OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING-BRINGING THE OLD COUNTRY INTO THE NEW WORLD

I wrote this article for The Phoenix on October 13, 2006''

Several years ago a friend visited London, England. When I asked him how he enjoyed his vacation he said it was great, but he had thought of me a few times during his stay. Why, I wondered? “Because,” he said, “I was thinking you would never be able to get around London, let alone Great Britain. It is totally inaccessible to disabled people.”

 One can understand - old country, old buildings, and old streets. But more importantly, old stereotypes also remained. The UK wasn’t pushed to make things better for the disabled, so things were status quo for a long time. But now, the British Isles may change for disabled people, not only for those who reside there, but for tourists too, and thanks in large part to Sally Witcher.

 Sally is from Edinburgh, Scotland. She is 46-years-old, and has suffered from severe rheumatoid Arthritis since she was an infant. But her condition didn’t stop her form earning a degree from Edinburgh University in Social Policy, and recently, she was appointed to work for the British government in the newly created Office for Disability Issues, an office designed to ensure that disabled people are treated fairly in the UK. Sally had worked in Edinburgh and was very instrumental in changing policies in that Scottish city. Now she moves to London, where the challenge will be even bigger.

 Sally can empathize with a person with a physical challenge. She can only travel short distances before needing a wheelchair. She has found that taxis are OK for the disabled - if one can get a taxi in London - but buses are impossible and trains are out of the question. Buildings throughout Britain are inaccessible, mainly because most are old, and many are tenement flats.

 “Getting a degree at Edinburgh University was somewhat easier to getting a few ramps installed,” she admitted.

 But during her work in Edinburgh, Sally proved that change can happen. She was told at age 13 by doctors that she would never lead a “normal” life, and would probably need the care of her parents - or even be institutionalized - to meet her care needs.

“But I had the advantage of having a father who never accepted the doctors’ view, and refused to believe I still couldn’t do well in life. Because he didn’t accept it, I didn’t either,” she said. “It’s these kind of messages about disabled people I want to try to get rid of. If people get negative messages about what they can and can’t do, they will start to believe it. I often get people speaking to me like I’m a five-year-old, and you just want to say ‘look, I’ve just come out of a meeting with Tony Blair.” “Most people’s expectations of me are ‘poor wee thing’ until I open my mouth. They’re well meant attitudes but they’re what disabled people are up against every day in their personal and professional lives.”

 “I feel it is society that disables me rather than my impairments.” It is great that someone who has first-hand experience with disability issues is now so high ranking in the British government. Even the current politicians agree, as one noted, “We need to tap into the knowledge and expertise from outside the government if we are to be successful in delivering equality to disabled people.”

 One wishes more challenged individuals were sought after in other countries’ governments as well to make the entire world an equal place, not only in regards to accessibility, but disabled rights in general. Hopefully the new United Nations Treaty on Disability Rights will have a huge impact in the future. And, who knows? Maybe one day I will travel to England, and see for myself that change can really happen.