John on the Sunset Coast: "In a county park near my house is the 80 or so year old mansion of the donor of the park; it is considered an historic site. Parties, art shows, tours of the home and other events used to be held there. The entire second floor became off limits to the public (and for all I know even those working there) because it is not accessible to certain handicapped (differently-abled) people.

"While I am not with out sympathy for disabled folks--my own step father found walking extremely difficult because of childhood polio, while I am not unsympathetic to minorities--I am one, by religion, I don't accept the premise that the few should control the lives of the many."


John, I assume you live on the West Coast (California?). I am from Oregon which has mores and nuances a great deal like those of California. (although it grieves Oregonians. :)

In Oregon - and, for that matter, Alaska - an 80-year-old site is grandfathered in; things of that age, and younger, are not required to install lifts or special means to accommodate 'differently abled' people. I suspect the curators, managers, board, of the place you mention are simply trying to avoid being hassled.

One of the things that boards, etc, of such places can do - and many have done - is to install closed circuit videos of inaccessible floors that can be viewed on accessible floors. Others have installed single-seat lifts.

The point is that today we, as community, try to make it possible for everyone to live as normal lives as can be done. To that end, there are ramps and lifts for wheelchairs to fishing spots; there are even two-lane asphalted paths in state parks so that those confined to wheelchairs can experience the outdoors as they were able to do before disease or accident or other disaster oeverwhelmed their lives.

I am all for that. A man in his 60s was telling me one day that he objects to that, that he figures that if he becomes incapacitated he will accept that that part of his life is over. I say, horse puckey! It is only reluctance to spend money (What is money for?) and lack of empathy and imagination that keep us from opening wide the doors.