Tall ships not open to some disabled

Wheelchair users are turned away when they try to board the Eagle. They say they were told it would be no problem.

By CHAUNDRA PERKINS
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 29, 2002

Sweat dripped from David Pastor's face as he pushed his father's wheelchair from the Americas' Sail 2002 festival.

They could not board the ships, which are inaccessible to wheelchair users.

David and his wife, Marianne, traveled from Virginia to take David's father, George, on board the Coast Guard ship, the U.S. Barque Eagle.

Marianne said she researched the festival before coming. She said she was told her father-in-law would be able to board the Eagle because, as an American ship, it is subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act, unlike the other tall ships at Bayboro Harbor.

"I asked specifically, and wouldn't have purchased tickets to go on board if we couldn't," she said. "That's pretty stupid."

So the Pastors -- Marianne, David and David's parents, George and Sophia of New Port Richey -- came to the festival.

They asked again at the ticket booth before buying their tickets. But when they got to the top of the line for the Eagle, they were turned away.

David Calametti, chief executive officer of St. Petersburg Events, said organizers tried to let people know the ships were not accessible by wheelchair.

"We're trying to get that information out there," he said.

He said the festival's mass of volunteers might distribute inconsistent information.

"We're doing the best we can," he said.

Michael Perez, port director, explained that the ships are older and not built to accommodate the disabled.

He did say that some volunteers would help disabled patrons, lifting the individual, and then the chair, onto the boat.

"If they're willing to allow us to do that, we'll try," he said.

He said ship decks are not wheelchair-friendly because of narrow spaces.

George Locascio of St. Petersburg, an activist for the disabled who uses a wheelchair, also was told he could board the Eagle and planned his Saturday around it.

"I'm disappointed but I'm not upset," he said. "Ships are not made for wheelchair users."

He and his wife, Dorothy, are still going to the festival.

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