OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING- DON'T DIS THE DISABILITY- OR THE DISABLED

An article I wrote for The Phoenix, published on January 5, 2007...


“Don’t Dis the Disability.” Sounds like the title of a rap song. But it’s the name of the new campaign in Utah to help more employers hire disabled workers.

 Say you own a business and you have pared down a job opening to two qualified candidates.

 You invite the most qualified of the two to dinner, intent on making a job offer.

 You notice that a gentleman is having a bit of difficulty making his way to your table. When finally seated, you realize he is blind.

 You immediately change your mind in regards to the job offer.

 The message in the new ads says “I know what you’re thinking - shame on you. That’s discrimination. A disability isn’t a reason not to hire the most qualified candidate.”

 Leslie Hintze, executive director of the Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities in Utah, says, “These television, radio and newspaper ads are needed to help employers overcome the fears they have of employing people with disabilities. Later in the campaign we hope to have some employers’ testimonies about their experiences with workers with disabilities. The purpose is to educate, to make people discuss the issues, and maybe change their perspectives.”

 One of the consultants of the advertising blitz is Ken Duke, a manager and software engineer who happens to have retinitis pigmentosa, a disease leading to progressive vision loss. The father of five uses an oversized computer monitor, voice recognition applications and magnification software to do his job

. Ken is the perfect example of the point of the campaign – that people with disabilities can compete successfully in the workplace if given the tools to do so.

 “We have programs to educate, we have assistive technology to help many people with disabilities do their jobs more effectively, and we have resources to assist employers in integrating these workers into their businesses,” Hintze says.

 Hopefully, the term “Don’t Dis the Disability” will reach beyond the borders of Utah.

 • • • One of my favorite local places to eat is the La Taverna Italian Restaurant (the old Bull Tavern), located on Route 23, just outside of Phoenixville/Valley Forge. I was there with a friend over the holidays.

 The food and service continues to be excellent. However, I was disappointed. I learned that since my last visit, the restaurant had been renovated, and right now, it isn’t very “wheelchair-friendly.”

 There is a ramp leading into the building, but getting to the ramp from the parking lot means crossing over a large crack or bump in the sidewalk, equivalent to a step. Not good for someone in a chair, and not good for even an able-bodied person who may not see the crack, and trip and fall

. Once at the entrance, we found that the two glass doors were heavy. Really heavy. Even my able-bodied friend had to use a little muscle to open both doors. I could easily imagine an elderly person having trouble with the doors, without some assistance

. Once inside, the major disappointment set in. There was no ramp leading down to the dining room.

 To their credit, the staff did roll out a steep “temporary ramp” which served the purpose. I looked around the dining room and saw there were new tables and booths, and the place looked very nice. My friend and I had an enjoyable dinner.

 But I wondered, if one is going to go through the expense, time and trouble of renovation, why not fix the sidewalk to make it more accessible for everyone? Why not install lighter doors? And why not put in a permanent ramp with handrails?

 I realize the building is old, and under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you do the best you can to make an older building more accessible and be in compliance. I suppose a temporary ramp is in compliance. However, a few changes would make the dining experience at the restaurant (which are not impossible to achieve, even if the law doesn’t mandate it to happen) more enjoyable for all customers.

 The food is still great, and I’ll go back again, if improvements are made and the restaurant becomes more “wheelchair friendly” - and better for everyone - disabled or not.