Parking Problems Again?

Memphis issues with the accessible parking aisle.

By Sandi Klink

I don’t understand why people in 2023 can’t read parking signs or acknowledge that the crossed lines next to the parking spot mean DON’T PARK HERE!

Even before the Americans with Disabilities Act passed into law in 1990, accessible parking was a convenience needed by many seniors and people with mobility issues. “Handicapped parking” has been clearly marked and fine amounts have been posted for anywhere from $20 to $200 depending on the location but who enforces the fines? NO ONE! 

Security guards in most parking lots don’t enforce and allow people to park in access aisles daily. Many officers don’t even understand what an access aisle is! 

Just as a reminder, an access aisle provides clearance for an individual with a mobility aid to get in and out of their vehicle. For instance, I use a power wheelchair and an accessible van. The ramp deploys from under the floor after the ramp door has opened. It extends into the access aisle several feet and then I must have room to get off the ramp at the bottom, at least another 3 feet to turn. 

I am a very independent woman and am most often shopping, making presentations, attending church, town halls, etc. by myself. If I can find a van parking spot with appropriate access, I will park. But often of late I have exited my errand or work event to find that the access aisle is now full of a car. 

I do understand the frustration of needing close parking and not finding any, but denying access to someone else, making them wait for the car to move or going to shops or offices nearby to see if anyone knows who parked in the access aisle is more than likely to cause some flared tempers and inappropriate responses. 

Sometimes I have a family member or coworker who rides with me and can pull the van out and let the ramp out for me but not often. What would you do if your independent mother or grandmother were in a similar spot?

Not only old people, like me, use accessible parking spaces. There are lots of parents with growing children with disabilities who use wheelchairs and need the extra room for Mom or Dad to help them transfer out of the car without worrying about someone whipping a little car into that spot. 

One in four people in our area are people with some type of disability. Not all need an accessible parking space, but those of us who do should have that right. We should expect our rights to live, work and play and yes park to be observed and if not we must find ways to remind others that violating my civil rights may result in civil disobedience…

DC Midsouth Life - Voting

DC Midsouth Life

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first installment of our blog that will deal with advocating, uniting and educating the disability community in the midsouth.  This blog will focus on the Center and our mission. It will include consumer views and local topics. The blogs may have staff and board perspectives on issues of interest to people with disabilities in the Midsouth. The blog will promote Independent Living, success stories and events at the Center. The blog will also take on timely issues and items of interest to the cross disability community. 

Your Voice Matters 

By Allison Donald, Disability Connection Midsouth

Voters with disabilities face unique obstacles when it comes to casting our ballots.  During the 2022 midterm election 38.3 million voters with disabilities had an opportunity to cast their ballots.  As I sat back and reflected on that number I was left with two nagging questions.  First, what was my voting experience going to be like and also how many people living with disabilities really know their rights as a voter?

I waited until Election Day to vote, because I like the hustle and bustle of the battle for the last minute votes.  As I pulled up to my polling station I walked through the door that said "Vote Here". It was the accessible entrance, but I did not know that until I got on the inside of the church and saw the placard posted to the right of the door.  

Oh yes, there was also a woman asking the poll worker why she had to “go through the same door as the handicapped.” 

I brushed that off, because I was there to cast my vote for the next mayor. I walked from one table to another and the poll worker asked if I needed assistance.  I told him no. He handed me a stylus and my ballot. 

As I walked up to the voting machine another poll worker came over and was explaining to me how the machine worked because I was having a little trouble getting my ballot into the machine.  After he saw the ballot go into the machine he walked away and I was able to cast my vote privately and independently.  

I know that my experience with voting is not like everybody’s who has a disability. 

It is important that we are able to vote privately and independently.  Also, the polling place must be accessible for people with disabilities. One mistake that I have encountered while I have been eligible to vote is poll workers assuming I need assistance with voting based on seeing my crutches.  I often wonder  if I had a disability that limited my dexterity would they be able to accommodate me on the spot?  I also wonder how many people with disabilities have voted and not gotten the proper accommodation for their needs?  

For people with disabilities I would tell them it is not a hard conversation to have and there is nothing wrong with asking for help.  If you need help with beginning that conversation Disability Connection Midsouth is here to help YOU and keep you informed regarding your rights.  If you don't feel comfortable speaking with a person you can visit: 

https://blog.ssa.gov/helping-voters-with-disabilities-participate-in-our-democratic-process/ 

Check your voter registration in Tennessee or get voting information at www.govotetn.gov.

