Hard to believe in this day and age, but even with help from a fish prison guard could not access the facilities.
Gloria Jean Kish, from Alameda, said she and her sister were visiting the aquarium’s living kelp forest and jellyfish exhibits on July 24, 2024, when she said she encountered “significant challenges” in finding a bathroom that could accommodate disabled people.
“The ADA-accessible restroom they found in the middle of the facility was too narrow for Kish’s wheelchair and prevented her from entering,” according to the complaint filed Jan. 9 in Monterey County Superior Court. “Despite attempting to access three different restrooms, none were suitable for wheelchair use.”
She also suggested that the restroom incident contributed to medical issues, including a urinary tract infection and a permanent catheter, and that she’s been in “bed most of the time since the accident.’
She alleges violation of state laws that are intended to protect disabled people and is asking a judge to order the aquarium to comply with standards required in the Americans with Disabilities Act. She is seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages exceeding $35,000.
