Through the front door
A three-month Times investigation revealed dozens of barriers in the region to those with disabilities.
Through the front door
For region wheelchair users and others who live with disabilities, accessibility means getting through the front door and using services once inside -- actions most people take for granted.
Access barriers slow down but fail to stop region wheelchair users
When a member of the region's wheelchair-using community challenged my investigative team to spend a day in a wheelchair to explore accessibility barriers, I wasn't quite sure what to think at first. Would someone not accustomed to the daily grind of moving with the aid of a wheelchair reall…
Advocates: Aging boomers highlight need for better access
As baby boomers age and the number of the nation's disabled grows by millions, access barriers to public services will become even more glaring, disability advocates say. Those born between 1946 and 1964 comprise the largest demographic population in the United States.
Beverly Shores man says South Shore accessibility on wrong track
Sitting in his wheelchair, Al Piening can throw a rock from the front doorstep of his Beverly Shores home and hit the nearby South Shore train station.
Even an accessible downtown district poses challenges
Veronica Garza's facial expression becomes strained as she and her husband Rich, a wheelchair user, prepare for a trip to their favorite restaurant in downtown Highland.
Innovative access
Navigating the sandy beaches and nature trails of Chesterton's Indiana Dunes State Park in a traditional wheelchair is an exercise in futility.
Tracking complaints and enforcing the ADA
Under federal law, the U.S. Department of Justice holds jurisdiction over various civil rights matters, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Municipal building inspectors also can ensure new construction meets ADA compliance for access prior to approving facility us…
Video - Through the Front Door Explained
The Times Investigative Editor Marc Chase expains the project
Video - Al Piening
Beverly Shores resident Al Piening built a home in Beverly Shores near the South Shore train station there but can't board the train at that stop
Video - Wheelchair Obstacles
Highland resident Rich Garza talks about the challenges of being wheelchair-bound.
Interactive: What does accessibility look like?
"Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires public accommodations to provide goods and services to people with disabilities on an equal basis with the rest of the general public. The goal is to afford every individual the opportunity to benefit from our country's businesses an…
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