Zoo To Stop Pushing Waivers For Wheelchair Users
By Dave
Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
December 1, 2006
SAN DIEGO,
CALIFORNIA-A settlement between the Disability Rights Legal Center and the
Zoological Society of San Diego means that visitors to the world famous San
Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park who use wheelchairs or motorized scooters will
no longer be singled out and asked to sign liability waivers.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the federal suit was filed in
November of last year over the zoo's policy of pulling users of wheelchairs and
motorized scooters from the waiting line to present them either with waivers of
liability or documents acknowledging that by entering the park they were
agreeing to the waivers.
The plaintiffs -- Rick Kneeshaw and Gladys Swensrud, both polio
survivors and longtime members of the Zoological Society -- said the policy had
amounted to discrimination against visitors with disabilities and suggested
they were liable for any accidents even if the zoo was at fault.
Shawna Parks, litigation director for the legal center, told the paper
that many people said they had avoided visiting the zoo for fear of what they
might be subjected to.
"We want people to know it's OK to go back to the zoo now," she said.
Related:
"Zoo discards waivers for wheelchair users" (San Diego
Union-Tribune)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20061201-9999-7m1zoo.html
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