Music Venues while Pregnant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to The Weepies concert at The State Theater in Falls Church next weekend. I've heard there's seating upstairs, but I can't remember if it's first-come or reserved seating. Anyone know? I'm only about four months, and can stand for a little while, but after about an hour I'll need to sit.

At 4 months? Do you have some kind of additional physical issue?

I wouldn't want to stand for hours at four months pregnant either

THANK YOU. PP here. I've walked 3-5 miles every day the last week, and do yoga once a week, and none of these bother me. But standing in one place on a hard floor for an hour or more can get to be very painful on my feet, knees and back. Even before I was pregnant, standing around was never very comfortable.

So think before you judge next time.

It was a valid question, not a judgment. Even you say that it was uncomfortable prior to pregnancy, so you want a special accommodation that isn't necessarily related to your pregnancy all that closely. If it were uncomfortable before but without a medical basis for special treatment, perhaps it would be better just not to go and listen to your body?

I've actually only been going to seated shows for the last few years. It breaks my 20-something heart, but is kinder to my 30-something body. This particular show is a special occasion, and I'd heard that there might be some seating available. Figured it was on-topic, so why not ask and see if people knew the situation at the venue.

[Anonymous]

I haven't had any special treatment from venues per se, but generally people who are sitting in first come first served seats at music venues or bars have been really sweet to offer me their seats.

[Anonymous]

And just a reminder to the naysayers -- pregnant women do have a right to the disability seats on the metro. And you're damn right I'm going to make a perfectly abled man or woman get up so I can sit.

[Anonymous]

This is from the EEOC page on pregnancy-related conditions. Its analysis is about the workplace, but the definition applies in all contexts. Short answer: if the pregnancy causes physical conditions that make it hard to stand (like swelling in the legs), the venue should accommodate the customer. Asking for a seat is a *reasonable* accommodation. And from being a reasonable accommodation under the ADA, it's common courtesy for a business to give a seat to its pregnant customer.

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"Prior to the enactment of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), some courts held that medical conditions related to pregnancy generally were not impairments within the meaning of the ADA, and so could not be disabilities. Although pregnancy itself is not an impairment within the meaning of the ADA, and thus is never on its own a disability, some pregnant workers may have impairments related to their pregnancies that qualify as disabilities under the ADA, as amended. An impairment's cause is not relevant in determining whether the impairment is a disability. Moreover, under the amended ADA, it is likely that a number of pregnancy-related impairments that impose work-related restrictions will be substantially limiting, even though they are only temporary.

"Some impairments of the reproductive system may make a pregnancy more difficult and thus necessitate certain physical restrictions to enable a full term pregnancy, or may result in limitations following childbirth. Disorders of the uterus and cervix may be causes of these complications. For instance, someone with a diagnosis of cervical insufficiency may require bed rest during pregnancy. One court has concluded that multiple physiological impairments of the reproductive system requiring an employee to give birth by cesarean section may be disabilities for which an employee was entitled to a reasonable accommodation.

"Impairments involving other major bodily functions can also result in pregnancy-related limitations. Some examples include pregnancy-related anemia (affecting normal cell growth); pregnancy-related sciatica (affecting musculoskeletal function); pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome (affecting neurological function); gestational diabetes (affecting endocrine function); nausea that can cause severe dehydration (affecting digestive or genitourinary function); abnormal heart rhythms that may require treatment (affecting cardiovascular function); swelling, especially in the legs, due to limited circulation (affecting circulatory function); and depression (affecting brain function)."


https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/pregnancy_guidance.cfm

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the typo. That last line should have said: "And aside from being a reasonable accommodation under the ADA, it's common courtesy for a business to give a seat to its pregnant customer."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is from the EEOC page on pregnancy-related conditions. Its analysis is about the workplace, but the definition applies in all contexts. Short answer: if the pregnancy causes physical conditions that make it hard to stand (like swelling in the legs), the venue should accommodate the customer. Asking for a seat is a *reasonable* accommodation. And from being a reasonable accommodation under the ADA, it's common courtesy for a business to give a seat to its pregnant customer.

========================================================================================
"Prior to the enactment of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), some courts held that medical conditions related to pregnancy generally were not impairments within the meaning of the ADA, and so could not be disabilities. Although pregnancy itself is not an impairment within the meaning of the ADA, and thus is never on its own a disability, some pregnant workers may have impairments related to their pregnancies that qualify as disabilities under the ADA, as amended. An impairment's cause is not relevant in determining whether the impairment is a disability. Moreover, under the amended ADA, it is likely that a number of pregnancy-related impairments that impose work-related restrictions will be substantially limiting, even though they are only temporary.

"Some impairments of the reproductive system may make a pregnancy more difficult and thus necessitate certain physical restrictions to enable a full term pregnancy, or may result in limitations following childbirth. Disorders of the uterus and cervix may be causes of these complications. For instance, someone with a diagnosis of cervical insufficiency may require bed rest during pregnancy. One court has concluded that multiple physiological impairments of the reproductive system requiring an employee to give birth by cesarean section may be disabilities for which an employee was entitled to a reasonable accommodation.

"Impairments involving other major bodily functions can also result in pregnancy-related limitations. Some examples include pregnancy-related anemia (affecting normal cell growth); pregnancy-related sciatica (affecting musculoskeletal function); pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome (affecting neurological function); gestational diabetes (affecting endocrine function); nausea that can cause severe dehydration (affecting digestive or genitourinary function); abnormal heart rhythms that may require treatment (affecting cardiovascular function); swelling, especially in the legs, due to limited circulation (affecting circulatory function); and depression (affecting brain function)."


https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/pregnancy_guidance.cfm

I don't see anywhere in this that pregnancy alone makes a woman entitled to accessible seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry for the typo. That last line should have said: "And aside from being a reasonable accommodation under the ADA, it's common courtesy for a business to give a seat to its pregnant customer."

You chose to get knocked up. People with disabilities didn't choose them. I was so glad when my local store got rid of the special parking for mommies.