WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Woman upset Winnsboro Post Office isn't handicap-accessible
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WINNSBORO, SC (WIS) - Rebecca Simmons' feet were in need of a handicap-accessible entrance when she arrived at the Winnsboro Post Office, but all they found were 13 unlucky stairs.
"We drove around looking for a handicap entrance and there wasn't one," Simmons said.
The US Postal Service says the post office is one of two in the Midlands that is not handicap-accessible. Rebecca wants that to change.
"I just want to see it fixed for everybody that's handicapped or disabled or whatever, they have the right to it," Simmons said.
Harry Spratlin of the Postal Service says the post office cannot be altered.
"This building was built in the ‘30s. It's a New Deal-era building," Spratlin said.
Spratlin says the building was designed in such a way that any alterations to make it more accessible would be very difficult.
The Postal Service says if you have a disability and can't make it into the building, the Winnsboro post office will still serve you through something they call a drive-up service. They say you'll need to call 1-800-ASK-USPS about 30 minutes to an hour in advance. They say after that you can come into the bank parking lot where someone will come out and meet you and they can provide any services that you'd find inside.
Rebecca is not satisfied with that option.
"I think it stinks -- nobody should have to do that," Simmons said. "Disabled person has as much right to all the services as everybody else does, and leave that middle thing out of it. It's wrong."
"For quite a while now, we've been providing that service for handicapped people that have needed it, and there have been no problems thus far," Spratlin said.
Rebecca says she'll start fighting to influence the Postal Service to alter the building or move to a new one. The Postal Service says the public shouldn't count on either happening any time soon.
Reported by Jordan Sandler
Posted by Jeremy Turnage
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