Sympathetic Statehouse

Regular readers will recall our attempt to stop the shoe rule in the Statehouse. New readers can catch up looking at these earlier entries.

It turns out that the Statehouse really is sympathetic.

In my testimony I talked about how going barefoot really helped my feet and my knees. I also cautioned them about violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. I also know that at least some of the readers here wrote to the Statehouse and committee members about how going barefoot helped them too (Thank You!).

It may have had an effect.

Now, the Statehouse always announces their board meetings (of the CSRAB) on their Press Release webpage. In the past, those notices always contained the following line:

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse and Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in or visit the complex.

I’ve always wondered just who gave them that responsibility. State statues do say that they are responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse, but there is nothing that authorizes them to provide for the health, safety and convenience of those who are there. It’s not like they are a hospital, after all (or a health department).

But the big exciting news is that there is a whole new paragraph added to their meeting notice announcing their April board meeting:

The Ohio Statehouse is handicapped accessible and senior friendly. The Capitol Square complex was restored to allow for greater access by individuals living with disabilities. Ohio Statehouse public programs and events are held in accessible and barrier free areas of the building so that everyone can participate. Ohio Statehouse visitors needing disability-related accommodations in order to fully participate in an event may contact the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board at statehouse@csrab.state.oh.us or 614/752-9777 to communicate special needs. Please allow three weeks for arrangements to be completed.

See! They care!

Now, it does seem odd that they might need three weeks for any such arrangement. After all, they just changed their rules so that the Executive Director can make exceptions to their rules so that folks didn’t have to wait for the next board meeting.

By the way, you may recall that I wrote to their Executive Director asking for a permanent waiver from their shoe rule. That was two weeks ago and I haven’t heard anything back yet. On the other hand, that three weeks isn’t up yet, so they may still be working on completing the arrangements necessary to allow me to enter in my bare feet.

Another possibility is that the arrangements are so extensive that the Executive Director is not comfortable with making this decision on his own, and he will wait to consult with the board members at the upcoming April 19 meeting to make sure he does it correctly.

Anyways, it is nice to see that how our efforts have made a positive change in the treatment of the handicapped and seniors at the the Statehouse.