To Be Treated As Equal, Take Equal Responsibility

We recently celebrated the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The Governor’s Commission on Disabilities organized an informal celebration where persons with disabilities, advocates and agencies that support our efforts could mingle and talk about the progress or lack of progress resulting from the ADA.

The celebration was held at the Eisenhower House in Fort Adams State Park.  This location was selected because it had recently been made accessible with a grant from the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities.

In order to complete this story, it’s important to know that public transportation in Rhode Island leaves a lot to be desired.  Since public bus routes are limited, paratransit operations which run within three-quarters of a mile from fixed bus routes are also limited.  So, that particular option, either public transport or paratransit, were not on the list of available options.

The celebration was pretty well attended so it was a surprise to later hear so much mumbling, grumbling and outright complaining about the perceived inaccessibility of an event to celebrate the ADA.

I am all about supporting the rights of persons with disabilities to have opportunities equal to those of our counterparts in the able-bodied world, but I have to admit I was miffed about this criticism.  A number of people did attend, including people in wheelchairs, so where did this fall apart?

The average person, when faced with a transportation barrier, will start calling friends (“Are you going?  How are you getting there?’), looking to carpool or share rides.  Alternatively, more telephone calls and using the internet can help locate alternative means of getting from point A to point B.  There were a number of alternatives that would have gotten people with or without disabilities to the Eisenhower House, some of them really fun.

Besides finding someone who was driving and offering to help pay gas or tolls, the possibility of putting together three or four people and renting a town car could work.  In a state the size of Rhode Island, four people sharing a town car can be quite affordable.  Another alternative would be to take the public transportation or paratransit to the Gateway Center and take a cab from there.  There are accessible taxis in Newport and they do not require reservations.  Even more fun, and probably more affordable, would be to get to the Gateway Center and take Old Port Marine’s accessible launch across the harbor to Fort Adams.  I sometimes take this launch to avoid driving and dealing with traffic.  Sometimes I take it just because it is a fun way to get there.  A similar option would be to just get to Jamestown and take the Jamestown Ferry from there. 

So, persons with disabilities, if you want equal rights – and it’s good to fight for them – you need to take equal responsibility for yourself.  Don’t limit yourself to one option and complain because it doesn’t work.  You’ll have a lot more fun and a much better life by taking some initiative.  Focus more on what you want to do than on the limits.  I know this because I’m there with you.