Handicapped youngsters are often the target of ire from Homeowners Associations. Despite laws to protect the handicapped, there’s a special kind of rancor directed at families who have special needs children.
The latest example is in Lexington, Kentucky. The Andover Forest Homeowners Association has told the parents of a child with cerebal palsy that no exception from HOA rules would be granted their son.
Three year old Cooper Veloudis is the center of the storm. His therapist told his parents, Tiffiney and George, that their special needs son might be encouraged to be more active if he had, say, a playhouse in the backyard.
A playhouse? For a handicapped kid? Outrageous violation of the rules, according to the HOA. And it’s fining the Veloudis family fifty dollars a day for each day that Cooper’s new playhouse is left standing.
“Illegal structure!” the HOA told the family. “Get rid of it!”
George Veloudis says he has pictures of other such “illegal structures” throughout the neighborhood. Ah, but the typical HOA isn’t required to enforce the law evenly. Besides, pressure on the family might encourage them to pack up and move out, a common plight facing families with a handicapped youngster.
HOA officials won’t talk to the media. Perhaps they’re embarrassed?
On second thought, probably not.
A tip-o’-the-hat to LEX 18 Television in Lexington for reporting on this story.
http://www.lex18.com/news/playhouse-for-boy-with-cerebral-palsy-causing-controversy-in-lexington-neighborhood#!prettyPhoto/1/
Ward Lucas
Author of
Neighbors At War: The Creepy Case Against Your Homeowners Association
