Sir, - Kate McMorrow (Property, March 29th) related Sinead Murtagh's bad experience due to the lack of wheelchair access in a New York hotel. As the mother of a paraplegic son, I well understand Ms Murtagh's problem and she has my sincere sympathy.
However, such a problem is surprising in a New York hotel since the most comprehensive and progressive legislation in the world on the rights of the disabled was encompassed in the American Disabilities Act (ADA), passed by Congress and signed into law about 10 years ago. The hotel in question was clearly in breach of the law and Ms Murtagh should have sought redress.
Because of the ADA, our paraplegic son now lives in a completely accessible apartment and rides in a completely accessible metro system to attend an older university building in Washington DC which has been retrofitted to accommodate wheelchairs. His life has changed dramatically for the better and his future has become more hopeful.
Ireland and the EU would do well to emulate the US on ensuring the rights of the disabled. - Yours, etc.,
Christina A. Kennedy, Dock Road, Dunmore East, Co Waterford.