No Big Deal I Tell Myself

I am in Cortland, New York and staying at a Ramada Inn. This motel has the strangest mix of appropriate wheelchair access smashed against a gross lack of wheelchair access. I pulled in this afternoon and one entire side of the building is devoted to handicapped parking. There must be twenty plus wide spots available. This is a good sign. When I enter the building I see a nonconforming ramp--an obviously non conforming ramp as in not anywhere near code--that leads to the registration desk. I am not a happy camper but I am relieved to learn my room does not require me to use this ramp. No big deal I tell myself, the room will be good; and the room is in fact nice. The bathroom has a good layout, grab bars in logical places. The towel rack is above the toilet near and the ceiling. No way I can reach a towel. I go to open the window and discover the room faces a game room/pool area. I can smell the chlorine through the window--a window that does not open. Given the fumes I am glad the window is bolted shut. Okay, I think I can adjust the thermostat and put the fan on. No such luck. The thermostat is placed high on a wall I cannot possibly get to.

Well, if I am going to smell chlorine all night let me at least go for a swim. The person at the registration desk assures me there is a lift--a lift that works no less. I go to the pool area. I can see the lift. I just cannot get to it. There are two steps up to pool area. I go to the registration desk and an extended discussion takes place "Can't you walk up the steps?" Um no. No I cannot walk. More discussion takes place. If I exit the building and go to the furthest emergency exit at the rear of the building I can get to the pool area through the storage and maintenance rooms. But to do so a path would have to made. This is going to take some time I am told. I point out it is raining hard and that as I drove in I saw a pile of snow next to the emergency exit mentioned. The enthusiasm that was lukewarm to begin with has now been doused. No swimming for me. I return to my room and when I open my door I can hear kids yelling and screaming as they swim. Great. I will drown my sorrows with a beer. They have a bar--an inaccessible bar. Can I get just a beer for my room I ask. No they cannot let me leave the bar area with an open container. I point out I am not technically in the bar area. This does not sway the bar tender. Golly, is it any wonder I do not exactly feel equal to the bipedal people hordes that surround me. Really, 23 years post ADA and this is what passes for reasonable accommodations? What a joke but sadly I am not laughing.