Bill White takes each step with caution. He can go without his walker, hold onto the handrail, and make it up 10 steps to the Aberdeen Post Office. But it's dangerous for him and nearly impossible for others.
"I've had a person come up to me right where I'm standing, give me the keys to his post office box and asked me if I would go in an get his mail for him," said White.
White stands outside of the post office, wearing a sign to draw attention. He says the handicap need a ramp. Others nearby who see them struggle agree.
"You've got two layers of steps here and it's just really impossible for people in wheelchairs, walkers, whatever to get in and out," said Walter Hayes, who works nearby.
"They say that it's a historical building and it does not fall under the regulations that they have to put a ramp in," said White.
Charlotte Cronin wrote a book about the history of Aberdeen, including the post office that was built in 1936.
"It has never been put on any of the historic site surveys in Aberdeen," said Cronin.
The United States Postal Service sent us a comment, reading in part: "For older facilities..., we make decisions about whether it is feasible to add access on a case-by-case basis. If we undertake any major renovations to an older facility, we try to include access for the disabled in our plans."
Bill White says there used to be easier access. There was a side entrance, with just three steps leading to the postal floor, but it was shutoff about eight years ago.
At 80 years old, White says he will keep fighting for the ramp so everyone can have access.
A spokesman for the Mayor of Aberdeen says the city will add a cut in the sidewalk so wheelchairs and walkers can move from the street, but access to the post office is not the city's responsibility.
Here is the full statement from USPS Spokeswoman, Yvette Singh:
“The Postal Service values every customer. At locations where disabled access is limited, we offer special assistance based on the nature of the individual's disability. In some cases, it may mean helping the customer enter the building. In others, it may mean meeting them at a different entry point to handle transactions.
The Postal Service is not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rather the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 is applicable to the Postal Service and this Act contains accessibility standards for the disabled. Not all post offices are required to be made accessible for various reasons. For older facilities not covered by the Architectural Barriers Act, we make decisions about whether it is feasible to add access on a case-by-case basis. If we undertake any major renovations to an older facility, we try to include access for the disabled in our plans. In addition, there are Post Offices that have been designated as historically significant, which may prevent us from adding disabled accessibility requirements, as in the case of the Aberdeen Post Office. The city of Aberdeen owns the sidewalk and street and will not put in curb cuts for parking. The Postal Service does not receive tax funding for its operations so it is just not financially feasible to modify all of the hundreds of facilities not covered by the law.
The Postal Service, like so many other companies today, is experiencing serious financial challenges. We have to manage our costs and increase efficiency in order to preserve our ability to provide quality service at reasonable rates and fulfill our mission to deliver to every address in this country.
Customer access to postal products and services is important to us. We make it easy and convenient as possible for all postal customers to do business with us. Customers can buy stamps, deposit mail and conduct postal business at banks, grocery stores, and other commercial locations. They also have access to postal products and services at usps.com. Customers can buy stamps, use Click-N-Ship to print their own mailing labels, pay for postage and confirm delivery. They can even request free carrier pick-up for packages. Postal customers also have access to the Havre De Grace Post Office located approximately 5 miles from the Aberdeen Post Office.
Also, I know you visited the Aberdeen Post Office today. In the future, before visiting any Post Office please contact my office prior. Permission has to be granted before entry, and Post Offices are not allowed to give permission.”
