ADA Compliance – or Not?


By C.V. Beck

I have been investigating compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for WCIL (Westside Center for Independent Living) as a consumer. So far, the results have been more dismal than I had anticipated.


As an example, I had gone down to the Airport Courthouse to observe what was happening there with a friend. I requested from the bailiff an “assistive listening device” (in plain language, this would be a hearing aid).

The bailiff was absolutely convinced that these aids were ONLY for the use of jurors with a hearing disability. This is incorrect and I have found this fixed idea to be pretty much endemic throughout the court system as I have been experiencing it. After about one hour, I again enquired if I could get one of those and the bailiff said...the court was working on it...

Another hour later, Mr. Bailiff said to me that there were none available. He then sent me down to the clerk’s office, two floors down, by elevator. I went there and stood in line. There were only two chairs, way down at the other end of this large, long office, so I leaned on a table for twenty minutes or so.

When I got to the counter finally (lawyers get to go to the head of the line?) I experienced much confusion and lack of comprehension regarding availability of “assistive listening devices” and real lack of knowledge about whether or not the public was entitled to use them.

No one behind the clerk’s counter seemed to know who the ADA Coordinator might be. Finally, I was told again by a clerk that there were no “Assistive Listening Devices” available. This does seem to be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Part of the problem seems to be that these “hearing aids,” already bought and paid for by the taxpayers, are kept downtown. When a request is made for them, the process seems to require a 3-day notice in advance in order to get these aids delivered to where they need to be. This also needs to be coordinated with the hearing or whatever one is trying to attend. Getting at more than one device at a time is extremely problematic.

I can’t help but wonder, as the population of Los Angeles continues to age and grow, whether the City shouldn’t be increasing the supply and availability of these hearing aids for the public, as mandated by federal law of seventeen years ago. Another necessity is that of training for the court staff, who have it all wrong.

On another occasion, when I called up to the court in Malibu, I once again got the runaround. For example, I was upbraided vigorously, “why did you wait for so long to call?” This person was furious at me. I replied that I had made arrangements the previous month and wanted to ensure that these arrangements were not being overlooked.

Again, I was sent on a wild goose chase. Eventually, after this woman hung up on me, with me calling again and again and not having the phone answered, I eventually got the “techie guy,” Glenn, who said he was not sure if they had four sets of hearing aids but said he would try for the next day at court. Humm.

As it turned out, due to a fatality on the Pacific Coast Highway, we were not able to get to the Malibu Court house at all, much less timely. This status conference has been rescheduled for June 5 at 8:30 am in Department W, for those who might be interested in attending. The seniors/ disabled of Lincoln Place have been extended in their residencies once again.

Posted: Fri - June 1, 2007 at 01:42 PM          

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