Florida Power & Light Company Informative - Disabled - Public Power Supply

Posted by jktshff1 on 2008-04-11:

I am disabled as well (hearing, arthritis), but I do not use it as an excuse.
This is not necessarily a violation of the ADA, I really hate it when a violation of legislation is brought up, kinda like the race factor.
Why are they telling you that you are not eligible? Biweekly bills tell me that you have had problems before.
You need to get someone to assist you (friend, family) with your problem.

Posted by Slimjim on 2008-04-11:

Like JK said, being billed bi-weekly is not the norm so something important to the story must be missing. How are they taking advantage and making unnecessary money off of you? What exactly is unnecessary money anyway? Are these valid charges you feel should be waived for some reason?

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-04-11:

Gee, until the Americans with Disabilities Act came into play, what did folks do? We have members here who have clearly stated they are disabled. I don't recall them complaining. They are pleased with the wheelchair ramps, wider aisles, scooters provided in public places and the list is endless. I personally pray I don't find myself in need of these services, but if I do I'd like to think I would be appreciative rather than demanding.

I sincerely am sorry you are having problems paying your power bill. As JKT asked, why were you told you were ineligible for assistance?

Posted by CrystalSword on 2008-04-11:

My husband and I are both disabled, through our electric company we are on balanced billing, only using the AC and heat when we need to. We usually carry about a $150 - $200 balance after the bill is paid but the electric company has been very helpful. We had to have service for one full year to get the 12 month average and it does fluxuate from time to time but rarely more than $10 - $15 which we can handle. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes down.

If the power goes off we are now one of the first to have the power restored, because of my husband's oxygen machine.

For the most part we roll with whatever life throws at us, we still pretty much get around on our own and we also are pretty self-reliant.

Posted by Starlord on 2008-04-11:

nohandle, we have come a long way since 1990, but we still have a long way to go. We still have businesses who feel they don't have to provide access for the handicapped, for whatever reason, we still have building that some of us cannot get into, and we still have people that violate the laws on handicap parking and police who refuse to enforce the laws on it. What could we have done prior to 1990? There was no provision for equal access for the handicapped, and no one was interested, feeling we were demanding special treatment. We do not want special treatment, we are demanding to be treated the same as an able-bodied person, meaning giving usa the same unfettered access to buildings and stores that everyone else takes for granted. We don't want to be invisible when we are in store, because stupid employees don't know how to talk to us. Hint: Just like everyone else. We are people who happen to not be able to get around or hear or see as well as other, but we have the same rights to access and equal treatment under the law as any other person.

Posted by Nohandle on 2008-04-11:

Crystal, you and Starlord were the members I was speaking of. The only reason I bring it up is because you responded. I don't recall you demanding assistance with your power bill or any other financial situation. You in the past have only asked to be treated equally when you are in public. Those with a disability still have a way to go, probably a long way to go in some cases. I still am curious as to why this new member states she will continue to fight for her disability rights in order to pay her power bill. No ill will intended.

Posted by CrystalSword on 2008-04-11:

NP, Nohandle, we just want to be treated like everyone else. Sometimes when in the stores, the employees seem to be oblivious that we are even there, sometimes you have to either get in their way, get in their face, or go find a manager. Hmmmm, kind of hard to ignore someone on a scooter with dogs in the store!

What really, is there to demand?? Life happens, and you learn to live with it, what else can you really do?

I still don't understand bi-weekly electric bills, unless she gets paid bi-weekly and they have to split the bill up so she can pay it.

Posted by Starlord on 2008-04-11:

Nohandle, I don't want you to think I was upset with you in any manner. The subject of the right of being able to function with a physical problem is tough enough without having roadblocks thrown in our path. I often try to enlist the aid of the able-bodied to speak up when they see problems that the differently abled might have. The city of Casa Grande has a fantastic program. Twice a year, all city employees except police and fire, have to spend a day as a simulated disabled person. Some spend the day in a wheelchair, some wear welding goggles to simulate blindness, some are fitted with earplugs for hearing impairment, and so on. They have to spend their day and try to do their job or get around the city in the shoes of the disabled. There have been a couple instances of changes being made in the city because of the sity workers having to face problems that we face every day. The city workers are especially sensitive to the needs of the disabled, because of this program. Coolidge has no such program, and the Coolidge PD refuses to enforce handicap parking, claiming they were ordered not to write parking tickets as they don't have the right citation forms. Hooey!!!!!! When I was a deputy, we wrote a lot of citations for misuse of handicap parking, and we only had one citation form. The Coolidge cops just don't want to argue with those idiots weho say they were only going to be 5 minutes to buy a loaf of bread, or they twisted their ankle, so they have the right to use the handicap parking. We are both extremely thankful for the support we have gotten from our friends here in M3C. I'll slide my soapbox back under the bed for now, thank you for letting me vent.