Joe Martinez is a quadraplegic who got through the Disneyland turnstile, but that is where the fun ended. He was not allowed to board “The Pirates of Carribean” because it was not wheelchair accessible. He was allowed on the “It’s A Small World Ride” but when it broke down, he was told he could not be evacuated because of his wheelchair. While waiting, he suffered dysrelfexia, a condition that can result in stroke. He was transported from the Park by paramedics.
The federal ADA and the State Unruh Civil Rights Act requires amusement parks and other businesses to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability. Disney’s lack of accommodation for the disabled is an incredbile situation given that the ADA has been “on the books” for over 20 years. I that time, reported case decisions have clarified the requirements of the law. The implication is that Mickey doesn’t care. It’s the “happiness place on earth,” unless you’re Joe Martinez.