all the good stuff from the idiots in charge. You see how they often consider themselves above the law. It's part of the reason I didn't actually go to school there. I suppose if I wanted to I could mount a defense in the stadium case, but, why bother? I'd like to keep the Big House the biggest, but I'm sure it can be done without pissing off the ADA too.
 
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Here is another article about the fact that Michigan Hates handicapped.

US Government Finds Michigan Stadium Inaccessible To People With Disabilities - Ohio State Football - nbc4i.com -

By Associated Press


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan continues to violate a law requiring wheelchair accessibility at its football stadium and risks losing millions in financial aid, according to a federal report.
The U.S. Department of Education said in a report sent to the university on Friday that it's discriminating against people with disabilities because the stadium does not include a sufficient number of accessible seats and the seating does not provide them with the same range of choices as is provided to people without disabilities.
The university has 10 days to respond to the report. If it doesn't cooperate, the department has threatened to cut federal financial aid funding or turn over the case to the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce it.
University spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham told The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press she was surprised by the report and disagreed with its findings. She maintained the university is complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
She said a $226 million renovation of the stadium will continue as planned, and those plans include adding handicap-accessible seats. She said that project is "completely unrelated" to allegations in the federal report.
The university faces a federal lawsuit filed by the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America alleging the current stadium design is inaccessible and renovation plan won't fix the problem.
Richard Bernstein, a lawyer for the veterans, said the letter means the university should halt its renovation plans. He plans to file a motion for summary disposition, which would end all legal arguments in the case and go to the judge for a decision.
 
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Nordberg;978537; said:
Here is another article about the fact that Michigan Hates handicapped.

US Government Finds Michigan Stadium Inaccessible To People With Disabilities - Ohio State Football - nbc4i.com -
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This is so obviously false, any lawyer in Ohio could get it thrown out......

Ohio Attorney:
"Your honor, these charges are absurd. The University of Michigan has a long history of allowing handicapped people to participate in all University activities. Andi it's patently obvious that the stadium is accessible to handicapped people.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THEIR FREAKING DEFENSE?"

Judge:
Case Dismissed
 
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