Att'n General Janet Reno
U.S. Department of Justice
Main Justice Building
10th Street & Constitution Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20530

Ms. Reno,

     I have enclosed a letter which I have recently sent to
the  Department of Justice in Washington D.C. which I hope,
with their help, will cause the owners of the self-service
gas stations to  make some policy changes so people with dis-
abilities that drive and have mobility problems will not  be
stranded along the highway because of not having access to  a
gas station that will pump their gas for them.

     This   has  happen to me recently as I was returning  to
Akron from Columbus, Ohio.  Fortunately I was able to get  a
truck driver to pump my gas for me at a self service station.
Even if I was able to exit my car, I would not have been able
to reach the pumps from my wheelchair or the controls to turn
the pumps on. I also noticed that there were no ramps or curb
cuts leading into the building where I would have had to pay
for my gas.

     People with disabilities that do try to lead an indepen-
dent life style should not be discriminated against because
of the design of the gas stations or the policies that do
not permit the workers to assist you in buying gas

     I have brought this issue up at different meetings that
I  have attended and I have the support of "The National As-
sociation of the Physically Handicapped", The Disability Net-
work of Ohio-Solidarity", "The Summit County Committee on Em-
ployment of the Handicapped" as well as several other
disabled drivers that I have spoken to.

     My hopes is that you will support my efforts in trying
to  stop the discrimination of people with disabilities that
drive by trying to change some of the policies that the oil
companies have concerning self-service gas stations. If you
could discuss this matter with other legislative advisors and
those you work with in the U.S. Department of Justice and ask
for their support, perhaps we can correct this act of dis-
crimination.

     Thank you for your support and for the great job you and
your colleagues are doing by working with and supporting is-
sues of interest to people with disabilities. Keep up the
good work.
                                       Respectfully,
                                       Robert L. Kuiken
                                       Summit County's
                                       Disabled Citizens Program
                                       47 N Main St., 2-148
                                       Akron, Ohio 4430a-1991
01-03872