Nondisabled people are forever questioning accommodations of disabled people until they need them.

If a restaurant has the money for sidewalk cafes and outdoor dining, it has the money for ramps and access for disabled people.

Too many nondisabled people: “If you weren’t in that wheelchair, you could get up those stairs.” Disabled people: “If they had a ramp instead of stairs, you could get in.” Disabled people are not the problem. Barriers are the problem.

Limited, partial, restricted or temporary access for disabled people is not access.

Creating a system where disabled people have to ask nondisabled people for access and accommodation is controlling and ableist.

“Special needs” is a term created by nondisabled people to other the needs of disabled people. Disabled people have human needs.

It’s 2022 and disabled people are 25% of the population. It’s shameful and harmful that disabled people still have to ask for access.

Disability does not cause barriers. Inaccessibility causes barriers. Lack of accommodation causes barriers. Ableism causes barriers.

Limited access is not access. Partial access is not access. Temporary access is not access. Access for disabled people must be consistent and total.

Me: “Is your restaurant wheelchair accessible?” Employee: “No. We have stairs. You’re not going to sue us, are you?” Me: “Is that what it would take?” Man: (Silence) It is shameful and harmful that voluntary compliance with access laws is so poor. It shouldn’t take a lawsuit.

Me a wheelchair user: “Do you have a ramp?” Restaurant employee:”No. But we’ll help you in.” Me: “How?” Employee: “Staff will assist you.” Me: “How?” Employee: “Carry you up the stairs.” Carrying a disabled person is not access. It is unsafe and dangerous.

Man on street handing out menus to me a wheelchair user: “You should try our restaurant. You won’t be disappointed.” Me: “I’m disappointed already. There’s a step at the entrance.” Why would a disabled person want to patronize a restaurant that is inaccessible?

Access for and the accommodation of disabled people is not charity. It is equity and humanity.

Inaccessibility is not an inconvenience. Failure to accommodate disabled people is not an inconvenience. Devaluation is not an inconvenience. Exclusion is not an inconvenience. Discrimination is not an inconvenience. It is ableism. It is bigotry. It is trauma.

Disabled people should not have to prove that we deserve or are worthy of access. Yet we are asked to do this every day.

“When we get more disabled customers, we will make the place accessible,” is one of the most illogical things I have ever heard. Access must precede disabled customers. Without access, there are no disabled customers.

When disabled people are 25% of the population, why are we still talking about disability awareness? Ableism. You cannot have disability awareness without ableism awareness.

It’s striking that requests for access and accommodation for disabled people still have to be submitted as an application to primarily nondisabled people. It is an arbitrary and capricious process that tramples the rights of disabled people.

Access for disabled people is not an extra. Accommodation of disabled people is not an extra. Stop treating access and accommodation like amenities. They are necessities.

Inaccessibility is not an accident. Lack of accommodation of disabled people is not an accident. The absence of disability in diversity programs is not an accident. Ableism is not an accident.