Update on Sidewalk Accessibility Blunder
Sunday, November 9, 2008
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A few weeks ago I told you about finding a new barrier, a flaw in the sidewalk design, when I had to take a city bus to work on Thanksgiving Monday. Well, I inadvertently found a new tactic that will bring speedy results. I have to embarrass myself really bad.
I wrote a rather embarrassing letter to someone who sits on the MAAC because she's usually good at politically phrasing it into a motion. This time, she forwarded the unedited and very embarrassing version to the city. But boy, did it get results. The bus stop has been moved and the sidewalk engineer has already contacted the person who mistakenly missed the curb cut when the built the sidewalk to get it properly fixed. I can't believe it.
Last night I phoned the person who forwarded my unedited version to thank her and she told me I MUST be more diplomatic and politically correct when I write a letter next time because she said the tone of my letter really upset the sidewalk engineer. I was shocked, however, I realized I learned a new trick that will be effective next time. I realized that shock value can be much more effective than diplomacy. For the first time ever, I got IMMEDIATE results. The conclusion? I am going to embarrass myself more often. Diplomatic letters take YEARS to get action.
Below are extracted lines of the issue and the lines that disturbed him about the effect of the barrier.
...until I almost went airborne off another missing curb cut one that has a slope and tactile markings to make it even more deceiving in appearance.My question is why should I have to lose it to get results. But hey, if it works, I will do it. Pride is long gone. I am a simple human being who wants a life. I don't deserve a life time sentence of having to do without because of unreliable people, lack of oversight, and the creation of new barriers.
Please think. When I found a new barrier, I lost it and scared the heck out of myself when I ended up howling, sobbing and hyperventilating with frustration.
Come on people, there is only so much I can take. Sometimes I wish I could lose it so I can get the help I need to cope with the barriers that come from mistakes that hamper me from having a life and being HUMAN.
Please read my other blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health Care: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com
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