Democrats Need to Get Their Access Act Together

Last Thursday eve, I was tired after a full day of work, meetings and appointments. I had a political endorsement meeting to attend and speak at before at last calling it a day... a warm dinner, my heating blanket and The English Patient were a-waiting me at home.

So I AT LAST found a disabled parking spot (for another blog...) and I'm wheeling my way to the meeting in Hollywood. I enter a beautiful restaurant and see twenty winding steps leading up to the endorsement gathering. My heart falls as I'm told there's no elevator... Emotions flooded me; I felt rejected, frustrated, marginalized, betrayed by my "inclusive" Democratic party. I also panicked because I know two other disabled candidates, one who I was certain was attending. I didn't want them subjected to the same insult.

In short order, this Democratic club's organizer approached me with a look of terror, and absolute embarrassment (after all, she had seen me in my wheelchair at the pre-endorsement meeting.) I appreciated the sincere apologies-- and the efforts to accommodate (offers of carrying me up the staircase or bringing all the members downstairs to me... that would have been embarrassing to say the least)-- but what troubled me most was that this progressive group hadn't considered accessibility, not only for candidates, but for their members as well. It was just assumed that all would be free of physical disability and could climb those stairs.

After much discussion, I was taken outside, around the corner to a back entrance via a closed ajoining night club. I then had five men carry me, wheelchair and all, up two much shorter flights of stairs. I was frightened that I might be dropped... Upon reflection, I shouldn't have done this. It was far too risky!! When I finally arrived before the group, I did my two minutes-- which included my usual, but more animated, callout for improved accessibility for the disabled. The irony was self-apparent and I got quite a laugh from the group. And I then began my journey back...

And this certainly isn't the first obstacle I've faced in my wheelchair during this endorsement process. I can't get into most homes in the 42nd district without considerable assistance--where a lot of these meetings are held. These barriers and thoughtless attitudes make me, a disabled candidate, feel like I'm an outsider by my own party-- a party that prides itself on being the party of the people.
Well, some of us people use wheelchairs and other assistive mobility devices.

15+ years into the ADA and Chris Reeve's appearance at the Democratic Convention doesn't appear to have made a significant dent in the party's mind-set. At least they were embarrassed for the oversight-- but that's clearly not good enough. Perhaps their oversight is due to not having enough disabled folk running for and in office? But perhaps that's because there are too many barriers for disabled folk to feel welcomed enough to engage in the process...

This is something our party's leadership needs to take a good, long look at. Not only the disabled, but every minority group that the Democratic party is holding a hand out to. Are there still prejudices, slights and biases that exist that keep the door closed for some?

This is a great party, but no one should feel as if s/he was invited for cocktails, but not for dinner.