WSVN — She has a disability and like many people, needs a handicapped space to get out of her car. But at her apartment complex, there is no space for her. Does the complex or does a condo have to provide a handicapped space for a resident? It’s why we have Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser around…
2016 has not started well for Ronni Smith.
Ronni Smith: "My mom just passed away, and she was almost 93 so I’m lucky to have had her."
Ronni had just moved into a nice apartment complex in Plantation, and after her mother passed away, she took her dog in… then more bad news.
Ronni Smith: "They’re not allowing me to keep it because I have two other pets that are mine and I’m very sad."
And since bad things come in threes, Ronni needs knee surgery.
Ronni Smith: "My whole plastic knee cap is breaking through my skin."
Ronni can’t do anything about her mother’s death. She was able to find a home for her mother’s dog. As for her knee problem, there is something that would help her get around… but she can’t get it done..
Ronni Smith: "I just want a parking spot closer to my unit. I’m not asking for much."
Ronni has had two knee replacements and will soon have surgery to replace one of those, so she needs a handicapped parking space.
Ronni Smith: "I need to turn around and step out on my right leg which means I have to get my car door wide open. If a car is parked by the line, I can’t get my car door open."
There is just one handicapped space for her building, and another person who needs it, uses it. But a nearby building has four handicapped spaces. So Ronni says she contacted the apartment manager to ask her to add one to her building.
Ronni Smith: "I asked her if she could put a space close to my unit and she said, ‘No.’ That she absolutely can’t."
Ronni called the city of Plantation to see if they could help… They told her to call the federal government…
Ronni Smith: "I did file a complaint with the ADA and I did not get a response."
Ronni says apparently it’s a big deal to add a handicapped space in a parking lot. But to her it seems pretty simple…
Ronni Smith: "I don’t think it’s such a horrible thing I’m asking for… especially I’m not just moving out in two weeks, I’m here for the long hall. And I like it here, it’s a very nice apartment."
Well Howard, if you are legitimately handicapped like Ronni, do you have a right to a handicapped space or if your condo or apartment doesn’t have a handicapped space for you, do they have to make one?
Howard Finkelstein: "At an rental apartment complex where there is no assigned parking, the complex has to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled people. So at this complex, they have to mark off a handicapped space that is near Ronni’s apartment. If it’s a condo with spaces owned by the residents, the best solution is to probably just turn a couple of guest spaces into a handicapped space."
After three strikes of bad news this year, Ronni finally got some good news…
I spoke to the manager at The Laurels at Jacaranda in Plantation. She told me she was putting in the request to corporate headquarters for the handicapped space and that it takes time. Fortunately it didn’t take much time… a few days later, Ronni came home to this, the handicapped space exactly where she had asked the manager to put it.
Ronni Smith: "It’s perfect. It’s just wonderful."
Ronni got her space right near her apartment to make her life a little easier getting in and out of her car…
Ronni Smith: "And I am so grateful and it never would have happened if it wasn’t for you people and Patrick and Help me Howard."
At complexes where there is no assigned parking, it’s easy to add a handicapped space. But what about a condo that doesn’t have guest parking? Legally the condo association can refuse to create another handicapped space because the law allows that.
Someone parked a problem in your life? Need some space so you can walk away from it? Contact us and be our guest as we reserve a solution just for you.
With this Help me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.
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Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
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