Are you wheelchair-enabled?
Do you know someone who is or has been?
If you answered yes, I hope you know about the Red Rock Center for Independence. It serves Utahns with disabilities in nine southern counties: Washington, Kane, Iron, Garfield, Sevier, Wayne, Piute, Beaver, and Millard.
You may recall that the first column I wrote for The Indy was a piece about relocating my 90-year-old mother from Michigan to St. George; I mentioned that she’s wheelchair-enabled and can’t walk. Settling Mom into the St. George community prompted this column, along with my involvement as a board member of the Red Rock Center for Independence, as I become more aware of the obstacles to accessibility in places most of us without a disability take for granted.
The Red Rock Center for Independence’s mission is “to empower people with disabilities in Southwestern Utah to live independently through education, personalized services, and technology.”
On Friday, Nov. 5, my sister Diane and I took Mom out to lunch and to Red Cliffs Mall for an afternoon of shopping. It’s difficult for Mom to transfer from her wheelchair to the car, but she does it with good humor as she relishes an outing. The restaurant we chose did have a ramp to the door and adequate space for her wheelchair while we ate a delicious meal. After finishing our lunch, we wanted to take in the view from the patio, which necessitated using a ramp, as it was at a lower level. The ramp was much too steep for Mom to manage on her own. Luckily, we were there to assist.
The incline of ramps in public places and businesses is stipulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act; however, from my experience, it appears that many building code inspectors overlook this part of the law. According to Section 4.8.2 Slope and Rise, the maximum incline for any ramp in new construction shall be 1:12, which means that a ramp over 12 inches long shall not exceed 1 inch of elevation change per foot. The law also states that the least possible incline shall be used for any ramp.
I didn’t have a tape measure with me, but the ramp at this dining establishment appeared to have a slope greater that 1:12. The steeper the slope, the less likely a wheelchair-enabled person can navigate independently … something we all want to do.
Off we headed to Red Cliffs Mall on a quest for a new purse and coat for Mom. There are several curb cuts providing access to the mall; however stopping by one to let Mom out of the car resulted in blocking traffic. Luckily the mall is equipped with handicapped accessible entrances which allow a wheelchair-enabled person to push a button and open the door. It’s nearly impossible for a lone person in a wheelchair to open the heavy doors of many commercial and government buildings.
Once inside Red Cliffs, we easily maneuvered from store to store; however, it was impossible to enter one store Mom wanted to go into as the displays were so close together that her wheelchair couldn’t fit between them! This establishment was definitely not aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Mom was a little frustrated. In a larger department store, access was not a problem, but as we moved between the clothing racks which did allow passage, garments often caught on the chair or brushed over Mom as she moved through. How many of us want to be accosted by displays as we’re shopping? It’s evident that some store designers and merchandisers may not be thinking of all of their customers when they set up displays.
Our last stop in the mall was a visit to a handicapped accessible restroom, which on first glance seemed adequate until Mom wanted to wash her hands using soap. Yes, there was soap, but the dispenser was not within reach of a person in a wheelchair. So much for good hygiene.
None of these slights are intentional, but many people with disabilities face them every day, which brings me full circle back to the Red Rock Center for Independence.
The Red Rock Center for Independence’s mission is “to empower people with disabilities in Southwestern Utah to live independently through education, personalized services, and technology.” In 2014, it served 676 individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, there are approximately 27,000 people with disabilities in the service area, and many are unaware of the important services available at no charge to them by this nonprofit. Training is offered to people with disabilities to improve their independent living skills by teaching financial management, inclusion opportunities, communication accommodations, coping skills, and personal care. Individual and systems advocacy are provided as are peer support, assistive technology, nursing home transistion, and other support groups. An Older Blind Program helps those over 55 years of age with visual impairment.
If you or someone you know might benefit from the above, please contact Red Rock Center for Independence for specific information. The staff is great and willing to assist. The Washington-Kane Counties office is located at 168 N. 100 E., Ste. 101 in St. George. Call (435) 673-7501.
Accessibility is better today than it was 25 years ago when President George H. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, but we still have a long way to go. Speak up if you see a violation, or report it to Justice Department.
Change will come if we let businesses know we’re watching.
