Russ Holt, 42, is the executive director of Access Information Inc., which provides information for wheelchair users about hotels, theaters, taxis, car-rentals, airports, housing and dating services.
How did you become a quadriplegic?
In a 1987 motor vehicle accident. I was 17, about to graduate. My friend and I were coming back from the beach. He was driving and we both fell asleep. The next question you’re going to ask is, are we still friends? Yes, we’re still friends, I love the guy.
Why did you create Access Information?
Back during the dot-com boom, I called a downtown nightclub to see if they were accessible and they said, yes. Of course, when I got there they weren’t. I did a search and realized there were no user-friendly Web sites about here’s how to get around if you’re in Washington, D.C. But I did find a Web site about toy poodles. If there are Web sites for toy poodles, there should be one for wheelchairs.
You sued D.C. over parking. Tell me about that.
The city had never recognized out-of-state placards. Even if you were from Maryland and Virginia, you could not park in a disabled spot in D.C. People were yelling at me and sending me angry e-mails because I had to be the bearer of bad news. The Paralyzed Veterans of America caught wind of what I was doing and joined the lawsuit, and with Equal Rights Center helping, we had a huge amount of clout and we won.
What did you think about the woman who lost her car recently after she parked in a handicapped space with her husband’s hang tag?
As far as this lady goes, in my own little perfect world, if every person who knowingly parks in a disabled spot, their comeuppance is they have to be in wheelchair, and with 10 minutes to get to a meeting, realize there is no parking. But the fact that she had to find her car, that was pretty good. – Scott McCabe
