DISABILITIES, NEW ORLEANS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESSING SOME OF THE CITY’S MOST HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT’S RIGHT. IMAGINE HAVING TO CALL AHEAD IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, FIND A PARKING SPACE, EVEN GET A SEAT AT A RESTAURANT THAT IS THE REALITY FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ON THIS 34TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, WE CHECK IN WITH WATCHDOGS AND ADVOCATES. SAY I’M 34 YEARS ALMOST IN MY CHAIR, AND I’VE NOT LET ANYTHING KIND OF STOP ME. SO I WAS NEVER GOING TO LET ANYTHING KIND OF LET ME SET ME BACK, NOT SET BACK, BUT NOLA TAMMANY GEAUX REMY HAS A VIEW OF LIFE SITTING DOWN. I’M A PARAPLEGIC, INJURED FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT WAS PASSED. I WAS 29 YEARS OLD, A RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, A GUNSHOT WOUND FROM A STRANGE HUSBAND, A NURSE WHO’S CAREER WAS TO CARE FOR OTHERS INSTANTLY. THINGS CHANGE NOW. HAD TO RELEARN HOW TO CARE FOR HERSELF. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRESS TOILET, BATHE, SIT IN YOUR CHAIR, GET IN THE CHAIR, GET OUT OF THE CHAIR AND LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE SPACES THAT MAY NOT BE ACCESSIBLE OR ADA COMPLIANT. WE DO HAVE CURB CUTS, BUT I CAN STILL NAVIGATE THE SIDEWALKS. THERE’S NOT ONE TIME THAT I LEAVE MY HOUSE THAT I DON’T EXPERIENCE. IF IT’S NOT A HOTEL, IF IT’S NOT A RESTAURANT, IF IT’S NOT AN ENTERTAINMENT VENUE. UM, EVEN NAVIGATING THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS, THAT’S WHERE DISABILITY RIGHTS LOUISIANA COMES IN. THE PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RANDY THOMPSON SAYS THEIR JOB IS TWOFOLD RAISE THE VOICE AND TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY MONITOR FOR COMPLIANCE AND ALSO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION SO WE CAN GO INTO PRISONS. WE CAN GO INTO NURSING HOMES, WE CAN GO INTO THOSE SPACES THAT ARE TYPICALLY KIND OF SHUT OFF FROM YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE REST OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY. BUT THE FEDERAL MANDATE GIVES US ACCESS TO GO INTO THOSE PLACES AND ADVOCATE FOR DISABILITIES. THAT MAY NOT BE VISIBLE, THOMPSON SAYS OF THE 1800 CALLS THEY GET EACH YEAR, MORE AND MORE ARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. BACK TO NELITA REMY, WHEELCHAIR BOUND AND DETERMINED NOT TO MISS A BEAT, SHE SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, EDUCATION IS KEY. I’VE ACTUALLY HAD PEOPLE TO REFUSE ME AND YOU’RE FRUSTRATED. YOU’RE ANGRY BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE LAWS. YOU ALMOST HAVE TO PICK YOUR BATTLES. SO WHAT GRADE DOES SHE GIVE US FOR ACCESSIBILITY? I’M GOING TO GIVE US A C. WE HAVE A LOT TO DO. THE ADA WAS WRITTEN 34 YEARS AGO. YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT PERFECT. THAT’S WHY SHE’S NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK UP. SHE MAY HAVE HAD A TRAUMATIC INJURY TO HER SPINE, BUT NOT HER BACKBONE. SO I SAID SOMETHING. YOU HAVE TO DEMAND IT BECAUSE THERE’S A LAW AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, DISABILITY RIGHTS LOUISIANA WAS AWARDED $300,000 FROM THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, CONTINUING ITS INVESTMENT IN AN ADA COMPLIANCE AND THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY INVESTED MILLIONS IN ACCESSIBILITY AND ADA COMPLIANCE F