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I NEVER PLANNED TO BE DISABLED After a fall in 2015 and months in the hospital and rehab, I was disabled and using a walker. You learn the terms Roll-in Shower, ADA Compliant, Disabled Accessible, and ADA toilet. My wife rebuilt our home with access before I came home. You may not know ADA stands for The Americans with Disabilities Act. It is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. It sets standards for both new buildings and remodels. The next problem is traveling. With ADA, traveling should be no problem — wrong! On a trip to Pennsylvania for my granddaughter's wedding, we reserved accommodations, and both said they were fully ADA compliant. The first was a nation-wide hotel chain, the second a VRBO rental. At the hotel, we were told, "Your hearing-impaired room is ready." It did not matter that we had a written confirmation — no ADA room, and no help finding one. We move on to the VRBO, a lovely cottage, but built for a lady just over four feet tall. The shower seat and the bed were so low I needed a chain hoist to get out of them. We moved to an upscale hotel, asking, "Are your rooms ADA compliant?" We are told, "Yes." However, the toilet was so high my feet barely touched. The toilet paper was feet away and a foot off the floor. The hotel thought moving it would ruin the aesthetics of the bathroom. I don't know about you, but I would rather be able to reach the damn paper. Our next hotel was new and met most ADA standards, roll-in shower, grab bars throughout, and an ADA toilet. However, they installed a smooth, highly-polished granite floor in the shower, without rubber mats. The grab bars saved my wife from a bad fall. The staff said they would tell corporate it might be a problem. Are there any outstanding disabled facilities in Pennsylvania? Yes, in a barn. The wedding took place in a beautiful old barn. The folks who own it had vision, adding full ADA compliant facilities. We don't plan to give up traveling. We hope for the best, but expect challenges. If you are interested in writing stories or becoming an author, join us on the second Tuesday of the month in the RCN Conference Room at 1:30 pm. For more info, email mlarchibald@mac.com, or zehnercorked@ gmail.com. ~ John Baeyertz FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2020 41 The rainbow is a powerful symbol that represents beauty, balance, peace, and hope. As such, we believe it is a perfect representation for our group. We are residents of Four Seasons who also happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The rainbow is so perfect because it really fits our group's diversity in terms of race, gender, ages, and beliefs. While we strive to serve the interests of our members, we do welcome all supportive homeowners and encourage everyone to attend any of our functions. We believe you'll enjoy our company. Below is a photo of our annual holiday party, where we all had a wonderful time! Everyone leads busy lives (even at our age!), and we often find it difficult to stay connected with our neighbors. Therefore, the Rainbow Group has monthly get-togethers on the fourth Thursday of each month in The Lodge Game Room, at 6 pm. Our next gathering will be on Thurs., Feb. 27. Our monthly get-togethers are mostly informal social gatherings which give members an opportunity to meet new neighbors, catch up on member and community activities or news, and just chat — no stuffy agenda items, roll calls, or minutes for us! If you are hungry, feel free to bring your own food items and adult beverages, or order from the Kopper Kettle Bistro. The Rainbow Group also hosts periodic gatherings for socializing (such as BBQs, potlucks and holiday parties), LGBT-themed movie nights in The Lodge Theater, and other events the group may sponsor. Maybe you'd even like to suggest your own activity for the group. We are always open to new ideas. Please direct any questions to Dale at (951) 797-0364, dalebeckes@gmail. com or on Facebook, search for Four Seasons Beaumont Pride. ~ Dale Beckes Rainbow Group Writers' Club Members of the Rainbow Group enjoyed their annual holiday party

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