The American Disabilities Act states that people with disabilities are entitled to “the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations.”
I have realized that regardless of ADA, the public realm is no place for segments of the general public that rely on wheelchairs, walkers, canes or any other devices to get around.
A pity for people who are supposed to have full and equal enjoyment. A pity for the shopkeepers, too, since “handicapped” certainly does not mean “without money.” Though the idea of accessibility is a growing consumer market, the Tampa Bay market has not caught on at all.
Recently, two family members and I decided to take one month of personal experience with wheelchairs and rate the local spots we frequented during that time. Our original thought was that we could recommend some of the finer businesses in this column – and give them a kudo.
After coming up with the same score – bad – for most establishments, we figured it would be easier to generalize. Almost without fail, any facility we visited provided minimum accessibility for wheelchairs and/or walkers.
Retail stores, for example, seem to put every obstacle possible in front of the disabled, from narrow aisles to doors that are difficult to open, to restrooms that are absolutely impossible to use when maneuvering in a wheelchair.
Kudos are offered to the stores that provide electric wheelchairs, which you are welcome to try out if you don’t believe how difficult it is to get around. (First, put a bandage around your foot. It’s amazing the dirty looks people give you just for being in the way.) As a special treat, attempt a trip to the bathroom and enter the stall, remembering that a person with weak legs needs to be able to get close to the commode. Even “handicapped” facilities generally present tough angles and a tight berth.
We went into a store the other day that provided a regular wheelchair – not an electric one. That is an extra excellent idea, for those who can’t figure out the electric models – sometimes when you’re with your parents it is so much easier to just push.
Every building with double doors – and without an automatic opener – should be retrofitted. How a person in a wheelchair is supposed to open one heavy door, I don’t know. To have one door after another, like at fast food establishments, is just cruel. Yesterday, I found some poor lady just sitting outside in the cold waiting for someone to come open the door for her.
In addition to the basics, it’s time for society to step up when designing new projects. With the graying of America, there are plenty of active people around that would like to be included in life.
For instance, beach towns should build a walkway from a couple of the beach accesses right down to the actual water. How hard would that be? How awful to have to give up the beach because you suddenly find yourself less than mobile?
How about parking lots? A fellow at the mall was riding his wheelchair in the middle of the lot last weekend because there was no lip in the curbing where he could get out of traffic. Handicapped spaces are often far away from the doors, the curbs are cut in an inconvenient spot down the walkway, or the lip in the curbing is at an odd angle to the door.
But, hey, it’s ADA approved!
This past summer, the Americans with Disabilities Act marked its 15th year and, in light of that, the U.S. government Web site focused on the disabled as consumers, providing some interesting statistics. There are more than 50 million Americans with disabilities – 18 percent of our population.
These people have $175 billion in discretionary spending power, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
With 71.5 percent Baby Boomers being over the age of 65 by the year 2030, it seems to me it would be well worth it in a consumer-driven society to keep those wheels rolling – as barrier free as possible.
Might I mention it is the right thing to do?
Mary Burrell is managing editor and editor of the Beach Beacon and Seminole Beacon.
