Comments on: Presidential Inauguration Will Be Inaccessible to Many

By: Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day: the sad post « Zero at the Bone

Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day: the sad post « Zero at the Bone — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:17:26 +0000

[...] resistance that’s quite disheartening. Perhaps this is just an example of bad organising, but Cara’s post on how inaccessible the inauguration was really hit home. What change are PWD to believe in? In addition, as I’ve been writing this, ABW [...]

By: G

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:35:26 +0000

I think inaccessible is the motto of this inauguration. The powers that be kept touting how the swearing in ceremony will be accessible–without truly making efforts to do so–and now announced that getting around will be extremely difficult.

I think that generally people don’t understand how difficult having a disability can be – and I am not at all referring to possible physical limitations or difficulties – but basically acceptance and treatment. It’s all too true that people with disabilities get “special” treatment all the time – its just not the kind of special treatment you’d want to get. (In the interest of full disclosure, members of my family have physical disabilities, so I am talking from second-hand experience.)

That being said, in addition to people with disabilities, the inauguration is inaccessible to people with small children (no strollers, changing areas, bathrooms), residents of the district (who have to deal with their city being immobilized while unable to snag the very limited number offered here because we simply aren’t represented i.e. no Senators), residents of Virginia or those crossing through Virginia (because they are closing ALL the bridges), – and the list goes on.

Best of luck to those that are going!!

By: imfunny2

imfunny2 — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:36:52 +0000

First, I’ll list what I do give inagural planners a pass on:

They cannot guarantee enough accessible viewing spaces because there is no way to estimate how many people with disabilities will be attending…

That being said, there is a major difference between ‘You may be turned away because all available accessible viewing spots are full,” and, “We had to stop accomodating at some point and well, I guess you folks will be faced with several large obstacles standing between you and attending this historic event…so your best informed choice may be staying home….separate from the rest.

Other bloggers have brought this up, and my concern is the bigger picture…

If any other minority was facing a similar type of hurdle (limited access with some features or setups actually working against them) there would be an outcry.

I hear *crickets*

One simple and innovative solution to the drop off point issue mentioned by another blogger, would be to obtain, security sweep and security clear some accessible busses to move people from the original drop off point to the accessible seating….and the answer seems to have been “its hard.”

Of *course* change of any kind is hard.

It’s what this candidate campaigned on and what he is striving for.

ADA doesn’t get suspended just because *its hard.”

No one should be encouraged to stay home because ‘it’s hard.”

By: Debra

Debra — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:08:28 +0000

Hi Granite,
I am in Georgia and terminally ill and desperately want to come. Was suppose to leave to go to Atlanta today to rest up and fly out on Tuesday but I have had a bad set back this week, have not been able to get any info relative to arrangements for disabled and as of today have not gotten any tickets. I too have an electric chair and I want to expereience this history but with no info and no history and being sicker than usual I am almost afraid to go. I just can’t imagine there not being a special handicap section but my congressman’s office was going to find out and call me back. How did you get tickets already

By: granite one

granite one — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:09:08 +0000

I’m going to the inauguration. I have two tickets. I use an electric chair to get around. My girlfriend is coming with me and she also use a wheelchair. We figure we’ll have our own special seated section. Others will have to stand, and envy us after 3-4 hours of standing. I’m not counting on seeing anything besides someone’s backside. But I just want to be a part of it. We’re coming from NH!

By: marilove

marilove — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:38:36 +0000

“How is it, as you suggest, that a bus with a special security officer is “simply expecting the same treatment as everyone else?” This is, by definition, special treatment. While I am all for reasonable accommodations, it is simply disingenuous to argue that giving the disabled special treatment is doing anything other than giving the disabled special treatment.”

So basically, because the abled created the buses and subways and sidewalks and cars and stairs … it’s “special treatment” when those with disabilities want to use them.

By: Chally

Chally — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:25:52 +0000

Was just reading your Twitter thread. I wanted to let you know that I appreciated this post a lot.

By: lauredhel

lauredhel — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:07:22 +0000

Yet again with the extreme PWD-hate in Feministe comments. Thanks for not tolerating it, Cara.

By: Dungeon Keeper

Dungeon Keeper — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:45:12 +0000

Cara, I agree. Why should people be treated like they’re asking for something unreasonable when its something the rest of the population takes for granted? ‘Same treatment’ for people with disabilities means being able to do what the rest of the general public can: get on a bus, have a job, get an education, go into a building, attend an event, go to the store or go to the bathroom. How is that asking for too much? Its not hard, expensive or unworkable; its just ignorance and lazinesss that keeps it from happening. “Yes we can” seems to have picked up a “…but we won’t.” in too many cases lately.

By: Radfem

Radfem — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:35:48 +0000

When did equal access to an event become “special”? That’s kind of rhetorical because I think the first two commenters kind of showed us part of the answer and I think Cara you explained that well.

I understand the security for the inauguration (and other presidential events having worked across the street from a hotel visited a few times by Bush, Cheney and even the governer) and I understand and believe he needs more security than previous presidents. But I think they can still provide equal access to the event and shouldn’t use it to be excluding classes of people.