Adel residents might notice something different when entering the local U.S. Post Office in town. 

The post office recently installed an electronic door after a complaint was filed to the state civil rights commission by Robert Fisher, a resident of Adel. Fisher uses a motorized wheelchair and for years he could not access the post office without going to extraordinary measures like calling the office to open the door or propping it open with his feet. Fisher finally got his wish when USPS finally agreed to install a handi-cap accessible automatic door. 

“It makes it so much easier for everyone to press the button with their hand and the door will open by itself. There is one (button) outside and one (button) inside and on the other (inside) button you can open the door inside.” 

Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities Executive Director Brooke Lovelace says that a priority for their council is to make all buildings accessible to people with disabilities. She explains that they are fighting to update the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policy on building accessibility. 

“Really one of the priorities for the council is to make all buildings accessible for people with disabilities and that being on federal buildings, putting an automatic door into buildings is a good way to do that. We know that’s a long haul, but what we would like to eventually see is that all buildings be more accessible for folks like Robert.”

According to the ADA they require private businesses as well as all state and local government entities to have access to their buildings, but they do not require them to have an automatic door.