ACCESS LEXINGTONAce Weekly
Accessibility Awareness Day could be celebrated everyday
By Bruce Burris
By Bruce Burris
The wheelchair plunges into a hole created by a
displaced paving brick, and due to its momentum jackknifes left; my hands are wrenched from the chair handles, and Belinda is almost thrown from her chair onto the wet pavement. This is this not an unusual event; it is a very normal part of walking in downtown Lexington for many of us considered to have a disability.
displaced paving brick, and due to its momentum jackknifes left; my hands are wrenched from the chair handles, and Belinda is almost thrown from her chair onto the wet pavement. This is this not an unusual event; it is a very normal part of walking in downtown Lexington for many of us considered to have a disability.
After catching our breath and checking for damage, we look at each other, and in Belinda’s gaze
I noticed something other than resignation. Belinda is angry—
and rightfully so. We were two people who’d just spent part of a fine late spring morning viewing
art at a downtown Lexington art gallery, and then, we had fallen into a hole where a paving brick had come out.
I noticed something other than resignation. Belinda is angry—
and rightfully so. We were two people who’d just spent part of a fine late spring morning viewing
art at a downtown Lexington art gallery, and then, we had fallen into a hole where a paving brick had come out.
PEAL’s Brick Squad
Belinda Sellers has amazing perseverance, and as we
talked about our experience, Belinda asked what we might be
able to do about this problem, and the Project Easy Access
Lexington (PEAL) BrickSquad was begun.
Belinda Sellers has amazing perseverance, and as we
talked about our experience, Belinda asked what we might be
able to do about this problem, and the Project Easy Access
Lexington (PEAL) BrickSquad was begun.
A trowel, a plastic bag of sand, and some paving bricks
in a canvas bag are the tools we have been using to restore
sections of brick sidewalks in downtown Lexington. Gaps in
brick sidewalks and slick surfaces are just a few of the problems
associated with these sidewalks. Recently, as we were
replacing bricks in front of the Police Station, a young man
came out and told us of a woman taken to the hospital after
having fallen in that very spot two or three evenings previously.
in a canvas bag are the tools we have been using to restore
sections of brick sidewalks in downtown Lexington. Gaps in
brick sidewalks and slick surfaces are just a few of the problems
associated with these sidewalks. Recently, as we were
replacing bricks in front of the Police Station, a young man
came out and told us of a woman taken to the hospital after
having fallen in that very spot two or three evenings previously.
In an article about PEAL’s first community accessibility
rally last September the Lexington Herald- Leader noted that
a woman who was entering Triangle Park fell due to missing
bricks during the presentation.
rally last September the Lexington Herald- Leader noted that
a woman who was entering Triangle Park fell due to missing
bricks during the presentation.
From Boston to San Francisco advocates for those of us
with disabilities have stressed the hazards that paving brick
sidewalks pose to all of us. And this is an important premise;
in advocating for more accessible communities we are creating
more efficient, environmentally sensitive communities for
all of us.
with disabilities have stressed the hazards that paving brick
sidewalks pose to all of us. And this is an important premise;
in advocating for more accessible communities we are creating
more efficient, environmentally sensitive communities for
all of us.
The PEAL Bricksquad is really a symbolic activity as
there are far too many missing bricks for us to repair; however,
paving bricks are only the proverbial tip of the accessibility
iceberg.
there are far too many missing bricks for us to repair; however,
paving bricks are only the proverbial tip of the accessibility
iceberg.
Another PEAL project this summer involved surveying
the traffic light at the intersection of North Broadway and
Short Street.
the traffic light at the intersection of North Broadway and
Short Street.
PEAL members observed this light changing from green
to red for 100 cycles during various days during the first two
weeks of August. We were stunned to find that 106 cars ran
the red light in 100 cycles. This ought to make any pedestrian
or bicyclist think very hard before trying to negotiate traffic
anywhere in the county. And as with all accessibility related issues, the danger or
impediment is not limited to those considered to have disabilities.
to red for 100 cycles during various days during the first two
weeks of August. We were stunned to find that 106 cars ran
the red light in 100 cycles. This ought to make any pedestrian
or bicyclist think very hard before trying to negotiate traffic
anywhere in the county. And as with all accessibility related issues, the danger or
impediment is not limited to those considered to have disabilities.
Take An (In) Accessibility Tour In Our Shoes
When I was looking for a location to house Minds Wide 
Open art center, an arts program aimed at providing adults
considered to have disabilities an opportunity to create art in
an environment that was truly a part of the downtown community, a local gallery owner recommended Victorian Square. The management at Victorian Square could not have
been more helpful, and soon Minds Wide Open Art Center
was providing arts opportunities for people considered to
have disabilities downtown.
I
Open art center, an arts program aimed at providing adults
considered to have disabilities an opportunity to create art in
an environment that was truly a part of the downtown community, a local gallery owner recommended Victorian Square. The management at Victorian Square could not have
been more helpful, and soon Minds Wide Open Art Center
was providing arts opportunities for people considered to
have disabilities downtown.
I
think this tells a lot about how many of us simply do
not see the obstacles to access with which many of us are confronted. In fact, I believe this is a truly difficult thing to SEE
(sometimes even to those most affected), because lack of
access is actually the norm.
not see the obstacles to access with which many of us are confronted. In fact, I believe this is a truly difficult thing to SEE
(sometimes even to those most affected), because lack of
access is actually the norm.
