In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, with one of its key objectives being to make buildings accessible to those with mobility challenges. While all new buildings are required to meet ADA requirements, many older structures have still not made any changes. This lack of access has impacted many Americans, including wheelchair-bound Robert Kalani, who has filed at least 60 lawsuits against businesses that have not complied with ADA rules for access. Some see Kalani (a former fireman) as a hero activist, while others view his efforts as frivolous. In one case, a lawsuit resulted in one restaurant closing after many years of business because the owners could not afford to make the required modifications to the building. Filmmaker Reid Davenport's Ramped Up provokes thought about the great need for accessibility and the attendant costs, as well as the methods Kalani and others employ to make the issue visible. In one scene, we see a citizen telling legislators that the local capital building itself is not ADA compliant; in another, a motorist is captured in a filmed altercation calling a disabled person a “sue-happy motherfucker.” Offering an insightful look at a thorny subject, this is highly recommended. [Note: also available are two other films about disabilities by filmmaker Davenport—A Cerebral Game and Wheelchair Diaries: One Step Up.] Aud: C, P. (C. Block)
Ramped Up
(2017) 17 min. DVD: $69: high schools & public libraries; $169: colleges & universities. New Day Films. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-57448-435-9. Volume 33, Issue 1
Ramped Up
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