As someone with two disabled family members, I'm sympathetic to disability issues, but come on, Ms. Strong. Reality check: BYU *has* made a reasonable attempt to accommodate you and your daughter--which is the intent of the ADA. When equal access is provided, as it has been, BYU *has* complied with the law.

True, BYU should *communicate* their advance-notice expectation better--but attempting to force them to install extremely expensive equipment that nobody else to date has apparently asked for, just in case YOU show up, is WAY too heavy-handed. If you want to advocate for the disabled, cool--but better PR skills at minimum will come in handy, since you unfortunately come across as a bitter woman with an ax to grind.

It's a great and noble thing to speak up for the truly disadvantaged who are caught in an inhumane and unjust situation, and who are actually being denied equal access in any form. It's another thing altogether to make irrational demands and scream about discrimination just because somebody didn't do a good enough job of waiting on you hand and foot. Sadly, too much legal and media attention has been given to the latter.

Let's look at this objectively.

She is the first person to request this device. And while, yes, BYU's ticket office badly mismanaged the situation--ok, horribly mismanaged it--they made a reasonable effort to meet her needs. Still, she is insisting they spend millions to to install 2,600 devices when only a few are needed.

If indeed this is the law that 2,600 devices be installed and only one person has requested it. What really needs to be changed? LaVell Edwards Stadium or the law? Sounds like an overreaching law to me.

I understand the situation was frustrating, but for Ms. Strong to call BYU "discriminatory" when they have accommodated is downright myopic. Shame on her for misusing that word because that word should only be used when there is real bigotry to expose.

I am courious to know if Mrs. Strong has filed a complaint to every school district in the state that doesn't have such a hearing device in their auditoriums that seat more than fifty. What about the class rooms that have more than 50 students in them.

This woman is out in left field (or would be if this were a baseball stadium)! Where is the problem? The stadium officials are making accomodations for her daughter three and a half months in advance of the event. She made the call and BYU responded. She is upset because they do not have thousands of listening devices on hand that will apparently go unused because no one has asked for one previously. This is they type of politically correct nonsense that such an extreme interpretation of the ADA will encourage.

Why is it that every person in the world has to have a gripe about something that doesn't suit them, or someone they know, perfectly. You don't see me flying off the cuff when I go to a football game and can't see because I'm height impaired and the stadium 'didn't provide a booster seat' for me so that I could see over other people's craniums. I'm empathetic for the situation that afflicts her daughter. However, to expect that the world will bend over backwards for you, is unreasonable.

Everyone of you are missing the point. (You probably all have good hearing too.) The only reason BYU is complying is because this lady just happened to call in advance. If she had not, then her daughter would have been out of luck.

THIS IS A PROBLEM.

I'm not saying BYU needs to install 2600 devices, but the fact that they had NONE on hand shows their lack of preparation and disregard for the hearing impaired.

People have not requested this device because they (rightly) assume it will not be available.

This woman is fighting for her daughter's rights that you all wish to deny her.

BYU - Get off the dime and install some of these devices!! You and all these posters here should be ashamed. I am embarrassed for you.

Yeah, I'd have to side with BYU on this one. I think they were more than accomodating. Mrs. Strong should cut the reps there some slack for not knowing about the listening device.

I think Mrs. Strong harbors deep resentment, because she and her daughter may have been the victims of discrimination in the past. This would explain why she got so defensive so quickly. Instead of jumping up and down in anger, she should take time out and teach others instead of condemning them.

Don't you think saying that BYU "is discriminating against my daughter" is a bit personal. You think they went out of their way to pick on you and your daughter? Let's be reasonable, this world is not that ADA friendly. I feel discriminate against when I see 15 open handicap parking spots and there are no other open parking spots. How many times are these spots NOT filled?! I understand her political angle, get more attention to the issues that affect her daughter. But come on, you really expect that BYU should have all of this equipment on hand just in case? Whiner!

I can't understand a hearing disability that needs accomodation like that.... Shouldn't her daughter have a hearing aid if she has trouble like that? Second of all, if she doesn't need a hearing aid, then the sound system isn't enough!!! Come on, people are almost deaf coming out of BYU games. like they are not going to up the gigawatts for Miley Cyrus??? Reality check!!! Secondly Lavell Edwards stadium is property of BYU. Shouldn't a not for profit org. like the university be given some leeway on that.

I have nothing against people with disabilitys. In fact, both of my parents are disabled, but I feel this woman is going a little too far in this situation....

Keep some of the portable devices on hand for those who need them?

A little sensitivity training wouldn't hurt, either.

Come on ... the Y should just send down a box or two of these from SLC every MAJOR event. They need to provide it, not install it permanently ... If I were concerned that one would not be there, I would buy my own and bring it with me everywhere I go.