This was certainly true of me at Victorian Square.
Eight years ago when I was there, the fact that 12 of 13
entrances to Victorian Square were not accessible to people
using manual wheelchairs did not register as a particular
inconvenience to me.
Eight years ago when I was there, the fact that 12 of 13
entrances to Victorian Square were not accessible to people
using manual wheelchairs did not register as a particular
inconvenience to me.
Today, with a different perspective, this seems absolutely
absurd. Automatic doors are really necessary for doors designed
for commercial use, but most prominent and high traffic
buildings in Lexington do not have them, and the ones that
do seem to distribute them randomly. (For example, the
Radisson hotel has two major doors, one on each side of the
building. The Vine Street doors are automatic but the South
Broadway doors are not.)
Festival Market in downtown is similar to VictorianSquare in that it contains many professional offices, shops and restaurants. To their credit, they do have one fully functional automatic
door; however, this brings you into a lobby where in order to enter
the main retail area you must pass through a door which—you
guessed it—is not automatic.
absurd. Automatic doors are really necessary for doors designed
for commercial use, but most prominent and high traffic
buildings in Lexington do not have them, and the ones that
do seem to distribute them randomly. (For example, the
Radisson hotel has two major doors, one on each side of the
building. The Vine Street doors are automatic but the South
Broadway doors are not.)
Festival Market in downtown is similar to VictorianSquare in that it contains many professional offices, shops and restaurants. To their credit, they do have one fully functional automatic
door; however, this brings you into a lobby where in order to enter
the main retail area you must pass through a door which—you
guessed it—is not automatic.
Things do not get better from here, and rather than numb readers
by telling of curb cuts which jettison people into moving traffic,
telephone poles located in the center of sidewalks, or manhole covers
which are sunk many inches below road/sidewalk level, I’ll just say:
it’s bad out there!
by telling of curb cuts which jettison people into moving traffic,
telephone poles located in the center of sidewalks, or manhole covers
which are sunk many inches below road/sidewalk level, I’ll just say:
it’s bad out there!
For the past year PEAL has been offering an (In) Accessible Tour of downtown. On it we explore many of the issues mentioned above. Last year Jay Whitehead, LFUCG’s
CAO, took a somewhat similar tour, and while operating a manual wheelchair discovered how difficult it really is to open a manual commercial door—such as the one he tried on the new Downtown Arts Center. The automatic door since installed at the Downtown Arts Center marks the one significant change we have noticed during the year since PEAL’s first accessibility rally.
Recently Miriam Powell, a graduate student at the University of Kentucky took PEAL’s tour.
CAO, took a somewhat similar tour, and while operating a manual wheelchair discovered how difficult it really is to open a manual commercial door—such as the one he tried on the new Downtown Arts Center. The automatic door since installed at the Downtown Arts Center marks the one significant change we have noticed during the year since PEAL’s first accessibility rally.
Recently Miriam Powell, a graduate student at the University of Kentucky took PEAL’s tour.
“Taking the tour was a real eye-opener. Even as a member of the helping-profession, it’s amazing how oblivious one (or a whole society) can be to the barriers in the community
that exist to people with physical or cognitive disabilities. Awareness of these barriers is definitely the first step to ensuring fairness for our
whole community.”
that exist to people with physical or cognitive disabilities. Awareness of these barriers is definitely the first step to ensuring fairness for our
whole community.”
Tip of the Iceberg
One of the most difficult things of all is to admit how very few of the real accessibility issues have been examined here. Yet it is fair to say to say that Lexington is beginning to address some of these issues. Mayor Isaac and LFUCG CAO Jay Whitehead in particular
have been very understanding of the real importance of these issues, but without more of a push from city government and community leaders our very real problems concerning accessibility will never be fully realized. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the 500 pound gorilla that no one wants to bring up, but in many communities, it has only been through lawsuits (or the threat of lawsuits) that accessibility standards have been implemented. This does not
have to the case in Lexington, nor should it be. (As the tragedy of
Flight 5191 recently demonstrated powerfully, Lexington is an incredibly caring community.)
Correcting existing accessibility flaws, while building with current accessibility standards in mind, will ensure that all of Lexington’s citizens will have access to everything our city has to offer. ■
The LFUCG has declared by proclamation September 28, Lexington
Accessibility Awareness Day. A Rally will be held at Triangle Park
One of the most difficult things of all is to admit how very few of the real accessibility issues have been examined here. Yet it is fair to say to say that Lexington is beginning to address some of these issues. Mayor Isaac and LFUCG CAO Jay Whitehead in particular
have been very understanding of the real importance of these issues, but without more of a push from city government and community leaders our very real problems concerning accessibility will never be fully realized. The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the 500 pound gorilla that no one wants to bring up, but in many communities, it has only been through lawsuits (or the threat of lawsuits) that accessibility standards have been implemented. This does not
have to the case in Lexington, nor should it be. (As the tragedy of
Flight 5191 recently demonstrated powerfully, Lexington is an incredibly caring community.)
Correcting existing accessibility flaws, while building with current accessibility standards in mind, will ensure that all of Lexington’s citizens will have access to everything our city has to offer. ■
The LFUCG has declared by proclamation September 28, Lexington
Accessibility Awareness Day. A Rally will be held at Triangle Park
