Handicap Man Questioned for Parking in Two Regular Spaces
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: March 5, 2013
"I went over and broke my hands off backwards, not off, bent them backwards. Bent this one backwards. And then I come back over the top, and re-bend them down this way and then landed on the ground," said Elton Lindsey, Jr.
That's how Elton injured himself over 15 years ago while working. He's undergone 30 reconstructive surgeries, and now is handicapped. He's been working in Abilene on and off for the last three months, and recently had issues with the Whitten Inn on where he was parked. Saturday night, he received a phone call from the manager.
"She goes, 'You are parked in two spots. I need you to move into one spot.' I said, 'Well ma'am, I'm handicapped. I take two spots so I can get in and out of my vehicle.' She says, 'You have a room upstairs. And I said, 'Yeah.' She says, 'You're not handicap.'"
We spoke with the manager who called Elton. She claims that he was taking up four spots with two vehicles and it would be okay if he only took up two. But she didn't deny that she questioned his disability.
"He was saying he was in an upstairs room. He was fine to go up the stairs, but he couldn't move his car," said Stephanie O'Neill in a phone interview.
Because of the American's with Disabilities Act, handicap parking spots have to be so long by so wide, which is what makes them larger than your average parking spot. And that's why Elton decides to park in two instead of one. And though there aren't any laws saying that they can't do that, there aren't any saying that he can.
"Is he legally entitled to park in two regular parking spots? Not necessarily. It's their private parking lot, they can regulate how they want," explained attorney Jacob Blizzard.
But for Elton, it's not about the right and wrong of the situation.
"It's about the next family with a five year old kid that turns 18 with medical problems and the little old lady. Because these people don't raise hell," he said.
By speaking out, Elton wants to make sure others with disabilities don't have their needs over-looked just because their handicap might not be obvious to the eye.
That's how Elton injured himself over 15 years ago while working. He's undergone 30 reconstructive surgeries, and now is handicapped. He's been working in Abilene on and off for the last three months, and recently had issues with the Whitten Inn on where he was parked. Saturday night, he received a phone call from the manager.
"She goes, 'You are parked in two spots. I need you to move into one spot.' I said, 'Well ma'am, I'm handicapped. I take two spots so I can get in and out of my vehicle.' She says, 'You have a room upstairs. And I said, 'Yeah.' She says, 'You're not handicap.'"
We spoke with the manager who called Elton. She claims that he was taking up four spots with two vehicles and it would be okay if he only took up two. But she didn't deny that she questioned his disability.
"He was saying he was in an upstairs room. He was fine to go up the stairs, but he couldn't move his car," said Stephanie O'Neill in a phone interview.
Because of the American's with Disabilities Act, handicap parking spots have to be so long by so wide, which is what makes them larger than your average parking spot. And that's why Elton decides to park in two instead of one. And though there aren't any laws saying that they can't do that, there aren't any saying that he can.
"Is he legally entitled to park in two regular parking spots? Not necessarily. It's their private parking lot, they can regulate how they want," explained attorney Jacob Blizzard.
But for Elton, it's not about the right and wrong of the situation.
"It's about the next family with a five year old kid that turns 18 with medical problems and the little old lady. Because these people don't raise hell," he said.
By speaking out, Elton wants to make sure others with disabilities don't have their needs over-looked just because their handicap might not be obvious to the eye.
Comments
Where do we start with the Whitten Inn. First if the owners Billboards do not keep you away, the rooms you rent there will. Its a shame these people end up as ambassadors of Abilene, to unknowing tourists and travelers. This incident should have been handled differently.
Woody R.
March 6, 2013 at 9:54 am
Woody R.
March 6, 2013 at 9:50 am
