Cedar Point opposing an ADA rule

AHEM....from someone who IS disabled(or at least considered so by the US gov't, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and a few others) you guys are so ignorant. although i do not use a whellchair at this point, i DO have a severe limp, which may mean i will need a wheelchair at one of my CP visits. the ADA is not in place to take away YOUR rights...it was put in place to mainly help disabled people in the workplace and everyday life, like more handicapped access bathrooms, and allowing employees to say, take an hour nap every day if they have fatigue and need to rest. that's what it was meant for, and unfortunately, some of my disabled brethren have decided to abuse it to the point of absurdity. it is used, unfortunately, by some hadicapped folk who use it to hide behind and push non-disabled people around. that is what's happening here. maybe if you went to some boards like this one for things like MS, Parkinsons, paralyisis, etc, you would begin to understand. I KNOW, from experience, how bitter and jealous some of the more severely disabled can be, i am NOT one of those. but i have said this before, both here and the MS site, that as long as i can sit in the seat and hold my head and hands up, i will ride coasters, wheelchair or no. my love for the rides originated before my MS did. i agree with all of you that making a handicapped space on rides would be dangerous to others and i fully support opposing such action. but some of you guys, much as i love you all, need to limp a day at CP in my shoes and see how YOU feel. and remember, that in our society, in the Age Of Litigation, you are going to see abuses of the law by people. it sounds like this guy is just as ignorant towards non-disabled as they are towards him. sad, but true.

-------------
"I think I scrambled my brain!!"

Well what is the gov. deffinition of disabled? Is it not being able to see, not being able to walk, not being mentaly disabled, being heavyset, or is it all of these? Everyone should be able to safely ride a rollercoaster or thrill ride. Didn't the child that died one Drop Zone mentaly disabled? I don't see how parks can accomadate to all the specail disabilties. If you are in bad shape especially with probablems in the spine maybe you should be doing these unatural things on a rollercoaster. I hope this doesn't piss anyone off.

You're right Jeff - I have absolutely no problem with CP letting disabled guests enter through the exit for safety concerns.

I think the point that's getting lost in some of the above posts is where does it end? Through the manipulation of the legal system, lawyers have completely skewed the definition of what a "disability" is. I suppose as a generalization, it could be classed as a "physical impairment" but it isn't going to stop there.

My wife has asthma, but she really likes to go to the gym. Is the gym required to provide ventilator stations if she has an attack? I would really like to play professional hockey but don't have the skills - is THAT my right to play professional hockey? The point is - we ALL have something that can be "laywered" as a disability, and there has to be a point where the line between "disability" and "inability" is drawn.

I'm very sympathetic to the needs of disabled persons - but what this article relates to (IMHO), is this guy claiming he has "rights" (1990's buzzword) to ride roller coasters because ADA says so. This is twisting the law to suit your own needs - and yet another example of the false notion that everyone is entitled to do something because a politician says so.

As I said before - this is still a crock of @#$%

-------------
Guide To The Point 1 is really good value...

Servo -

Thank you for the fresh perspective :) :) :)

-------------
Guide To The Point 1 is really good value...

I think I wasn't very clear in my earlier post. My whole point was that some people ARE abusing the system and messing it up for everyone. When we went to Disney last year, my grandfather got a wheelchair and was able to jump the lines. However, he spent most of the trip pushing the chair himself! (I should also point out that Disney DOES make people in wheelchairs wait in the queue line on certain rides.) IF a person is able bodied enough to ride a ride, then let them. I have no problem with that. But if it is more of a health risk than normal, it's not a good idea. Who do you think the person is going to sue if they get hurt? One potential problem could cost Cedar Point millions (or they would just lose their insurer.) I didn't mean to insult people who are larger than normal either. BUT, if a person is 5' and weighs 500 lbs. that presents an EXTREME health risk for that person to be on a roller coaster. My father is no little guy and he doesn't ride for that very reason. He would love to ride the rides with me, but he is in no shape to do so. If one of your friends didn't fit into a restraint and was ok to ride, that's unfortunate. Roller coasters were designed for young adults in good physical shape. It is up to the rider to determine if he is alright to ride, but if someone rides even though they are not in a state to do so...that put Cedar Point in a very akward and dangerous position. One that could potentially bring HUGE amounts of monetary harm upon Cedar Fair.

