A lifelong wheelchair user says he feels “disabled” for one of the first times ever as he’s waited for the elevator in his Hollywood Hills apartment building to be fixed for several days, leaving him trapped.
“I feel disabled for, like, one of the first times in my life,” he told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe. “Can’t go grocery shopping.”
The man, who asked to be referred to by his nickname “Wheelz,” was born with arthrogryposis, a condition that affects the joints. Through the use of his wheelchair, he’s been able to remain mobile his entire life.
He’s lived in the Hillpointe Luxury Apartments, near the Hollywood Bowl, for several years and says maintenance issues have typically been resolved quickly. But this time, he’s been waiting days for the building’s elevator to be fixed and it looks like there’s no end in sight.
What would be a minor inconvenience to most has become a major safety concern for Wheelz.
“I’ll just be burnt to a crisp,” Wheelz said when asked what he’d do if his apartment caught fire.
He’s gone to the apartment building’s property manager, who told him that he could “call the fire department” for help getting around or temporarily move into a hotel.
“We respect the fire department way too much,” said Pauley Perrette, an actress of “NCIS” fame and a close friend of Wheelz. “They are not an elevator repair service, they are not a taxi service.”
KTLA reached out to the property manager for comment, but did not hear back. The L.A. Mayor’s Office told KTLA that they will take action.