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Advocacy, Inc., a civil rights organization for the handicapped, will review this man's plight.  Your comments could help.  Temperature in Donna reaches 100 degrees today -- put yourself in his shoes.

The Texas Rio Grande Valley is home to many retired people from all over the US and Canada and winter home to even more WINTER TEXANS. SNOWBIRDS flock to the warmth of small border towns even before the snow begins to fly further north.

Most WINTER TEXANS live in the many mobile home parks throughout the area. NOW ONE WINTER TEXAN WHO CHOSE TO LIVE FULL TIME IN HIS MOBILE HOME PARK HAS BEEN DENIED USE OF THE PARK'S SWIMMING POOL. Why? Because he is handicapped. On August 7, Donna, Texas' Shady Acres Mobile Home/Resort manager ordered local police to escort resident James Kannenberg from the pool area. While near 100 degree temperatures wilt south Texas, James is forbidden from using the pool or pool area.

James has lived at Shady Acres for the past two years, and on doctor's advice uses the pool across from his mobile home almost daily. James lives modestly on his sole income of social security disability, with help from the federal government for housing. The pool is not only theraputic, but his main source of recreation.

If Shady Acres Mobile Home Park successfully blocks Mr. Kannenberg from using park facilities because he is handicapped, the implications may impact the entire Texas Valley. How many retired park residents and winter Texans are handicapped? Probably quite a few.

Will all handicapped persons be denied use of mobile home facilities in the Rio Grande Valley? Will that stem the tide of winter Texans?

While time will tell the impact of prohibiting a disabled person use of his park's facilities, Mr. Kannenberg suffers in the South Texas heat. Shady Acres' website boasts, "Our name says it all!" Mr. Kannenberg thinks not.  Nonetheless, Mr. Kannenberg says he admires the honesty of John Edwards and wishes all his family good health and well-being.