Please contact my son
Jason McKinley
Director of Development
PO Box 6411
Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744
808-236-4200 Office
808-237-0234 Cell
www.AccesSurf.org
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This organization is not only getting people to the beach but in the
water. You don't say where this took place and I would like to know.
I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice but the way you
were treated sounds like a definite violation of equal access laws.
I am sure my son will have some ideas for you and he may even read
the local authorities the riot act in a nice way. It always helps to
have someone else carry the ball for you. You certainly do not want
to endure any more of their abuse. I am pretty certain he can make it
very clear to them.
At 10:11 AM 9/3/2007, you wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I feel shy asking this - I should be able to handle this, but I need some
>opinions of others. In a way, this problem seems trivial, but please try to
>patient. It's deeper than it appears.
>
>I used to go to the beach all the time and none of the lifeguards hassled
>me. The most they ever said was 'hey, enjoy the day' or such. I
>even used to
>go out in the water and sometimes be knocked on my butt by a wave. No big
>deal - I was treated as just another beach bum out for a day of sun.
>
> However, recently two lifeguards have made a huge issue about me being on
>the beach alone. They both did it very publically - one kept going up to
>other beach goers asking if I was with them and the other
>came running after me,
>screaming at me to stop walking. After I stopped, he was insulting and
>rude. Both the guards told me I couldn't be on the beach by
>myself. Neither
>time was I in the water - once I was fully dressed just sitting on the sand.
>
> I talked to the Chief after the first time and he was no help
> though he did
>promise a local disability org. that he would provide better disability
>training. (Yea, right). This time, he's been even less help and says
>I need to go
>up to every guard and explain myself. I'm all for getting to know people,
>but these are public employees at the beach. Shouldn't they know
>how to deal
>with things? If they do have a question, can't they be polite and
>respectful? It's not my job to teach them how to act with simple
>politeness. That's
>what my tax dollars are supposed to do in part - to pay for training so that
>they know how to react DECENTLY (not perfectly, but decently) to
>everyone. I'm
>shy - I don't like approaching strangers in general.
>
> I have a lot of problems and stress in my life and the beach is the ONE
>place that makes me forget it all. I really, really need to be able to go
>there, relax and not worry about going up to all the lifeguards (there are
>multiple guards on each beach and they change up all the time so it
>would be an
>ongoing effort). I need to go there and not have to keep looking over my
>shoulder or feel like I have to walk just right. I feel really
>frustrated I can't
>even go there and be carefree as I used to be because the beach is literally
>the only truly happy thing in my life. It really is or should
>I say it WAS the
>only thing that made me want to keep going.
>
>There's no one else to appeal to - I have no faith anyone higher up would
>listen either. So, I would welcome any suggestions.
>
>Thanks for reading!
>
>
>
>
>
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