Veteran Disability Lawyer
Even in a system notorious for
the occasional bureaucratic bumble, this one had people scratching their heads.
Outside the Washington, D.C.
Veteran's Medical Center, where the sick, the disabled, the elderly and the
tired would sit and wait for their rides, or to escape the heat, benches were
missing. Hospital administrators recently removed a number of benches in front
of the building, leaving disabled veterans and the elderly, among others, to
stand outside or in the hospital foyer while waiting for the bus or a ride to
pick them up. Some even sat on radiators
in the hallways. No folding chairs or other seating was provided.
In way of an explanation, a
spokesperson for the VA hospital stated, "The facility is developing a new
Front Drive Plan to alleviate congestion and move veterans and visitors through
the area safely. The seating will be replaced once the new design plan is approved
and completed." Why planners did not simply leave the benches in place
until the new design plan was implemented is unknown. The new plan is slated to
be approved, though not completed, according to reports, by this November.
According to Rep. Jeff Miller,
Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, “VA should put the
comfort and safety of veterans visiting the DC VA first. If a renovation is
being considered to alleviate traffic in that area, then the current seating
should remain as long as possible to accommodate veterans using the facility
and an alternate entry site, with seating, needs to be planned for in the
meantime.”
The local "7 On Your
Side" news crew headed out to cover the story on August 29; less than 24
hours later, a forklift appeared, and the benches were reinstalled.
“We understand the hospital’s stance that this
was part of an overall renovation plan," said Ryan Gallucci, Deputy
Director of National Legislative Service for the VFW. "We would encourage
hospital administrators to quickly come up with an interim solution to make
sure veterans – many of whom are at the hospital because they are ill, injured
or disabled – have reasonable accommodations while they wait for their
ride."
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/08/veteran-s-medical-center-removes-benches--79370.html
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/08/washington-va-hospital-returns-benches-after-7-on-your-side-report-79410.html
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