October 22, 2001

Mr. Jim Ryan
Illinois Atty. General
100 W Randolph
Chicago, IL 60601

Dear Mr.Ryan:

Enclosed you will find three more sets of pictures of Walgreen’s plus sheets for each one that are self-explanatory.

As I have explained to your Disability Dept. I represent one of our group. There are so many problems with the ADA Laws of not being enforced and you know what, Mr. Ryan, the Illinois Attorney General’s office is completely at fault. You have heard us tell you this before. Since you do not have a disability board or disability inspector the problems will continue. Mr. Ryan, until everyone stops thinking they are well trained, experts and know what we need these problems will always be their. We fight our war of disabilities everyday. You don’t live it and believe me until you do or someone you know get something to cause a disability you have no idea of the struggle.

I was at Oak Brook this weekend. Marshal Field was the only one completely handicapped accessible. Lord & Taylor and Barns & Noble do not have any automatic doors for accessibility. Nordstrom’s has four doors. One automatic door is off the stairs. Two automatic doors are garage accessible. The fourth is off Rte 83 & 22nd access. The first thing you see is the handicap signs in front of Nordstrom’s. Sidewalk meets the drive, no raise. About two feet in their are 6 small, I assume, decorative posts. They are spaced but a large wheel chair or cart may have difficulty or go around them. These doors are not automatic. You are not able to get in if you were alone. A person in a wheel chair, cart, cane or walker could not pull them open. I had a friend with me, this time I WAS IN A WHEEL CHAIR. She was not able to pull the doors open. A young lady with a double baby stroller had to push from the inside. She put her body against the door let us in and then my friend held the door for her so she could get out. A person coming out of the inner door held that one for us. We needed help going out also. We had bags with us this time. This is the only door near the elevators for upper floors. The other doors are on the other side of the building near the escalator. A handicap person cannot use an elevator.

This is not a new mall. Where has the Atty. General’s Office been all these years? Are Lord & Taylor & Barns & Noble telling people with handicaps they don’t won’t their business?

You have all the pictures you are going to get on Walgreen’s. As you can see by my note on the new design these is perfect if they stay this way. You have a lot to check, Mr. Ryan. I was told I represent a group I have to hear from you and we have to know what the corrections are going to be done, the fines they are going to get, plus all the stores involved. We will be checking. The reason this is being handled this way is to make sure discrimination against people with disabilities are going to be heard.

I am sending you everything so you can notify the disability department.

We have a right to access retail & commercial buildings according to the FEDERAL ADA LAW. People with disabilities will be around forever. IT IS TIME WE ARE HEARD.

Cordially,


Rosemarie A Botthof

CC:	IL State Pate Phillips Senator Fitzgerald IL Disability Bureau