DC Midsouth Life: Oak Court Mall Doors are a Barrier

People with Disabilities can be left out in the rain.

By Allison Donald, Leah Williamson, and Christina Clift.

A day of shopping can be tiring and fun. If you are like me, finding a good bargain or the perfect pair of shoes brings you a thrill. On the other hand, long lines and crowded stores, a limited selection, or sky-high prices can turn a fun day into a frustrating outing.

For people with disabilities shopping has another challenge and it is access. Whether it is physical access to get in and out of the store, inaccessible fitting rooms, or no accessible parking, it can also be a lack of sighted assistance or poor lighting for someone who is blind.

 

Recently some friends and I went to the Oak Court mall for a bit of shopping. As we were walking up to go inside the mall the first door was propped open.  However, as you approach the second set of doors you have to pull them. It is extremely difficult because of the weight of the door. 

The doors are nearly impossible to open if you are a wheelchair user. I did not feel like struggling with the door. I looked to the right and there was an accessible entrance. I really wasn't sure, because there is no clear signage. The only reason I was able to identify the button was because of the silver panel that is on most accessible entrance buttons.  

Honestly, I felt relieved because all I wanted to do was take the easiest path to get into the mall. As I was walking over to the button, my friend began to push it and nothing happened.

We were all standing at the entrance of the mall in rain soaked clothes looking at each other in disbelief. At this point we are both ready to call it a day. 

My friend says, "I'm going to push it one more time." On the fifth try the door opened and we were able to go into the mall. I like shopping just as much as the next person but this is such a hindrance and it takes away the enjoyment of just getting out and about without barriers.

 

I am positive that the doors at the Oak Court Mall are not the only ones like this around the city. We at Disability Connection Midsouth are continuing to work and identify barriers that prevent Memphians living with a disability from living, working, and playing in this city just like our non disabled counterparts. If you are out in the streets and you see a barrier or you are not sure if it's a barrier feel free to contact us at 901-726-6404 or www.disabilitymidsouth.org. 

Why Memphis Needs an Office on Disability

Memphis needs a dedicated office to coordinate disability policy

By Tim Wheat

Local businesses, city and county governments and residents with and without disabilities all need to know about the civil rights of people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Amendments Act are both powerful federal laws that outline the civil rights for people with disabilities. 

People with disabilities are a growing and important part of our community. We are not going away. However, in Memphis and Shelby County, we have no coordination of public policy, 

Because of the federal laws, lawyers stand in to speak for people with disabilities and consistently aim for MINIMAL COMPLIANCE. The least allowable by law. Local planners and lawyers look to comply with federal law and nothing more. In our area we are not guided by the input and advice of the community that deals with these issues every day. 

Disability CONNECTION Midsouth has a mission to educate, advocate and unite our community. We are asking that the Mayor create an Office on Disability to include people with disabilities, coordinate local policy and inform the community of the civil rights of people with disabilities. 

We were disappointed to learn that the new mayor did not have a person with an obvious disability on the transition team. The long-time motto of the Independent Living movement has been “Nothing About Us Without Us.” Still we hope that Mayor Paul Young will be able to keep his promise to create a local Office on Disability.

The Memphis area desperately needs the Office on Disability. While the population of people with disabilities is growing in our area, the impact of the disability is also being felt more in employment, housing and transportation. Often, people with disabilities are the poorest of the poor and many of our group are over 60. We need to be proactive in including people with disabilities in everything.

Not including people with disabilities often leads to isolation and segregation. It makes our community into a burden and a problem rather than participants in solutions. An Office on Disability can create a coordinated, efficient and common-sense approach to disability issues in the Memphis Area. 

The Office on Disability can be charged to ensure that every program, service, benefit, activity and facility operated or funded by the City is fully accessible to people with disabilities. This protects against non-compliance and expensive lawsuits against the City. The Office on Disability may also oversee the implementation and local enforcement of the City's obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the further development of the Memphis ADA Transition Plan.

The Office on Disability may also provide an ADA grievance procedure that includes the disability community. The office may also help the City communicate policy and priorities to the disability community by not only including people with disabilities, but advice on effective and accessible communication.

Likewise, the Office on Disability may be critical to training and guidance for all City Departments, public information, program policy development and legislative initiatives. The Office may also create a public forum for the disability community so all residents are more involved and knowledgeable.

Significantly, the Office on Disability can help our community coordinate our response to emergencies and disasters. People with disabilities may have specific and unique needs in times of crisis and a good use of the Office would be to synchronize the assistance and to appropriately plan for distinctive needs. 

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.