Come up with a solution, not just a problem you want someone else to fix (the cost benefit to the public doesnt make sense). If I am bald, should they have to provide me shade while I sit in LES?

I think thy should only have to install a few listening devices. Not 2600! there won't ever be that many people who wil need it.

You know, sometimes in life you can't have everything you want. I wanted to play in the NBA, but not being especially gifted at basketball, I work in a different profession. I didn't sue anybody because I lacked certain abilities to excel at basketball. You take what life gives you and you do the best you can.

Ridiculous- get real. OF COURSE it's the only reason BYU is complying with Ms. Strong. Their policy is in place exactly to accomodate those such as her. As for having no hearing devices on hand-The event is 3 months away! We shouldn't even be concerned that they aren't on hand today, just as long as they are in place when people need them. As long as they make effort to meet the daugher's needs they are good. That's all ADA is about anyway (although some take it too far). What do you expect next- the performer to be on hand just because of a whim?

It really does not matter one whit that they did not have any on hand. They made it clear that she needed to contact them ahead of time and they would accomodate her. This is what they offered to do. That is all the ADA calls for, reasonable accomodation. Some organizations will choose to have such systems "on hand", others will choose to provide them upon request. This is reasonable.

This whole thing is just another example of our litigation-happy society. And a rather sad example at that.

This woman just taught her daughter that if you complain loudly enough, someone else will take care of you. Another child is taught to eschew personal responsibility in favor of the victim mentality and the appeal of a quick fix and easy money. These are the seemingly little things that are slowly, but surely, eroding the foundations of our society.

Sad indeed.

It looks like BYU made a mistake in not keeping some portable devices on hand. However, since this is apparently the first request in the dozens of years that LES (or Cougar Stadium, as it was once known) has been around, it seems forgivable. It sounds like they were apologetic and tried to do what they could do appease this woman, accommodate her daughter, and rectify their mistake. I'm sure they'll have the devices in the future. However, I am amazed at this woman's selfishness and pettiness--using the word discrimination to describe an honest mistake is harmful to the word itself. When there is actual hatred and discrimination in this world, to misuse the word, thereby diluting its meaning, to try and get a little attention is shameful.

could spend the few hundred dollars for a couple of portable devices, it wouldn't kill them. And for those of you complaining about this woman's complaint - BYU's current policy of "we'll accomodate you with advance notice" is the same thing as saying to a wheelchair-bound person "oh, we'll build a ramp when you get here, IF you let us know in advance"... preposterous.

d-news is scraping the bottom of the barrel for news today. Next article!

I think someone's just after money and to make a stink against the Church and BYU.

As the father of 2 disabled children I can see how this mother would want things for her daughter. But her tactics of taking this to the media are wrong. BYU offered to assist her and they have plenty of time to get prepared. She became impatient because her phone calls were routed around. Which is frustrating.

These kids have enough worries in life that they don't need to be paraded about in the media. These are matters that can be handled privately without the child becoming a political pawn. It seems to me that the mother is more concerned about herself and what she is feeling than she is about her daughter. I wonder if she even thought this might be embarrassing to the girl.

It is good to be concerned about the disabled. But LES is a football stadium and hosts one event a year where a device like this might be needed. They certainly aren't needed at football games.

I wish this family well, but choose your battles wisely.

Technically and legally, Ms. Strong is absolutely correct. BYU's greed for the money they are getting is overshadowing compliance with the law as well as empathetic concern for those with hearing disabilities. This is an important issue.

On the other hand, how much amplification do you really need for a Miley Cyrus (or any other) concert? In my experience, these concerts are so loud they CAUSE hearing impairment!

I'm sorry your child has a birth defect, but that doesn't mean everybody needs to accommodate her. I really wish I was 6 foot-10 inches tall. Why doesn't the NBA accommodate me?

Is she looking for a reason to sue?

Gotta side with Mrs. Strong here. My son wears hearing aids, and in huge venues, they are almost worthless. And from the sound of the story, it appears she was trying to make the point that people who are familiar with the ADA know they should be able to NOT have to call ahead to be accomodated. GO BYU! (Unless they are playing UNLV.)

A prime example of a run amuck federal law that began with good intentions and is now driven by easily offended individuals and greedy, eager to litigate attorneys. Reasonable accommodation is going to be provided by the time the event occurs. The world doesn't revolve around you lady. Quit whining.

Not to be too irreverant, but doesn't anyone that claims to be a Miley Cyrus fan qualify as having a major hearing problems? There should be 65,000 requests for these hearing devices...ie iPods with actual decent music playing.

I have a friend who is hearing impaired, and she got tickets to several concerts (this was on the east coast) in a hearing impaired section where there was someone who signed the words to the songs. It was also closer to the stage so that the hearing impaired could take advantage of the vibrations coming off the sound system. My friend actually took her hearing aids out because the noise level was deafening between the screaming people and the music. I'm surprised there isn't something like this.

