I recently spent a week visiting Chicago, a beautiful city with friendly people. Disenchantment quickly set in as I discovered the many inaccessible and unwelcoming public buildings. That’s because I use an electric wheelchair.
I encountered three levels of wheelchair accessibility along the “Magnificent Mile”:
– The best was “Welcome, we want your business.” These shops and restaurants had front-door access and wide aisles.
– The next level, “If you want to come in, you’ll have to work at it,” had steps and/or revolving doors. To enter by a wheelchair, I had to hunt long distances for the rear entrance, travel through back alleys past smelly garbage bins and ride freight elevators.
– The third level, with no wheelchair access at all, was “You don’t exist/you’re not my problem.” I assume these owners are unfamiliar with the Americans With Disabilities Act, requiring reasonable accommodation.
I challenge city and business leaders to take a wheelchair ride on Michigan Avenue. Chicago has a lot to recommend it, but I won’t be back soon. It is not worth the hassle and aggravation. Major changes need to happen. It’s not just the law, it’s the right thing to do.
