Wheelchair Lift in a Lifeguard Station: Reasonable Enough?

Lifeguards are our primary lifesaver during unforeseen accidents at the beach. Their presence provides a deeper sense of security and safety whenever we go swimming. Without those lifeguards, most people will have doubts in swimming through various beaches. As in my previous article that was devoted to the Americans with Disabilities Act, this one is rather a strange result of the said act. This article is strange enough that an impressive previously signed law is in danger of being misinterpreted and makes it look like another waste of public funds.

According to St. Petersburg Times, government regulations have mandated all lifeguard headquarters to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by making the building handicapped-friendly. In doing so, every building should be equipped with a wheelchair lift so all people using a wheelchair can easily maneuver the place. Sounds good and inspiring?

The only problem is that there is hardly any handicapped person who visits the headquarters. It is quite strange to hear that a two-storey building will be equipped with a wheelchair lift even though it is projected that no one will be using it. Consider the fact that the government will be spending a significant amount of money even though the need for that particular project is very minimal or non-existent at all.

Sadly, there are really politicians who keep on passing projects and regulations which are not really need or does not fit for any situation. It is estimated that a wheelchair lift would cost around $18,000 each. By multiplying the cost with the number of lifeguard headquarters located all around the country, it will generate a more detailed information on how this project will only waste a lot of the taxpayer’s money without even showing any usefulness by itself.

The intention may seem good but the real situation dictates that the project is not economically feasible enough. This is a perfect example of how good and helpful laws are distorted or interpreted beyond what the law actually indicates. Yes, the ADA is considered one major milestone in law creation but the way this regulation has been implemented will only put a stain to the ADA law. American has seen enough miss appropriation of government funds or implementation of projects which are both useless and expensive. What the American people need are helpful projects that are both reasonable socially and financially.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Transformation for a Better Nation

Discrimination is one cruel thing that is happening all over the world. We can all assume that all humans are imperfect and there are those who are born with disabilities and deficiencies. A baby may be born without eyesight or a soldier may lose his/her legs during a war operation. Whatever the circumstances, it is always a traumatizing experience for a person to live all his/her life with these disabilities. Luckily, the US congress passed on the year 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act which is specifically targeted to people with disabilities.

The law is described as a measure to help persons with disabilities live a more normal life and keep them away from the discrimination brought by other people. It has established four core goals namely: equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency. For one activist, the law is simply about securing the fundamental right of every disabled person which is to live in this world. It is about empowering them to live freely and do the things that every American can do.

The ADA is mostly significant in aiding people with disabilities to get better education and to protect them from any form of workplace discrimination. During the time where the ADA was not yet implemented, there were numerous stories of disabled Americans who experienced very harsh and discriminatory treatments from their neighbors or the people around them. Some are even prohibited from working at various businesses. They were basically reduced to mere incapable and low value human beings.

With the implementation of the ADA, disabled persons are now free to roam around and travel. They are now granted with more educational options. Upon graduation, they now have more job options to choose from. This will ensure that they also get significant earnings similar to normal persons in order to secure their life. The result of the law was less discrimination and equal rights for all persons regardless of physical appearance.

America was significantly changed since the signing of this law. Today, persons with disability now hold the right to get a job, become an entrepreneur and start a business, purchase goods and services and most importantly, live and reside with their family, neighbors and friends. The ADA has broken the barriers that were once a giant and painful struggle to them. Every one of them can now dream and have a chance to make it a reality.