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 [log in to unmask] 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! > > > > > >************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at >http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour > >----------------------- > >To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here: > >http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy ----------------------- To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy