Opinion ID: 615207
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Shifting Gears: Colón's Reasonable Accommodation Request

Text: On October 24, 2006, Colón sent a letter to José Rivera requesting a reserved parking space near the entrance and exit of the Municipality Tower building pursuant to medical recommendations and the provisions of the [Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]. Colón's letter stated that she also had included medical evidence and information concerning reasonable accommodations. On receiving no response, Colón sent a follow-up email to Rivera, copying Rodríguez, Lanzó, and Jorge Colomer Montes on November 1, 2006. On November 2, 2006, Rivera emailed Colón stating that due to parking space needs at this time we cannot assign [you] a reserved parking space. Rivera also provided that if Colón had a handicapped identification pass, she could use any of the six parking spaces specifically assigned for handicapped persons that were located near the building's entrance. Rivera testified that he received no response from Colón after his November 2 reply, and thus, he took it as if she had accepted it . . . I didn't see why I had to look any further. Rivera also testified that sometime after his November 2 response, he and Colón had an informal encounter during which the subject of Colón's parking spot request was raised. Rivera stated that he again informed Colón that there were no parking spaces available because the parking lot was full, i.e., all spots had been assigned to other Municipality employees. Rivera also stated that he was aware of Colón's subsequent petition to the Office of the Ombudsman for Persons with Disabilities.