Chairbound folks mounted a good lobbying effort, to get things more accessible, and good for them! But now people make the mistake of thinking that access is required in all cases in all facilities. The wheelchair symbol actually means, to facility-operators, "We found it financially wise to get ready for the population bulge of elders coming our way shortly from the baby boom," and not much else. In fact, the symbol MAY mean, "good luck if you use a walker, because WE geared up for motored wheelchairs and YOU will find that you have
a LONG, circuitous walk ahead of you through the dirtiest part of our building."

It's great if you CAN use accessible locations, but there are lots of public events that are not held at "accessible" locations. The promoter's job is to mark publicity materials clearly as to what accessibility there is. In the case of a location that is not "accessible" at all, you don't have to say that in so many words-- simply indicate, "persons needing access assistance are requested to call ahead" or some such-- and you can arrange people to help boost a chair up the odd step or two, or discuss with an indivdual caller whether the loo can be accessed with help, or so forth. The person wanting to attend can then decide if your location will work for their particular need.

"Accessibility" also is a confused term for the non-disabled as well. When I use a scooter at WalMart people scurry and duck, embarrassed, if they think they MAY block my way when I use the store's scooter. Have I suddenly become an object of pity, or have I achieved some elevated status? They aren't so gracious about yielding when I'm on foot, and I don't expect them to-- if someone is looking at an item on the shelf, I expect to wait to my turn to get through!

Another odd aspect of "accessibility" PCness-- I was rehabbing an injury, so I went to use the handi ramp into a pool. A little boy swimming nearby chastised me-- "Don't you see the sign? Wheelchairs only!" I educated him that there are MANY forms of disability, not limited to being chairbound. The ubiquitous chair symbol just means that particular part of their facility is wide enough and sloped right for any mobility impairment up to and including chairs-- walker, crutches, cane, etc. Smae thing on public restrooms-- it means the door meets a width requirement for chair clearance, and there may or may not be a handrail, but the purse hook will still be mounted WAY up high where you could not reach from a chair, and the door will still be as hard to lock/unlock as ever-- so if you have arthritis, or stroke dmage affecting a hand, forget a painless attempt!

It also doesn't mean that a colostomy patient-- who is somwwhat disabled in loo use-- will find a sink, etc., to manage for themselves. (Think about THAT next time you glare at someone heading for one of the handi-marked stalls, who doesn't LOOK "disabled' enough to "qualify.")

~Susan