On Nov. 6, there’s a very real possibility that many Americans with disabilities will not be able to vote because their local polling places will be inaccessible. Advocates for the disabled are worried that local governments aren’t doing enough to prepare — as are some of the small businesses that outfit polling sites with ramps. “We’ve gotten quite a few inquiries from major municipalities, but they’re not following through to actual sales,” said Dave Henderson, sales manager at EZ-Access in Algona, Wash.
The family-owned business makes portable wheelchair ramps. Prices range from $500 for a four-foot ramp with handrails to as much as $4,000 for a 30-foot modular model. In 2008, as many as 1,000 polling centers were retrofitted with the company’s ramps, Henderson said. “For us, the election can be a big revenue generator.” This year, Henderson says he has gotten about 600 to 800 orders, and he’s uncertain how the next few weeks will go.
Full Article: Disabled voters face Election Day challenges – Oct. 11, 2012.