OPINION — At RCSCW’s Oct. 8 facilities meeting, I asked whether the doors to Ping Pong, Zymurgy and Racquetball at lower R.H. Johnson were included in ADA survey recommendations. Unlike other clubs I’ve visited, these have no automatic door openers.
Committee member Suzanne Jones said they’re on the list. Facilities head Russ Boston said openers cost $3,500 each plus maintenance, aren’t required by ADA law and that most people use them when their hands are full.
I explained that these devices are essential for people using wheelchairs, walkers or canes, those with spinal injuries, and people like me who sometimes experience pain when raising an arm and pulling a door open.
Russ cited a 5-pound opening-force requirement and suggested finding a monitor or someone nearby to help. Is asking disabled residents to depend on someone else really Sun City West’s standard for accessibility?
If $3,500 is too much to invest in residents’ independence, what price is acceptable — $2,500, $2,000? How many automatic openers could the money spent putting “Library” on the clock tower have purchased? Which investment provides greater value to residents: a cosmetic change or helping people access facilities they want to use?
What evidence supports the claim that most users need openers only when their hands are full? Even if true, why should convenience for some diminish essential assistance for others?
I left feeling insulted, demeaned and disregarded. It brought back the very attitudes accessibility laws were intended to address: that people with disabilities should simply ask for help.
I challenge Facilities leadership to spend a few days navigating these buildings using a wheelchair, walker or cane. Experience what it means when an ordinary door becomes an obstacle to independence.
Accessibility isn’t a luxury. Independence shouldn’t depend on whether someone is standing nearby. This is a retirement community. Accessibility should be a priority, not an inconvenience.
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