Elkhart man won't give up in push for more handicap parking around the Lerner Theatre

Aug. 01--ELKHART -- With his ailing joints and oxygen machine, walking even short distances can be a monumental task for Rick Wolf.

When he goes out, he figures he ends up returning home three-quarters of the time without actually making it to the planned destination because he can't find parking that's close enough. Better to go home than settle on a distant parking spot and risk a health issue while making the trek from his car.

It's prompted a battle with Elkhart City Hall about adding more parking for the disabled adjacent to the Lerner Theatre. In response to his lobbying, city officials earlier this year added a blue-striped spot for the disabled along Main Street, west of the Lerner and south of Franklin Street. But they rejected his call for other action, and on Thursday, July 30, Elkhart'sHuman Relations Commission turned back his appeal of the earlier denial, citing the lack of new information to bolster his case, Wolf said.

But he isn't giving up. "I'm not done, I'll tell you that now," Wolf said Friday.

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal legislation that spells out accommodations to be made for the disabled, Wolf could file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. Maybe he could seek help through the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. But Wolf isn't sure, and the only certainty is that he thinks there aren't enough accommodations for the disabled around the city center, parking most notably.

Mayor Dick Moore, in an email Friday, noted there are over 50 parking places for the handicapped in the downtown area. Aside from the new spot on Main Street, there are 10 handicapped-accessible spots in the city parking lots immediately north of the Lerner Theatre.

"The administration is the first to implement the changes necessary to comply with the ADA. We have made it a priority and will be happy to share our list of accomplishments with you," Moore said.

Wolf, meanwhile, hopes for more discussion on the question, not necessarily just a debate over ADA guidelines, which he thinks are lacking. "I want us to start discussing all the accessibility issues in town," he said.

MANY DISABLED 'ARE SO ISOLATED'

Wolf, now surviving on disability benefits, was a medical surveyor and inspector with the Indiana State Department of Health. He launched a Facebook page to promote his cause of aiding the disabled, Elkhart Advocacy for the Handicapped and Disabled. He's thinking of launching a local chapter of ADAPT, a national grassroots group that advocates for the disabled.

"There's just no support and services for so many people," said Wolf, who suffers from a number of ailments that make it tough for him to get around. "A lot of disabled people are so isolated."

He sees need in many places, but singled out the Lerner Theatre in part because the lack of what he believes is accessible parking has impacted him personally. "I targeted that because I really wanted to get in there," he said.

The new spot off Main Street created by his prodding is a start. But more, Wolf maintains, is needed.

Aside from the 10 handicapped-only spots in the lots north of the Lerner, there are four more in two lots off Main Street west of the theater and others on Main Street north of Franklin Street. Those, Wolf argues, are too far away or tough to access because of geographic issues such as hills.

He's proposed valet parking at the theater and creating more handicapped-only spots on Main Street west of the Lerner. He's also called for conversion of two spots north of the theater for people going to the box office to buy tickets into handicapped-only spaces.

Moore emphasizes that the city is meeting ADA guidelines. City leaders "encourage all Lerner patrons, handicapped or not, to visit the Lerner," he said. Though the city has received specific requests to accommodate the disabled, he noted, Moore hasn't heard of other accessibility complaints.

Earlier efforts to comply with ADA requirements, city leaders have said, include new curb ramps, sidewalks, pedestrian lights and signage around the city.

Follow reporter Tim Vandenack on Twitter at @timvandenack or visit him on Facebook.

___

(c)2015 The Elkhart Truth (Elkhart, Ind).

Visit The Elkhart Truth (Elkhart, Ind). at www.elkharttruth.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.