The following is my complaint from 7-18-2005 when I visited the "Chip-in Casino" at Harris, Michigan. They are a "Native American Indian Casino" in Michigan, not that I am prejudice. However, I am not sure if they feel the same about wheelchair users. Is it necessary to use steps, isolating parts of the casino from wheelchairs?
People with trouble climbing stairs are also at risk. I am not sure if you can sue them if you fall. They have a special status, being like a separate nation. They have their own law. Think you can win in their court? (Perhaps the U.S. Government should have border checkpoints so that you understand the risk.)
(They are located near Bark River Michigan, about 14 miles from Escanaba Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, or UP for short):
| * Lack of Wheelchair Access *
CHIP-IN'S ISLAND RESORT & CASINO
Date of occurrence: 2003, 2004, and 7-18-2005
Three stairs prevent wheelchair access to the "high stakes" area of the casino. For over two years I have complained and written these "customer comment forms" without reply or the problem fixed. Are the handicapped not important enough to provide access to this area? We are not necessary poor because we are handicapped. U.S. law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) also requires access to this area. It existed before the casino was built! Because handicap access had been ignored for over two years, I am sending copies to local papers, rights activists, and others who might listen. Please reply to Mike@NiceMike.com (Signed by Michael J. Lake) * Look for yourself at the middle east wall.*
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They claim to have "Vegas style gaming" but not for the disabled?
The "high stakes" area that I mention contains $5 and higher value slot
machines. I was told that originally it was for high stakes card
games, as if it was a valid excuse to isolate the area with stairs.
Did people using wheelchairs not deserve to play high stakes card games
either?
A side issue is that I gave copies of this complaint to the local Escanaba newspaper, the Marquette TV station, and others in the area. Tribal leaders of the "Hannahville Tribe of Potawatomi Indians" were also sent copies. None of these appear to have taken action on my 7-18-2005 complaint. It shows to me the hopelessness of demanding respect for wheelchair users!
I will post any eventual replies here. As
of 8-28-05, I am still waiting.
Click here for more of my comments
Here is their address and a link to their ChipInCasino.com website:
Chip-In's Island Resort and Casino
W 399 US 2 & 41
Harris, MI 49845
http://www.chipincasino.com/
I found a website with the history of the Hannahville
Indian Community if you are interested in their tribe.
*** Please e-mail me with any comments at: Mike@NiceMike.com
Click here the home page on DemandJustice.com
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If they deserve the right to have casinos when it was considered illegal, then why can they not show respect to the handicapped? Has money changed them from a proud people to people without compassion? Ignoring an issue of disability discrimination seems greedy. Ignoring the money they are loosing, and the potential publicity, seems foolish! Why not fix the problem instead of ignoring it? At least reply and give an excuse for the problem! Ignoring a customer sucks for the customer and creates an activist. What about their future if they continue to ignore complaints? Will their Convention Center and other plans show the same lack of concern for customers? GamblingMagazine.com has the following story about the tribal plan for the future: "Tribe to branch out from gambling?" - "Hannahville Indian Community has developed its 2020 Initiative - a plan to derive income from business ventures, partnerships and investments by the year 2020."
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A copy of the actual complaint mailed to them and others: