As a person with disabilities and for whom "every trip begins with an elevator ride" I resonate with this issue. We bought our (elderly community) condo in the newest of three buildings assuming (wrongly) that the newest elevator would be the most trouble-free. In the event of a fire or during a fire drill the elevator is off-limits. Power outage? No elevator. And it just occasionally decides to go on vacation.
Elisha Otis, who invented the safety brake for elevators (not the elevator itself,) was a good man who made high-rise buildings viable. But his successors need to recognize the problems with contemporary mechanisms and electronics. What else is new?
If the movie theater that their shit together they would have had an on-site Ken— fully licensed, insured and bonded as well as in character— to "honeymoon carry" wheelchair users (male or female) into the theatre for as long as elevator was malfunctioning.
I had the opportunity to discuss what the architecture of our historic north campus of our alma mater meant to me, with someone doing their PhD in architectural design. I spent at least half of my time complaining about miserable accommodations for people with mobility issues. Elevators that don't reach the parking lot level in a building that isn't that old, for example - meaning someone who needed to go to the upper floor of that building had to go into the building next to it, take the elevator up to street level, and then go back to their actual destination.
That I had heard a girl in a wheelchair, upon discovering the accommodations were half assed and only existed to comply with the letter of the law, have the heartbreaking discussion with her parents that she probably wouldn't be able to attend her dream school because of the hilly and sprawling nature of the campus.
That isn't to say they aren't getting better. Buses are all wheelchair accessible, but they get so crowded at class changes that the university has a small fleet of separate wheelchair vans that have to be pre-ordered for transit. Newer buildings almost always have an external elevator on parking lot side of the building, if the main entrance faces another direction.
Even as late as the '90s, though, it was clear that accessibility was an afterthought, not a guiding principle. I hope my rant made it into that PhD student's dissertation.
THIS. My late brother in law was in a walker and wheelchair his whole life. He could crawl up and down stairs, which is fine, at home, where everyone takes off their shoes, and the floors are cleaner, but I would have hated to see him have to crawl up or down a public staircase, with shitty people judging him. Stores are bad about ADA compliance, putting clothing tracks too close together, so you can't get a chair through an aisle. My cousin, who's daughter spent year 1 to 2 at St. Judges with rare brain cancer, had to threaten to sue his rural school district for not providing her the resources she needed. Disabled people are people.
my husband is using a wheelchair, and let me just say that this isn't uncommon. you just don't really notice all the steps as much when you walk up and down.
As a person with disabilities and for whom "every trip begins with an elevator ride" I resonate with this issue. We bought our (elderly community) condo in the newest of three buildings assuming (wrongly) that the newest elevator would be the most trouble-free. In the event of a fire or during a fire drill the elevator is off-limits. Power outage? No elevator. And it just occasionally decides to go on vacation.
Elisha Otis, who invented the safety brake for elevators (not the elevator itself,) was a good man who made high-rise buildings viable. But his successors need to recognize the problems with contemporary mechanisms and electronics. What else is new?
If the movie theater that their shit together they would have had an on-site Ken— fully licensed, insured and bonded as well as in character— to "honeymoon carry" wheelchair users (male or female) into the theatre for as long as elevator was malfunctioning.
I had the opportunity to discuss what the architecture of our historic north campus of our alma mater meant to me, with someone doing their PhD in architectural design. I spent at least half of my time complaining about miserable accommodations for people with mobility issues. Elevators that don't reach the parking lot level in a building that isn't that old, for example - meaning someone who needed to go to the upper floor of that building had to go into the building next to it, take the elevator up to street level, and then go back to their actual destination.
That I had heard a girl in a wheelchair, upon discovering the accommodations were half assed and only existed to comply with the letter of the law, have the heartbreaking discussion with her parents that she probably wouldn't be able to attend her dream school because of the hilly and sprawling nature of the campus.
That isn't to say they aren't getting better. Buses are all wheelchair accessible, but they get so crowded at class changes that the university has a small fleet of separate wheelchair vans that have to be pre-ordered for transit. Newer buildings almost always have an external elevator on parking lot side of the building, if the main entrance faces another direction.
Even as late as the '90s, though, it was clear that accessibility was an afterthought, not a guiding principle. I hope my rant made it into that PhD student's dissertation.
Minatur Wonderland also has that model airport!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tJn6MSwhFA
Oops, can't access the link w/out subscribing to Esquire!
Well that is heartbreaking.
Ramps are so much friendlier than elevators.
This is nicer:
https://www.themarysue.com/my-younger-self-would-love-that-there-are-on-screen-barbies-with-disabilities/
There are simply not enough elevator repair people for the number of elevators that our society requires.
I hate when I have to listen to knuckleheads crab about how the ADA is a drag on business or government overreach or communism or whatever.
Tammy Duckworth knew what she was getting into-- amirite???
Elevator's not worthy.
"Have you tried *not* being disabled?" (Sen. Tuberville)
I read that as the Minotaur Wunderland, and thought jeez those Germans can be dark!
Reminds of the time I had to take a wolf, a duck, and a bag of grain across the river.
In all seriousness, I’ve had mobility issues due to my knee injuries and it isn’t fun when there’s no elevator.
The elevator at my gym has been out of order for months. It's like they gave up on it completely.
THIS. My late brother in law was in a walker and wheelchair his whole life. He could crawl up and down stairs, which is fine, at home, where everyone takes off their shoes, and the floors are cleaner, but I would have hated to see him have to crawl up or down a public staircase, with shitty people judging him. Stores are bad about ADA compliance, putting clothing tracks too close together, so you can't get a chair through an aisle. My cousin, who's daughter spent year 1 to 2 at St. Judges with rare brain cancer, had to threaten to sue his rural school district for not providing her the resources she needed. Disabled people are people.
my husband is using a wheelchair, and let me just say that this isn't uncommon. you just don't really notice all the steps as much when you walk up and down.