[Access] Immobility at the Auction

[jeannemarie moore]

Hi Cindy,

The auction did apparently raise money... I was told "NARROW passageway
several times to get through spaces... it was astonishing to me... the
microphone cords were not taped down and it was challenging for folks to
navigate, not just you.
My offer was refused also.  I was told it would be accessible and stuff
would be "all under control."
I do not know what to say to you except you are not the only person who
noticed and whose offer was refused.

On a different note, much more positive:

today when I came into church by myself, two or three different people asked
if I needed assistance and when I explained what would be helpful, those
things happened.
I felt hopeful about that.
It was incredibly access tight getting around, it appeared though, in the
sanctuary... I was asked to "move forward" so someone could get by and gosh,
the table was really into my ribs already...
I think with such a thing the lunch, as yummy as it was, might have to be
done differently to include all the interested people...
We have our diplomatic work cut out for us, I guess...

j-m.


 

-----Original Message-----
From: access-bounces at uueugene.org [mailto:access-bounces at uueugene.org] On
Behalf Of Cindy Pitcairn
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 11:56 PM
To: Accessibility group
Subject: [Access] Immobility at the Auction

I feel discouraged, to say the least, at my experience trying to attend the
UUCE auction tonight. The traffic pattern could hardly have been worse. With
buffet tables lining the hallways and people gathered in front of them, it
was almost impossible to move my wheelchair anywhere.

People did help me to get through to the main room. (Forget about food--not
much of a chance for that, though someone did offer to get me a brownie or
something!)  Once in the room it was impossible to get to the sides to view
the items up for silent auction. There was not enough room to turn my
wheelchair around to get out of the room without crashing into a walker,
which had been set in the aisleway. In my attempt to turn, I knocked over
the walker and broke the wineglass sitting on it. At that point I decided to
leave.

I certainly didn't get the impression that the church offered much more
space than our own, and  the way it was set up made maneuverability almost
impossible, at least for me. I'm particularly unhappy because I offered to
look at the facility ahead of time but my offer was refused. 
I also had sent accessibility guidelines that stated hallways should be kept
clear of things set against the walls.

I know the people organizing the auction were well intentioned and worked
very hard. I've no doubt it made lots of money for the church. I know I'm
only one elderly and disabled person and probably was the only one of our
wheelchair users foolish enough to try to participate. 
However, I had been assured I would have no problem.

Next week is the music soiree (talent show), another event I used to enjoy.
However, I found out at the Coordinating Council this morning that they
still plan to set up some tables (but fewer than last year) in the sanctuary
because people find it so difficult to balance a glass of wine and food on
their laps. So I doubt I will attempt to go to that event.

It is wonderful that our church is attracting so many people who feel
welcome there, but I am feeling more than a little disenfranchised. I miss
the church where I felt I could take part in events like this.

Cindy


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