In This Issue

Access Equals Civil Rights

It is more than ramps and widened doorways

Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act everyone should be familiar with the concept of access to buildings, businesses, bathrooms etc…

On April the 18th, 2002, I had the opportunity to speak to 50 faculty members and students from the Berkeley College School of Business. The essence of my discussion with this group centered around a theme that I have been thinking about a lot lately. This theme has to do with the idea that access means more to the disabled then widened doorways and accessible bathrooms. I discussed with this group, the concept that if individuals can not access the activities that their nature as human beings draws them to, their civil rights will be a bridged. To illustrate my point to the audience I asked them how you would feel if someone told you, you could not do your favorite thing such as: boating, dancing, fishing etc. How would they feel? I was able to illustrate very affectively that 40 years ago disabled individuals who utilize wheelchairs would not have an easy time entering this very esteemed institution of learning.

Individuals with disabilities want more than just equal access to buildings, they wish to explore their dreams, to examine the possibility, to make mistakes and not be judged harshly all of the time. Being disabled is not a weird strange experience. Everyone will experience it at some point in their life. Access means all forms of access: intellectual emotional interpersonal, etc. Don’t constipate your possibility with emotional baggage.

Dream your dreams!

Scott Smith
Program Director