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After months of trying, USPS agrees to install handicap accessible door at Adel Post Office

After months of trying, USPS agrees to install handicap accessible door at Adel Post Office
ON A MISSION FOR ACCESSIBILITY. ROBERT FISCHER’S WHEELS TAKE HIM EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY STOP AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE ADEL POST OFFICE. YEAH, I WILL. A PHONE CALL. I HAVE FIND A BARD USUALLY WORKS FOR A GUY TRYING TO MAIL AN ENVELOPE. THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. BUT ON THIS DAY, WITH NO ONE ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE, DESPITE SOMEONE ON THE OTHER END OF THE DOOR, BRUTE STRENGTH WILL HAVE TO DO. HEY, I OWE THAT DELIVERY. MY HAND AND I WILL HEAR OR HEAR. I WOULD TELL MY LAY. FISHER BELIEVES THIS STRUGGLE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN AND IT CAN MEANING FOR OUR PEOPLE AND WE ARE CARRIED TO DO THAT. HE WANTS A HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE AUTOMATIC DOOR, THE ONE WITH THE PUSH BUTTON THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM TO ENTER. FISHER HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR ONE SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, TRYING TO WORK WITH USPS AND THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING. A PETITION WITH PROGRESS IOWA, AIMED TO INCREASE PUBLIC PRESSURE. FISHER ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, LAYING OUT THE FACT THAT HE BELIEVES HIS RIGHTS ARE VIOLATED. EVERY TIME I COME HERE AND DEB POTTER BEING AT A ED, IT BOTHERED THE HELL OUT OF ME. DO NOT SAY THAT. DON KCCI INVESTIGATES CALLED USPS, WHO SAID THE DOOR IS CURRENTLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. 88 DOES NOT REQUIRE PUSH BUTTON DOORS. USPS SAYS CUSTOMERS WITH ACCESSIBILITY QUESTIONS SHOULD CALL THEIR LOCAL POSTMASTER, SAYING IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO ADJUST THE DOORS OR HAVE OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS. BUT IN THIS CASE, USPS SAYS WE ARE TAKING MEASURES TO INSTALL A PUSH BUTTON HANDICAPPED ACCESS ENTRY, SOMETHING FISHER HAD BEEN PUSHING FOR FOR A YEAR. WILL NOW BECOME A REALITY. NANCY IF THAT OPEN ABOUT YOU ACT LIKE IT HAPPENED. FISHER WANTS TO SEE PUSH BUTTONS ON THE DOOR HERE AND OTHERS IN TOWN SO HIS WHEELS CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE HIM WHEREVER HE NEEDS. NOW, FISHER HAS CEREBRAL PALSY WITH SPASTIC QUADRIPLEGIA. HE’S BEEN WORKING TO GET A PUSH BUTTON INSTALLED AT THAT ADA POST OFFICE SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR. ONCE WE CALLED THE POSTAL SERVICE THAT IT WAS INSTALLING IT, SAYING IT, QUOTE, PERIODICALLY UPDATES ITS FACILITIES, END QUOTE. FOR THAT FULL STATEMENT FROM USPS, JUST HEAD TO KCCI DOT COM
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After months of trying, USPS agrees to install handicap accessible door at Adel Post Office
Access is something we all want and what most of us easily get in public spaces. Robert Fisher says he can't get the access he needs to his local post office in Adel.Fisher's motorized wheelchair takes him virtually everywhere, up and down the sidewalks in Adel and to and from home. But they stop at the front door of the post office. Normally, he calls the post office, and someone opens the door to let him in, but when he called while KCCI Investigates was there with him, no one answered.So, brute strength was his only option, holding the door with his hand, propping it open with his feet and driving his wheelchair into the vestibule. "It's demeaning for people in wheelchairs to have to do that," he said after coming back outside.Fisher wants a handicap-accessible automatic door that's commonly found in public places with a button to open it. Fisher has been pushing for one since last February, trying to work with the United States Postal Service and the building's owner to get one installed.A petition was filed with Progress Iowa, and Fisher filed a complaint with the state civil rights commission. "Every time I come here, it bothers the hell out of me to not see it done," Fisher said.KCCI Investigates called USPS, who said the door is currently in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA does not require push-button doors. "We are taking measures to install a push button handicap access entry," USPS said in part to KCCI Investigates after we called to explain Fisher's situation."Let's see if they open up to it," Fisher said. "Let's see if it happens."USPS Full Statement: The USPS is subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) rather than the more recent Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and power operated doors are not required by either statute.USPS does have standards for the maximum push/pull force for manual doors (8.5 pounds for exterior doors and 5 pounds for interior doors).Customers who have questions or concerns with facility accessibility should contact their local Postmaster. It may be possible to adjust the doors to ease operation, or other accommodations may be made to ensure that all customers have reasonable opportunity to obtain postal products and services.It may also be of interest to know that the Postal Service offers a number of convenient options that can save customers a trip to the Post Office. For instance, customers can buy stamps online through our website at www.usps.com, by phone at 1-800-STAMP24. Our Click-N-Ship service on www.usps.comenable customers to print shipping labels with postage for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express and some locations provide Package Pickup service upon request. Customers can also place their mail on hold, file a change-of address order, or request that redelivery of an item for which a notice was left by calling 1-800-ASKUSPS or visiting www.usps.comHowever, we are taking measures to install a push button handicap access entry, as well.

Access is something we all want and what most of us easily get in public spaces. Robert Fisher says he can't get the access he needs to his local post office in Adel.

Fisher's motorized wheelchair takes him virtually everywhere, up and down the sidewalks in Adel and to and from home. But they stop at the front door of the post office.

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Normally, he calls the post office, and someone opens the door to let him in, but when he called while KCCI Investigates was there with him, no one answered.

So, brute strength was his only option, holding the door with his hand, propping it open with his feet and driving his wheelchair into the vestibule.

"It's demeaning for people in wheelchairs to have to do that," he said after coming back outside.

Fisher wants a handicap-accessible automatic door that's commonly found in public places with a button to open it. Fisher has been pushing for one since last February, trying to work with the United States Postal Service and the building's owner to get one installed.

A petition was filed with Progress Iowa, and Fisher filed a complaint with the state civil rights commission.

"Every time I come here, it bothers the hell out of me to not see it done," Fisher said.

KCCI Investigates called USPS, who said the door is currently in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA does not require push-button doors.

"We are taking measures to install a push button handicap access entry," USPS said in part to KCCI Investigates after we called to explain Fisher's situation.

"Let's see if they open up to it," Fisher said. "Let's see if it happens."

USPS Full Statement:
The USPS is subject to the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) rather than the more recent Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and power operated doors are not required by either statute.

USPS does have standards for the maximum push/pull force for manual doors (8.5 pounds for exterior doors and 5 pounds for interior doors).

Customers who have questions or concerns with facility accessibility should contact their local Postmaster. It may be possible to adjust the doors to ease operation, or other accommodations may be made to ensure that all customers have reasonable opportunity to obtain postal products and services.

It may also be of interest to know that the Postal Service offers a number of convenient options that can save customers a trip to the Post Office. For instance, customers can buy stamps online through our website at www.usps.com, by phone at 1-800-STAMP24. Our Click-N-Ship service on www.usps.comenable customers to print shipping labels with postage for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express and some locations provide Package Pickup service upon request. Customers can also place their mail on hold, file a change-of address order, or request that redelivery of an item for which a notice was left by calling 1-800-ASKUSPS or visiting www.usps.com

However, we are taking measures to install a push button handicap access entry, as well.