TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Disability advocates say an elevator at the Tallahassee International Airport that has been broken for four years is a \u201cblack eye in the front door\u201d of the city.<\/p>\n
Advocates say the broken elevator is complicating access for people with disabilities. <\/p>\n
The city\u2019s airport director says this elevator has been out of commission since February of 2024 and some disability advocates are just plain fed up.<\/p>\n
Tallahassee resident Joanna Southerland-Mele said it shows a lack of care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is ADA compliance and if this is an indication of when you come into the Tallahassee International Airport, how you\u2019re taking care of people with disabilities, I think that\u2019s a super bad sign,\u201d Southerland-Mele said.<\/p>\n
More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n
Southerland-Mele cares about disability access because her family has a history, and that motivates her to speak out.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s and he walks funny. And I just thought to make him walk up that ramp if we wanted to park, it\u2019s just mean,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Dr. JR Harding, a senior lecturer at Florida State University, says this elevator is a bad look for the capital city.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is currently a black eye in the front door of the Tallahassee community. And it says something during, say, session, homecoming, football games and graduation,\u201d Harding said.<\/p>\n
David Pollard, the airport director, told us the city hired vendors to repair the elevator multiple times but those attempts failed, so it needs to be replaced. All the new parts are expected to be delivered to the city in April, but that\u2019s an unsatisfying answer for the advocates.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I would say to our city managers, to our county commissioners, to our airport director, why don\u2019t you pull your two suitcases and your wheelchair up that ramp in the 90-degree weather? And then you tell me if a two year window is satisfactory,\u201d Harding said.<\/p>\n
The airport director said anyone needing assistance can call the airport operations center or they can valet their car, in which case they\u2019ll be charged the lowest rate or possibly have their costs waived.<\/p>\n
Harding said relying on valet isn\u2019t a solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey need to ensure equal access, equal opportunity, and equal programmatic inclusion… Asking them to rely on the valet service to be willing to assist is also not a very satisfactory solution. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, effectively communicate and engage the community on a long-term solution because this has been a long-term problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
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