Nationally you can get information at: https://vote.gov/ 

ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR VOICE MATTERS AND EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

Voting Early

By Stephen Tennial, Disability Connection Midsouth

Growing up, I was always told that there is not anything more constant in life but change. Change is the only thing that is constant and it is the one thing that gives us hope for a better community. This is why I take my right to vote very serious. 

When it comes to voting for persons with disabilities, there are many barriers that we face. One barrier is simply getting to the polling site itself. Other barriers include, but are not limited to physical environment, lack of assistive technology, and negative attitudes towards people with disabilities.

I recently early voted in Memphis’s Mayoral election. I voted early at a local church and I encountered one issue. Before I go into what problem I had, I would first like to say that I did not face any problems with the abovementioned barriers. 

Because of my disability, I cannot raise my arms, therefore I could not press the buttons on the machines without assistance. For me this was a simple fix because my wife and I were at the polls together and she was able to help me make my selections. However, my concern is regarding the person who does not have anyone to accompany them. I believe that there should be voting machines that are designed for persons that use wheelchairs and scooters.

Voting in Memphis

More interest expected in the 2024 elections

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first installment of our blog that will deal with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act and compliance issues. The bi-weekly content will focus on Civil Rights and equal participation in the area. Topics will include: Transportation, Paratransit, Fair housing  Communication, Deinstitutionalization and Disability Rights. 

By Tim Wheat

Memphis just finished an election for our Mayor and City Council. Less than a quarter of registered voters went to the polls and we can estimate that an even lower percentage of people with disabilities turned out in this election. Here at Disability Connection Midsouth, we are working to help you have a voice in the election and we want people with disabilities to be a vibrant part of our community and voting process. 

First, we want to know if you had any accessibility issues with the polls. You may have voted at an early voting site, at your polling site on election day or voted by absentee ballot. Disability Connection wants to hear about your experience. 

If you are not registered to vote, now may be the time to register for the elections coming up in 2024. There is a Presidential preference primary on March 5, 2024 and the Primary on August 1. The general election will be November 5, 2024.

The most effective way you can make sure your vote counts in 2024 is to check your voter registration now. In Tennessee you must have to be registered 30 days before the election. Disability Connection can help you to check your registration, or you can check online: tnmap.tn.gov/voterlookup/

At each polling site, Disability Rights Tennessee posts their phone number 1-800-342-1660 if you face any discrimination or barriers based on a disability. Disability Connection would like to hear from you what would help you to get to the polls. We can be a valuable and important part of the election process:

• There are over ONE MILLION voters with disabilities in Tennessee.

• 19.4% of registered voters in Tennessee have a disability. That is about 1 in 5 voters.

• People with disabilities at a LOWER RATE than non-disabled voters in Tennessee. 

Rutgers University found that nationally, if people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities who have the same demographic characteristics, there would be about 1.75 million more voters. 

The Rutgers study found that some of the lower turnout of people with disabilities is tied to difficulties in voting. A national survey sponsored by the U.S. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) following the 2020 elections found that 11% of voters with disabilities had some type of difficulty in voting, which was almost twice the rate of 6% among voters without disabilities. 

As a positive note, the same survey found that voting accessibility appears to have improved: the likelihood of voting difficulties decreased from 26% in 2012 to 11% in 2020 among voters with disabilities. In 2020 the rate of difficulties among voters with disabilities was 18% among those voting in a polling place, and 5% among those voting with a mail ballot.

A barrier that some people may have, but do not report on a survey is that they do not have a photo ID. Even if your name is in the pollbook, all voters in Tennessee must have a state or federal picture identification. Most common is a Tennessee drivers license, but you may also use a Tennessee Photo ID or US Passport. A complete list of acceptable identification is at the Tennessee website: https://sos.tn.gov/elections/voter-id-requirements

Only a court can take away your right to vote. You do not have to explain why you need help voting at the polls and you may ask for an accessible voting machine. If you ask for help, you may choose the person to help you vote or you may have a poll worker to help you.  

Tennessee is ranked first in the US for election integrity by the Heritage Foundation. If you would like to be more involved in the election you may become a poll worker, check your voter registration or get voting information at www.govotetn.gov.