April 24, 2006

Mr. Roger Johnson
President & CEO
Alexian Brothers Hospital
800 Biesterfield Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Dear Mr. Johnson:
Please let me introduce myself to you. I am part of a group known as UNIFIED VOICE OF DISABLED AMERICA.

Our main function is to make sure the American Disability Act for accessibility is enforced correctly. This means everything that has Alexian Bros. name is associated with.

Accessibility means automatic doors. This means doors that slide open by a sensor. It, also, means doors that open with a push button.

I, personally, have run into a door to a doctor’s facility that is located in a mini mall. These single doors did not have a push button. This door is very heavy and to pull it open with a walker, wheel chair or cane when alone is IMPOSSIBLE.

Dr. Collins of the Bonaventure Medical Group is my primary doctor. Dr. Handati of Northwestern Medical is my MS doctor. I use Alexian Brothers Hospital as my primary hospital.

There is a BIG PROBLEM. Bonaventure Medical has a big sign on top of their name, ALEXIAN BROTHERS. There is one other facility next to Boneventure Medical, is the Alexian Brothers occupational therapy.

These two facilities by law should have push button openers. These are medical facilities that deal with persons of all ages with all-different conditions and situations.

No one should have to have someone with them to open doors when a cane, walker or wheel chair is used. This is DISCRIMINATION. This is Alexian Bros. obligation to see that every one of your facilities do not break the AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT FOR ACCESSIBILITY. We have not checked all your facilities yet but will.

We will also be checking the handicap parking to make sure they are correct and enough of them. The opening in the sidewalk is correct for size and location.

Alexian Bros. Medical has an obligation to everyone that walks through their doors. DSCRIMINATION IS NOT PART OF LIFE.

Please have a meeting with the person in charge with your Valet Service. This past week I had to come to you’re out patient therapy. Every valet person was very helpful but one. I was told he was only there as a VALET PERSON to park cars and get them. He was not there to assist anyone getting them a wheel chair or helping them back in their van, which I needed. I had to come five days straight.

People with disabilities need to know they have the right to try and live as normal life as possible without someone making them feel like second rate citizens or low life.

Disabilities are not something we want to happen to us but we have to fight it EVERYDAY.

Please let me hear from you. Check out our web site. www.bonewits.net/UVDA-0.htm

Sincerely,

Unified Voice of Disabled America



Rosemarie A. Botthof

cc:
Brother Thomas Keusenkethen, CFN
President & CEO

Dean Grant
President Alexian Bros. Hospital Network
3040 Salt Creek Ln.
Arlington Heights, IL. 60005