Removed Barriers Gives More Time in the Community
Posted January 23, 2025 by Beth in Independent Living
Nevonna had been struggling with having a ramp built and her landlord was not willing to build one but did give a permission to have one built by a contractor. She also wanted an Emotional Support Animal and felt the landlord was not following Fair Housing Accommodations. She obtained a copy of the Fair Housing Act. She also talked to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and to the Disability Rights Center of Kansas. She considered filing a violation for refusal to accommodate against her landlord. She also had requested to have the first parking spot left open for her workers and so she could get to the vehicle more easily.
Nevonna read the Fair Housing Act and contacted her local city officials. With the help of RCIL and the city, she was able to come to an agreement with the landlord and fellow tenants to leave the first parking space for her and her workers to access the vehicle. The landlord was charging Nevonna for the Emotional Support Animal but that stopped occurring. She feels that with this accomplished she is feeling more respected and not taken advantage of.
She decided against filing a violation of refusal to accommodate with the landlord stating she would rather move and not deal with the hassle of a suit. Nevonna expressed she does not feel so depressed and isolated and now feels like she has a place to turn to for help in the future. She also stated she is excited with now being able to go into the community to shop and go to her local Recreation Center to do aerobic swimming when she wants. She knows sidewalks still need to be fixed so she can use her walker and/or wheelchair with less of a safety risk but for now, she is happy with the progress that has been made. Not being charged for having the Emotional Support Animal gives her money to do more in the community.
