In 1998, as part of our community's commemoration of the signing of the ADA, CDR Executive Director Bruce Darling and Advocate Debbie Bonomo published the following editorial.
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality.
- Dante
The Disability Community in Rochester, New York will no longer remain neutral. We will no longer remain silent. We will name names and point fingers. We will shout words like "Discrimination, Segregation, and Oppression."
We will ignore the people who tell us:
"Be nice."
"Be grateful."
"Be quiet."
We know where they are going.
These people tell us we are angry because we can't walk or hear or see. But we are angry because they have steps at their entrances, refuse to provide sign language interpreters, or don't Braille their printed materials. We would be able to get in if they had a ramp. We would be able to understand them if they had sign language interpreters. We would be able to read their paperwork if it was available in Braille.
It is now eight years after the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Center for Disability Rights joined the Rochester Center for Independent Living and the Advocacy Center to commemorate the ADA's Anniversary. As part of the commemoration, we have listed the Top Ten Disability Rights Victories and Bottom Ten Disability Rights Disappointments.
To people who expect people with disabilities to be grateful and polite, these lists may be jarring. Once you understand that disability rights issues are civil rights issues it all becomes very clear. To demonstrate this idea, we have developed a simple test. We simply replace the person with a disability with a member of another discriminated group, and then ask if the resulting statements would be acceptable.
The entrance for wheelchair users is at the back of the building through the kitchen ... becomes... The entrance for African Americans is at the back of the building through the kitchen.
I don't mean to sound condescending, but a person with a disability needs someone to manage his money to prevent him from being exploited ...becomes... I don't mean to sound condescending, but a woman needs a man to manage her money to prevent her from being exploited.
I know she is Deaf. I am sorry the therapist doesn't understand sign language and we cannot get an interpreter for her, but I am sure we can manage without one ...becomes... I know she only speaks and understands Spanish. I am sorry the therapist doesn't understand Spanish and we can not get an interpreter for her, but I am sure we can manage without one.
Braille is difficult. He doesn't need to learn Braille; he can use tapes instead ...becomes... Reading is difficult. He doesn't need to learn to read; he can use tapes instead.
I don't know why someone with a disability would want to leave the work program and residence. It's so difficult to live in the real world and all of their needs are met here ...becomes... I don't know why a slave would want to leave the plantation. It's so difficult to live in the real world and all of their needs are met here.
We can apply the Test to Jack Kevorkian. "Kevorkian has killed a quadriplegic who felt he did not have a sufficient quality of life to continue living and Kevorkian offered the man's kidneys to dialysis patients." ...becomes… "Kevorkian has killed an African American who felt he did not have a sufficient quality of life to continue living and Kevorkian offered the man's kidneys to dialysis patients." No one would openly advocate the assisted-suicide of African Americans, but few actually pause at this on-going killing of people with disabilities.
Closer to home, we cited the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley which holds events in inaccessible locations. "People with disabilities are welcome to attend the GAGV party at Muther's and will be given a free drink at the bar, but will have to use the restrooms at the VFW next door." ...becomes… "African Americans are welcome to attend the GAGV party at Muther's and will be given a free drink at the bar, but will have to use the restrooms at the VFW next door."
Few people question the segregation of people with disabilities, but would never tolerate similar treatment for other groups. The Empire Brewing Company had a segregated entrance for people with disabilities, but after local advocacy, the brewery installed a ramp and integrated accessible entrance. The Empire Brewing Company could have been listed as a Bottom Ten Disappointment, but quickly became a Top Ten Victory! We don't hold grudges and in fact, people with disabilities regularly went there.
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