With that being said, the fact that BYU took reasonable steps to accommodate is in compliance with the ADA.

If you know you are hearing impaired, it seems logical that you would make your request in advance. Showing up to a crowded event at the last minute and then expecting to be accomadated is a big risk...just ask anyone who tried to buy tickets for this event!

Please take some responsibility for your own life and quit trying to blame everyone else for your troubles.

They made arrangements to get it for her and we are months out from the event. She is being ridiculous. It makes no sense that she should throw such a fit just because they don't have the item in hand especially when THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET IT FOR HER IN TIME TO WATCH THE EVENT.

Stop looking for free money.

I'm going to sue lagoon cause my legs are too long to fit comfortably in the roller-coaster seats. Who's with me?!

Let's all sue Lagoon! (or is that "blue lagoon"...?)

This is one of the more ridiculous things I have read in awhile. This woman seems bitter and angry at the world. As has been stated before, with a little bit of hassle, she was able to gain assurance that her daughter would be accomodated when they arrived at the concert. What more does she want?

I just wonder how many times this woman posed for the accompanying picture before she reached just the right look of sadness on her face to accompany this article so as to elicit as much sympathy as possible. I could be wrong, but it really looks "staged" to me.

Please do not feel embarrassed for me. No one here is trying to DENY this young girl her rights. The University accommodated this person and obviously has the means to do so. It seems the lady's frustration is that she didn't get an immediate answer to her question simply because there hadn't been a request before and they had to ask around. She wasn't given a "tough-tarts" answer but was accommodated. I have been to many events at BYU and I have always noticed that they go out of their way to have a section for the hearing impaired and they have people there to sign for them. As a matter of fact, I've noticed that while I'm up in the nose-bleed section, they get great seats up close. (I'm not complaining and I wouldn't want to trade places with them.) This claim of discrimination is nothing more than your moniker; ridiculous!

Is she trying to get an edge on getting the hottest ticket in town? If they hold out several hundred or thousands of tickets for this law, her chances become increasingly better to get her daughter tickets. Im not aware of the Energy Solutions Arena having special sections or seats! BYU offered a way. Im sorry your daughter has a disability but Im not sure your not in this for your own self interests.

We have a total of 3 wheelchair people in the family, and we always ask IN ADVANCE, for the rooms we need at the motel, or the right table at the restraunt. Yes the law says they have to accommodate, but we also realize that having 3 wheelchairs in one family is very out of the ordinary. I vote in favor of the Y on this one.

Those of us who have not lived in the shoes of the disabled - how can we judge this mother or her child? If we can walk, see, hear and move about without difficulty and special accommodation, do we really have the right (or even the wisdom) to accuse her of anything other than trying to let her daughter in on something we take for granted every minute of the day?

Just a thought

This is a mother trying to please her daughter anyway she can. It is just unfortunate she is using her handicap to justify it.

But, jacob, she got what she wanted for her daughter. Nobody wants to deny her that. It's the whining afterwards that everyone is objecting to as well as the unreasonable requirement for so many devices that will go unused just to please her.

Many do not understand the cost of an FM receiver. One unit alone can cost upwards of 2500 dollars. It would be ridiculous for a stadium to provide 2600 units in a venue where even hearing people cannot hear. BYU did not deny the patron accessability they simply needed to prepare for the patron. This is reasonable accomodation. I have several Deaf friends and therefore have attended many events at BYU with them. They have never had difficulty getting BYU to provide interpreters and accessible seating. As any disabled person knows (myself included) you need to call ahead and see what accomodations can be made for you. No person should expect all venues to be prepared for all types of possible visitors at all times. As for them not understanding what the receiver was, no person knows all things about everything. therefore, The mother should have educated them about what she needed. They would have probably been more accomodating a lot sooner if they understood what she needed. Most hearing people don't understand the Deaf community's needs. That doesn't make them bad, just ignorant. Be willing to teach instead of getting mad.

Why is BYU responsible for this lady's daughter. That is the parent's job.

The mom should buy her a special hearing device if one is needed.
The End

Society wants everything free and spoon fed.
This is wrong.

This lady probably was a U of U student. It is obvious she has some previous resentment towards BYU.

Buy your own!!!!!

-Surg N

Did Ms. Strong or your reporter bother to check to see whether the disabilities act even applies to the stadium at BYU? First, it's a private not a public entity. Second, the stadium is old enough that it may not be covered by the provisions of the disabilities act. If it doesn't apply, did your reporter or Ms. Strong bother to find out what law might or might not apply? Did you consider that the event isn't being sponsored by BYU and that the event organizers might be responsible for providing assistance to Ms. Strong's daughter. Isn't it nice that BYU might be willing to accommodate Ms. Strong's daughter; all it would cost Ms. Strong is a 'phone call in advance--how big a problem could that be?