Cooperstown News Bureau
---- —
Chris Zachmeyer, executive director of the Catskill Center of Independence praised the state Senate for passing bills Thursday to help people with disabilities.
Among these was S.7860, a bill that would mandate that polling sites comply with accessibility guidelines established by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, she said.
"Being able to vote alongside everyone else is a fundamental right," she said in a telephone call to The Daily Star.
Last year, legislation to force compliance with federal accessibility guidelines passed both the state Senate and Assembly, but was vetoed by Gov. David Paterson.
"Now we hope our disabled governor won't veto this again this year," she said.
Zachmeyer said she and her colleagues are upset that state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, didn't vote for this bill.
"We're disappointed," she said, "very disappointed."
Seward spokesman Jeff Bishop said the senator cast a nay vote because of the financial implications for small communities.
"That particular bill would have made it so rural communities couldn't get temporary waivers from complying," Bishop said.
Seward favors equal access for everyone at the polls, but Bishop said Seward believes small municipalities need to have the means to comply before they can be forced to comply.
A second bill, S.7482, incorporates the provisions of the ADA into state law, "clarifying the scope of protections against discrimination in the provision of services, programs and activities of public entities," she said.
Both bills have passed the state Assembly, Zachmeyer said.
