U-M Fans Rave About New Seats for Disabled

The Detroit Free Press

By Robin Erb, Free Press Education Writer
September 9, 2008

They have a new coach, a new team, and brand new seating for the disabled.

Well, at least one of those things at University of Michigan's renovated Michigan Stadium seems to be working out better than expected.

"These are the best seats in the house," said Richard Bernstein, a lawyer who sued the university on behalf of the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America.

At issue in the suit was accessible seating. The stadium -- with more than 100,000 seats -- had fewer than 100 that were accessible to wheelchair users. Moreover, the group complained that entryways and restrooms were woefully inadequate.

While university officials countered that $226 million in renovations would address those issues, the group argued that such work at the 80-year-old storied stadium triggered the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the university wasn't doing enough.

In March, the university, the veterans' group, and the U.S. Department of Justice -- which had joined the fray on behalf of the veterans -- reached a settlement. The deal requires 329 wheelchair access seats with accompanying seats for a companion scattered throughout the stadium by the 2010 season.

Bernstein was once one of the university's most vocal critics but now says clients who have used the seats rave about them.

As of this season, there are 184 pairs of seats available and 146 of them were sold for Saturday's game against Miami University. Seventy-five of those were season tickets, said Kelly Cunningham, a U-M spokesman.

"We're really pleased with the numbers. The word is getting out" that the seats are available, she said.

And it seems that the facilities are getting good reviews.

"It's wonderful," said John Dusa, who has used a wheelchair since a hunting accident more than four decades ago. Dusa also is a veteran who got tickets through the Paralyzed Veterans group for the season opener against Utah.

"You're treated nice, with respect, the ushers were really nice. ... Any time you want to get around, you just make a U-turn and, bang, you were right out of there," he said.

Mary Alice Palm-Leopold and her husband, Larry Leopold, are U-M alumni and longtime season ticket holders. But last year, they had to take the year off from the games as Leopold recuperated from treatment for brain cancer.

This year, they snapped up season tickets in the wheelchair accessible seats. Leopold now uses a wheelchair.

The view of the games, the service from staff, and the ease of getting around have exceeded their expectations, Palm-Leopold said. The team lost its season opener and won but struggled at times this weekend against Miami.

"It will take a couple of years to break in the new players and for (Coach Rich Rodriquez) to get used to coaching the team," she said. "But we're not going to miss a game."