ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 6, 2023 12:09:06 GMT -6
OK last night at the bar, ran into a friend who is in a wheelchair, a couple of months ago he had booked a SSL room to mix a project. One problem his chair wouldn’t fit through the door of this commercial room! The studio owner refused to refund the deposit because he hadn’t enquired about access. That didn’t go well when my friend said he just wanted his money back because this business was in violation of ADA and if he had to get his lawyer involved they would win and their would be damages because of his civil rights being violated.
Long story short studio owner called his lawyer who said give him his money now or give him more money and the lawyer a really really big check.
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Post by notneeson on Oct 6, 2023 12:28:01 GMT -6
OK last night at the bar, ran into a friend who is in a wheelchair, a couple of months ago he had booked a SSL room to mix a project. One problem his chair wouldn’t fit through the door of this commercial room! The studio owner refused to refund the deposit because he hadn’t enquired about access. That didn’t go well when my friend said he just wanted his money back because this business was in violation of ADA and if he had to get his lawyer involved they would win and their would be damages because of his civil rights being violated. Long story short studio owner called his lawyer who said give him his money now or give him more money and the lawyer a really really big check. What a bummer. I would think this often takes care of itself because you need to get things like consoles and tape machines in and out historically, not to mention instruments etc. That said, plenty of weird spaces and weirder people in the audio business. |
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Post by drumsound on Oct 6, 2023 12:40:14 GMT -6
I would have given him the money on the spot as I appologised.
I once did a remote VO session because the talent was local to me (actually 40 miles away and they should have booked one of my friends there...but I digress). I was book by a business in NYC and it was "motivational" bursts for Spotify playlists. The talent was a fairly well know woman in a wheelchair who does marathons. There's a step into my door, and my room is pretty tight. I was told, via email about 2 hours before the session that she was in a wheelchair. I felt like a complete schmuck. I would have fashioned a ramp for her to get in had I known. She actuall got out of her chair and crawled in, but was literally able to bounce out.
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Post by svart on Oct 6, 2023 13:03:47 GMT -6
I had a guy in a wheelchair come to the studio. I spent a weekend building ramps over the thresholds of the doors since he wouldn't be able to access the rooms otherwise. He was very thankful that I went through the trouble despite not being an actual commercial facility.
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Post by notneeson on Oct 6, 2023 14:16:36 GMT -6
I had a guy in a wheelchair come to the studio. I spent a weekend building ramps over the thresholds of the doors since he wouldn't be able to access the rooms otherwise. He was very thankful that I went through the trouble despite not being an actual commercial facility. You’re a class act, Svart. |
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Post by EmRR on Oct 6, 2023 14:34:38 GMT -6
It’s foremost tied to local code, a building update over a certain % would probably trigger an automatic requirement. An old building with no updates would not automatically be required to meet ADA, but you’d damn well be ready to advise potential clients needing compliance.
