Disabled Woman Demands Change In Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC — A disabled woman is demanding change in Charlotte.
Stephy Hamrick argues the city fails to provide equal access in public and private spaces.
In two months, Hamrick says two Charlotte gas stations kicked her out because of her medical alert service dog.
“I felt invisible. I felt like a second-class citizen, and that is the reality of being disabled in Charlotte,” said Hamrick.
Attorneys say refusing service violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and could possibly qualify as a state misdemeanor of obstructing a service dog.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney has no responded.
The American Civil Liberties Union says it is a civil issue. It says: Individuals who believe that they have been illegally denied access or service because they use service animals may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice.
To access that complaint document, click here.
Individuals also have the right to file a private lawsuit in Federal court charging the entity with discrimination under the ADA.
“I don’t want the guy in trouble,” said Hamrick. I just want someone to say hey you can’t do that.”
WCCB Charlotte confronted the worker at the store on The Plaza near Plaza Midwood.
He said her dog had no tag on it that said it was a service dog. Hamrick says that’s not the case.
Regardless, you don’t need a tag for your service dog, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The second gas station she said turned her away was in South End. WCCB Charlotte asked the worker if he knew that service dogs are allowed inside. He said yes. He denied turning anyone away.
Hamrick says the city and county are falling behind when it comes to including vision and hearing impaired and medical service dogs.
She says the city needs to adjust the animal licensing statute to waive the fee for medical alert service dogs.
She says city council needs to begin closed captioning social media streaming and add video and picture descriptions online for people using screen readers.
She says the city needs to have a sign language interpreter at every meeting. Right now, that is provided when a person requests it.
The city wrote WCCB Charlotte a statement saying” “Engaging and involving all members of our community is the cornerstone of local government.
In support of this priority, the City of Charlotte allocated funding in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget to enhance the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) related communication services.
City Council business meetings have been closed-captioned on the Gov Channel and via the city’s website site for more than a decade.
The City Council will vote tonight to approve a contract that would evaluate and assess all city-owned and occupied facilities, programs, policies, procedures and public-facing information technology applications for ADA compliance, and then create a transition plan for the city moving forward.”
Hamrick put together an 11 point plan to improve inclusion. You can sign that petition by clicking here.
She plans to give it to city leaders when she meets with them next week.
“This is so much bigger than this gas station,” said Hamrick.
City Council voted to audit its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Monday,
and Hamrick wants people like her to be a part of that.
“I have real doubts about able-bodied people leading the efforts to make things more inclusive for disabled folks,” said Hamrick.
