From:

To:
Subject:
Date:

Dr. Parrott
Rita, Sherri
FW: transport at zoo for elderly, handicapped...
Thursday, July 31, 2014 5:17:55 PM

Hi Sherry. Here is the message I sent to Alice.

I look forward to your visit!
-----Original Message----From: Dr. Parrott
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2014 3:26 PM
To: 'Alice Ansfield'
Subject: RE: transport at zoo for elderly, handicapped...
Alice,
I checked with my staff to confirm our understanding and our policy, and it was accurate.
We take ADA very seriously, not because it is required,, but because our guests need the service and it
is the right thing to do. Accessible pathways are helpful for wheelchairs, walkers, any mobility
problems, and strollers.
We inherited a zoo from the city of Oakland in 1982 that had non-accessible pathways, and a zoo that
was constructed in the hills. We could not change the terrain, so we worked with the city and federal
consultants to make the zoo accessible to anyone with mobility problems. Our solution fell to two
primary commitments: all new future construction pathways would meet all ADA slope and railing
requirements; existing steep pathways would be made accessible with two free electric carts. This has
worked well so far.
The implementation of this needed to be practical and achievable. As a result, we simply ask that
guests in need of transportation help us by scheduling ahead of time. We cannot be expected to have
a full-time staff member ready and available every day, ready to drive a person with mobility needs at
any given moment. We do not charge for this service, and the carts can carry the entire family (up to
five). I am going to re-evaluate the length of time (2-3 weeks) required for that prior notice, in order
to reduce the amount of time advance notice is required. Hopefully, this will make it more available to
the general public.
Wheelchair rentals is another story. We were pulled by our insurance company from offering a
wheelchair rental program, much like you might see at Disney (Disney is flat terrain). Our insurance
carrier would not provide liability coverage for this service, due to the liability risk of someone pushing a
wheelchair in the hills, and losing control of the wheelchair going downhill. This would jeopardize the
individual in the wheelchair as well as any guest that might get hit. Motorized wheelchairs can also
injure guests.
We currently take a risk with our free electric carts. We had a driver transporting a guest with MS. The
driver inadvertently hit another guest on the pathway during a very crowded day. We were then sued
by the guest IN THE CART with MS, due to the stress the accident caused, even though it was a
courtesy handicap shuttle and the guest in the cart suffered no injury. This risk of injury litigation with
our electric carts is a risk our insurance carrier has allowed us to assume.
I hope this Is helpful. Please feel free to phone me at 510-632-9525 x 172 if you would like to discuss
this further. Again, I can assure you that we believe deeply in making sure the zoo remains accessible
to anyone that would like to visit.
Joel Parrott, President/CEO

-----Original Message----From: Alice Ansfield [mailto:alice@radiancemagazine.com]

Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2014 11:57 AM
To: Dr. Parrott
Subject: Re: transport at zoo for elderly, handicapped...
thank you!
On Jul 31, 2014, at 11:50 AM, "Dr. Parrott" <drparrott@oaklandzoo.org> wrote:
> Thank you Alice. I will follow up. Dr. P
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jul 31, 2014, at 11:35 AM, "Alice Ansfield"
<alice@radiancemagazine.com<mailto:alice@radiancemagazine.com>> wrote:
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Alice Ansfield
> <<mailto:alice@radiancemagazine.com>alice@radiancemagazine.com<mailto:
> alice@radiancemagazine.com>>
> Subject: transport at zoo for elderly, handicapped...
> Date: July 31, 2014 11:14:59 AM PDT
> To: <mailto:bob@oaklandzoo.org>
> bob@oaklandzoo.org<mailto:bob@oaklandzoo.org>
> Cc: <mailto:services@disabilityrightsca.org>
> services@disabilityrightsca.org<mailto:services@disabilityrightsca.org
> >, <mailto:adaprograms@oaklandnet.com>
> adaprograms@oaklandnet.com<mailto:adaprograms@oaklandnet.com>,
> <mailto:ccalabrese@oaklandnet.com>
> ccalabrese@oaklandnet.com<mailto:ccalabrese@oaklandnet.com>,
> <mailto:haguilar@oaklandnet.com>
> haguilar@oaklandnet.com<mailto:haguilar@oaklandnet.com>
> Bcc: Alice Ansfield
> <<mailto:alice@radiancemagazine.com>alice@radiancemagazine.com<mailto:
> alice@radiancemagazine.com>>
>
> Hi Bob Westphal,
>
> I'm writing to inquire about the resources offered at the zoo for
> people who are elderly or disabled in some way and cannot walk to see a certain exhibit.
>
> I called the other day to try to set up a ride on the cart to go see the elephants, an exhibit at the far
end of the
> park, and quite a ways to have to walk. The people at the zoo I spoke with said there are only
"docent tours"
> that are pre-arranged 3-4 weeks ahead of time.... there is nothing
> available to people in need on a daily basis who may show up with their families to enjoy a day at
the zoo.
>
> I called a few other zoos and found out they offer wheelchairs for
> rent (the push kind and electric). I understand the Oakland Zoo is
> quite hilly in areas and there may be a liability issue for the wheelchairs on hills. However, this
should not stop the zoo from setting up a resource to take care of those who show up and have a need

for physical assistance.

>
> How about a position at the zoo of daily transport, like the airport, where staff give rides to folks in
need on the
> electric carts -- drive them to their gate, back to the luggage area, etc. etc. You could have
something like that on a daily
> basis, for all hours the zoo is open, where for a minimal fee if
> necessary, people can get a ride to an exhibit or back to the parking
> lot if they get tired or are in pain during their visit. The cart drivers would carry walkie talkies/radios
and be in constant touch with an operator who will tell them where to go next, who is needing their
help.
>
> This seems so obvious a need and I can't understand why this is not
> being done already. The SF Bay area is a leader in disability rights.
> It's shocking to know that the zoo has not taken this whole issue into account and come up with what
looks to be an easy solution for its visitors.
>
> Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please get back to me on this. I would be happy to
discuss this more.
>
> I will wait to hear from you before taking it further into various
> community, city, state groups who work on issues for the disabled and elderly and the media.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Alice Ansfield
>
>