The anniversary of the ADA rolls around every year and I try to celebrate it to focus on highlighting access issues to the public that are everyday realities to those of us with disabilities. Here’s this year’s activities:
- Demonstrated digital access to university committee representatives; once they experience good and not-so-good websites with a screen reader, it all makes sense.
- Recommended book for library’s history offerings (because they had nothing in the area):
A Disability History of the United States (REVISIONING HISTORY #2)
by Kim E. Nielsen
- Led a workshop for RCU bank employees on being an access-able person
- Organized and chaired panel on “Writing the Disability Experience” We had writers who live with ADHD, autism, brain injury, hearing loss and blindness. Over a hundred people attended.
- Calvin and I taped a segment on the ADA panel for the channel 13 morning show. https://www.weau.com/2023/07/24/panelists-step-up-mic-celebrate-adas-anniversary/ Ellie, the interviewer, was a friendly, bouncy gal who told me such things as: “Oh girlfriend, you’re doing great” after knowing me five minutes. One of her amazing questions was: “How has being blind affected your life?” Another interviewee was one of the poets with a brain injury on the panel. She got a similar question and she and I rolled our eyes together afterwards. Now Ellie was smitten with Calvin, so he got some good video. He didn’t have to worry about the quotes. After the panel, I went out to dinner with a couple friends to celebrate the event being DONE.
- Advocated for public input for county budget to include a remote method for making input via an online survey. We’ve done it before but it vanishes from people’s minds to do this unless I remind them every year.
- Complimented others doing Disability Pride kinds of things, like a great book reviewer on a list for users of the National Library Service
That panel sounds wonderful and exhausting. What surprised you the most?
Hi Kathie,
As I was reading your retelling of the WEAU reporters less-than-aware questions, I was confronted by my own bias to race, inequities and disability. I can counter this feeling by using my brain and heart and trying to get into others experience of this strange and messy world.
My own disability is I have trouble focusing on reading books and retaining the information. I am being tested for ADHD this fall.
I appreciate this blog post so much and the work you are doing.
Joe Maurer, Artist
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I was most surprised by one person with brain injury who said they liked “handicapped parking” because it was usually near the building so when they came out after the event they could see their car so didn’t have to wonder where it was.
He’s in good company! When I was still able to drive, that was one of the many benefits to accessible parking. (Chronic pain interfered with making new memories.)
Thanks for your book recommendations, Kathie! I wonder if you read them on Bookshare.org?
Yes, all of these books are available in multiple formats from Bookshare!