Tuesday, March 01, 2005
ADA At It Again
Pete Yost in his AP article refers to the cruise chip industrie's attempt to fend off efforts to make it's vessels more handicapped accessible. The industry argues that new regulations, by the way imposed on them by a foreign government, the U.S., would hurt the industry. The lawyer for a group of disabled U.S vacationers, two of which are in wheelchairs sued Norwegian Cruise Lines, they want U.S. Americans With Disabilites Act regulations extended to include foreign registered vessels which call on U.S. ports.
They see that millions of Americans are spending Billions of Dollars, Americans make up nearly two thirds of the cruise industries business, and feel the U.S. statutes should apply to the industry seeing as it does so much American Business.
Their complaints seem to stem from the facts that even though their rooms are handicapped accessible and the ships staff offers assistance it is not enough and the dining rooms and other common areas should be rearranged to fit their needs.
I personally feel it unfair that the cruise industry is allowed to get away without the loss of business and costs incurred when the ADA is forced down an industries throat, without regard to the damage it may do their business. Simply my view can be summed up in the right to an industry to cater to it's customers in any way it sees fit.
They see that millions of Americans are spending Billions of Dollars, Americans make up nearly two thirds of the cruise industries business, and feel the U.S. statutes should apply to the industry seeing as it does so much American Business.
Their complaints seem to stem from the facts that even though their rooms are handicapped accessible and the ships staff offers assistance it is not enough and the dining rooms and other common areas should be rearranged to fit their needs.
I personally feel it unfair that the cruise industry is allowed to get away without the loss of business and costs incurred when the ADA is forced down an industries throat, without regard to the damage it may do their business. Simply my view can be summed up in the right to an industry to cater to it's customers in any way it sees fit.