to Magnum ..."disabled" is defined as someone who has impaired ability and quality of life. i am considered disabled because i limp and have color loss in the vision in my left eye. that is "impaired ability". i also have terrible fatigue..."loss of quality of life". so anyone can consider themselves "disabled" if they want to...maybe you should consider yourself to be "feeling-disabled", because you certainly don't see my point that just because someone is disabled(like me) doesn't mean they aren't human and should be denied the pleasures of life. i know my limits, Magnum...some disabled people, sadly, have more limits than others physically, but mentally, in their minds, thay are just as able bodied as you are. THAT is probably part of the reason why this guy is suing or whatever and that is why i am so upset with you and others right now. would you treat me differently if we met at the Point and i was in a wheelchair? would you deny me a chance to ride, even though i KNOW i am physically able to do so? sure sounds like it to me. jeeze. i still think what the guy is doing is wrong, because in the long run, rides like the ones he wants will actually ENDANGER others. the point i tried to make was that DISABLED, in my mind, is what the GOV'T, my DOCTOR and the MS Society tells me i am. I DO NOT think i am. but i am, by DEFINITON, disabled. and unfortunately, due to the definition, about 90% of Americans can call themselves disabled, but only about 10-15% of those even BEGIN to qualify.
and thanks, Mango, for your support.

-------------
"I think I scrambled my brain!!"

and to you bravey..."roller coasters are designed for YOUNG, PHYSICALLY FIT" people? BULL-PUCKEY!!! my aunt has TWO plastic hips and STILL rides every year. the first question she asked her surgeon afterwards was "can i still ride roller coasters?" and he said "only if you want to".
how old are you? 17? 18? wait till you learn a little more about life, maturity and realizing that people either A)know their limits and follow them or B)choose to ignore them and blame it on the world. when you've grown up a bit in your attitude towards others who are different, then we can talk. i am still yuong and able-bodied. i just HAPPEN to have a slight handicap...how do you feel about ME riding?
-------------
"I think I scrambled my brain!!"

this is my final comment on this subject...just take it from someone who knows...the people who are too handicapped to ride know it, and will not even attempt to do so. when that day comes for me, as it eventually will, as my disease is degenerative and has no cure/effective treatments, i will mourn and mope. but if i cannot ride, then i won't...but i will fight it all the way. but of all the disabled folks i know, i am probably one of 10 or 20 who are even capable of riding. so no need to get yer panties in a bunch over this. it will probably never come to pass and this guy will be seen for what he is...someone who is abusing the law, is bitter towards life, and a major whiner in general. it will probably be thrown(laughed) out of court. did you all know that 90% of ADA-related workplace lawsuits go in favor of the EMPLOYER? this law was put in place to help us get through life as normally as possible in the workplace, not to allow us to have fun at amusement parks. what is being done here is a gross injustice to the law that took SO long to get enacted and it is only making handicapped people look stupid.
sorry if i got a little sensitive, but it IS a sensitive issue.

-------------
"I think I scrambled my brain!!"

OK time to chime in...
First, where is your compassion? I have worked at the Point and learned how to work with and talk to disabled people. (Servo, I admire you, sorry I don't want to trade places with you and limp the park one day but I would like to get together and ride some rides.)
Anyone who feels superior to the rest of the world because you can climb in and out of a coaster is missing the point.
CP has had an OUTSTANDING policy in place for over 20 years in dealing with "physical handicaps" This policy was not established on a whim, CP has invested many dollars and quite a bit of research in determining the phyiscal limitations which could preclude someone from riding any of the parks 68 rides. I had to explain to a guest why he could not ride the Blue Streak with a full arm cast yet we let a guest with a full arm amputee ride.
The government does not need to interfere with this process. I remeber back to the early eighties when the ride liscensing regulations were being debated. (care to chime in Dave?)
CP tries to run any ride with the safety of ALL guests in mind. I witnessed, Magic Johnson (yes the basketball player) and 4 other NBA players be told not to ride the coasters for safety reasons. (they could not enter and exit the rides quick enough becasue of their height) This action was causing "set-ups" on all the coasters they were riding, this puts the safety of the other guests in danger.
Can new rides be designed to allow even more access?, Probably, and they should be. Should this be mandated by ADA. NO.
Finally, please quit whining about the disabled receiving special privleges from CP. Go spend the day at CP on ARC (adult retarded citizens) Day and count your blessings.

thank you, Tim, for putting it better and more eloquently than i ever could...:):):)

-------------
"I think I scrambled my brain!!"

I think that's a good way to end this...

-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point