[Dixielandjazz] Letter to the Editor

[JBruno868 at aol.com]

I am on a crusade. I have sent the following letter to  the Mississippi Rag 
and the American Rag.
 
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Letter to the Editor:
 
West Coast Jazz Festival
 
Handicapped fans are poorly treated at this  festival and I for one refuse to 
sit all the way in the back just because I  am in a wheelchair. It's one 
thing to put  seats in the last rows with signs attached saying "Handicapped" but 
this  festival goes even beyond not understand the ADA Laws or how to treat 
it's  handicapped fans and I am very upset at the way we were treated at this  
festival. First of all, there were no empty seats in this special section and  
those of us who wished to sit there had to remove the chairs  ourselves in 
order to make room for our wheelchairs and scooters. 
 
Second, the reason I was given for putting the  handicapped section all the 
way in the back? Fire Laws. Now, come on. There  is no Fire Law that states 
those of us in wheelchair or scooters have to put way  in the back of any room. 
 
Those in charge need to read the ADA Laws concerning  this and the directors 
could also learn from other festivals in the area. For  example the San Diego 
Thanksgiving Festival where the Handicapped Section is in  the center of the 
room where those of us wishing to sit there can enjoy the  music and see the 
stage but what they need to learn most of all is that no one  in a wheelchair or 
scooter is REQUIRED to sit in any special section. It's  very nice to have 
those special sections for some but I for one, bring my own  chair and I am 
allowed, by law, to sit where ever I so chose as long as I am  psychically able to 
get my chair into an area.
 
At the very first set on Thursday evening, even before  the music began, I 
was up in-front of the stage talking to my Mother, who had a  Patron's Badge and 
was sitting in the front row. There were many people all  standing around and 
just as I was starting to leave one of the Festival  Directors, John Dieball, 
actually yelled at me saying I couldn't be there. I was  so taken back by 
this that I didn't respond to his "You can't be here" and  just left. Many people 
told me later how rude they thought his reaction was  and after thinking 
about it, asking why and being told that it was a "Fire Law",  I have decided to 
write about this injustice.
 
With the age of Jazz Fans becoming older every year I  would think that 
anyone involved with a festival would know these laws and treat  those of us in 
wheelchairs, scooters and walkers with a little more respect.  After all, we are 
all getting older and the need to make room for us should be  taken very 
seriously.
 
I have decided to buy a Patron's Badge for the  Festival next year and would 
then have the right to sit in the front row and I  just dare anyone to tell me 
I can't. If there is a problem with this, I always  have the Law on my side 
and again, it would behoove the Directors of any  Jazz Festival to know the ADA 
Laws regarding the treatment of Handicapped  Fans.
 
Jazz Hugs
 
Judie Bruno
 
 
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I have already had a response from the Mississippi Rag  and they are very 
interested in following up on this subject and agree with me  that with the age 
of Jazz Fans getting older all the time, it is something that  needs to be 
dealt with.