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Post by hadaja on Oct 6, 2023 14:34:42 GMT -6
I had a guy in a wheelchair come to the studio. I spent a weekend building ramps over the thresholds of the doors since he wouldn't be able to access the rooms otherwise. He was very thankful that I went through the trouble despite not being an actual commercial facility. My gosh thats very self sacrificing of you. Above and beyond. and yeah if thats the law for commerical studio and businesses then thats just what has to happen. thanks for sharing and reminding us ericn that there are more then just us put there we need to think about accomodating. |
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Post by svart on Oct 6, 2023 14:43:27 GMT -6
I had a guy in a wheelchair come to the studio. I spent a weekend building ramps over the thresholds of the doors since he wouldn't be able to access the rooms otherwise. He was very thankful that I went through the trouble despite not being an actual commercial facility. You’re a class act, Svart. I had no problem doing it. No telling when I might need the ramps again for someone else too. Better to have them in the storage corner for when I need them than not have them at all. |
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Post by christophert on Oct 6, 2023 15:17:27 GMT -6
I have aluminium portable fold up ramps made for when the need arises. It's a must to look after the disabled. I would never give any business to that SSL studio - what a tragic attitude  |
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Post by jeremygillespie on Oct 6, 2023 15:22:00 GMT -6
That’s a bummer. The ssl room I was at had a ramp to access the second floor that was ADA compliant. As were the bathrooms and all doors that needed to be accessed.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 6, 2023 15:33:50 GMT -6
It’s foremost tied to local code, a building update over a certain % would probably trigger an automatic requirement. An old building with no updates would not automatically be required to meet ADA, but you’d damn well be ready to advise potential clients needing compliance. Actually local code doesn’t come into play at all since ADA is a federal discrimination law & and the supremacy clause guarantees Federal Statutes Top any local laws or codes ( though many a local official will tell you otherwise and that in its self is a violation. In order to be exempt, a building can’t be just old but on the Register of Historic buildings. Even with these there is a threshold that is open to interpretation of over how much time if 50% of the value of the building is spent on renovations/ restoration. Full disclosure my building is at this point exempt but with the conversion of 14 floors will lose its exemption. It also as a commercial space has accessibility to most of it with a few very, very expensive issues. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 6, 2023 17:05:12 GMT -6
I had a guy in a wheelchair come to the studio. I spent a weekend building ramps over the thresholds of the doors since he wouldn't be able to access the rooms otherwise. He was very thankful that I went through the trouble despite not being an actual commercial facility. I’m happy to say that doesn’t suprise me at all my friend! |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 6, 2023 17:06:03 GMT -6
I would have given him the money on the spot as I appologised. I once did a remote VO session because the talent was local to me (actually 40 miles away and they should have booked one of my friends there...but I digress). I was book by a business in NYC and it was "motivational" bursts for Spotify playlists. The talent was a fairly well know woman in a wheelchair who does marathons. There's a step into my door, and my room is pretty tight. I was told, via email about 2 hours before the session that she was in a wheelchair. I felt like a complete schmuck. I would have fashioned a ramp for her to get in had I known. She actuall got out of her chair and crawled in, but was literally able to bounce out. Tony I know you would! |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 6, 2023 17:06:36 GMT -6
I have aluminium portable fold up ramps made for when the need arises. It's a must to look after the disabled. I would never give any business to that SSL studio - what a tragic attitude Awesome! |
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Post by EmRR on Oct 7, 2023 9:32:37 GMT -6
It’s foremost tied to local code, a building update over a certain % would probably trigger an automatic requirement. An old building with no updates would not automatically be required to meet ADA, but you’d damn well be ready to advise potential clients needing compliance. Actually local code doesn’t come into play at all since ADA is a federal discrimination law & and the supremacy clause guarantees Federal Statutes Top any local laws or codes ( though many a local official will tell you otherwise and that in its self is a violation. In order to be exempt, a building can’t be just old but on the Register of Historic buildings. Even with these there is a threshold that is open to interpretation of over how much time if 50% of the value of the building is spent on renovations/ restoration. Full disclosure my building is at this point exempt but with the conversion of 14 floors will lose its exemption. It also as a commercial space has accessibility to most of it with a few very, very expensive issues. Local code comes into play for new construction, which will force compliance in a commercial zoning. Otherwise no one is coming around checking builds that predate ADA (pre-1990), which of course is not 'exempt', but also not enforced, in which case as I said, relevant to your first post "you’d damn well be ready to advise potential clients needing compliance." |
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Post by okcrecording on Oct 7, 2023 11:03:56 GMT -6
The fact he refused to refund the money, seems abnormally harsh. Operational overhead is definitely a concern for studio owners, and these days lost revenue can really impact your your month to month costs. But man, just give the guy his money back. The karmic blowback is just not worth it.
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Post by bgrotto on Oct 7, 2023 20:54:32 GMT -6
We quite consciously built our place to be accessible. I mean..in addition to it just being the right thing to do, it's also necessary if you wanna pass any sort of building inspection.
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