From: Simon Booth <[address removed]>
To: [address removed]
Sent: Tue, December 15,[masked]:21:49 AM
Subject: Re: [art-272] First Thurs & First Fri. Invitation

Sorry about the delay in responding-


On Nov 12, 2009, at 6:59 AM, Robert wrote:

> Hi Simon,
>
> As a disabled vet I understand your concerns. The family
> that owns the property has not adequately invested in serving
> the community's accessibilities needs. Their new buldings do,
> but those of us in the back row just have steps.

That entire section of the complex seems to be like that, although a 
couple of galleries do have ramps.    Has anyone else with a 
disability brought up the lack of wheelchair access?  I ask because 
in the almost 17 years I've been using a wheelchair one of the more 
frustrating things I've encountered is a certain number of disabled 
persons who seem to be more hostile to their fellow disabled persons 
in regards to things like ADA and accessibility.    This is the first 
time in years that I've been confident enough to even discuss openly 
access problems, so I really appreciate the fact that people really 
are concerned about making the gallery more wheelchair-friendly.

I'd like to see more wheelchair users at events like First Friday- 
over the years it seems like while other disabilities are becoming 
more accepted, the wheelchair users seem to have become much less 
visible.  Nowadays I go out someplace and I'm the only wheelchair 
user, and even VIAtrans seems much less accommodating when 
transporting wheelchair users or others with physical disabilities 
compared with how reliable the service seems to serve those with 
developmental or cognitive disabilities.  I get more dirty looks 
these days sometimes than I did a long time ago when I use a ramp, a 
handicapped parking spot (using my manual chair when riding with 
family or friends in their vehicles) or even just wheeling around in 
public.

From an art standpoint, am I out of line in thinking there should be 
more disabled persons in the art community? Not disabled persons 
creating *only* disability-themed art in a segregated group, but 
people like myself who happen to be disabled but would like to see 
other disabled artists being encouraged to get out and be part of the 
larger local art community.

>
> Since the older section is coded residential it could be some time
> before Lifshultz alters that area. As you know, ADA compliance
> is less stringent for R-coded residences.

That's been a gripe of mine about ADA- lots of exemptions, like 
residential vs. "business" space, or the age of the building or space 
in question.  I've actually had people quote ADA to rationalize not 
complying with it.  And that's compounded by a small faction of 
disabled persons who seem to oppose the rest of the disability 
community being able to do things that "normal people" do (I say 
"normal" in a sarcastic manner ;-)  ).

One dirty little secret about advocates for "independent living" for 
disabled persons is that in a roundabout away higher-functioning 
wheelchair users are excluded because while there's housing 
assistance and help for people mental disabilities or physical 
limitations but not using a wheelchair, wheelchairs users run afoul 
of ADA being waved around to justify the lack of accessible 
apartments in the city- anything that would allow a wheelchair user 
to live in a particular apartment is suddenly going beyond 
"reasonable accommodation".


> We do not have public
> hours and operate by invitation and appointment only for that
> reason.

Is there a way to promote the need for better wheelchair access at 
galleries that doesn't immediately get misinterpreted as one guy in a 
wheelchair trying to scam special treatment?  That's the big reason 
I've been reluctant to be involved with advocacy or promoting 
disability awareness- last time I did that, back in the early 90s, I 
came close to facing legal action and a fraud charge that only was 
withdrawn when I promised to stop associating with the disability 
community and self-identifying as disabled.  I even had to downplay 
the visibility of my wheelchair in the video projects my friends and 
I were producing at the time.

More recently though I'm finding that there are people asking the 
same questions I am, and really wanting to *do* something that's not 
just getting angry but not accomplishing anything.


>
> If you would like to schedule a time with the gallery I would
> be happy to work with any assitance provider you have to
> do my best to ensure you can enjoy the opportunity to see
> the art.

That would be great- while I can't get into the gallery with my 
motorized wheelchair, I think I might be able to come by with my 
manual chair and have a friend with me, so I can transfer and pull 
myself up the steps, then have my chair at the top of the steps 
waiting for me, so I can transfer back into it.

I'll let you know when I might be interested in coming by.

Again, I really do appreciate the concern and real interest in making 
the gallery more accessible.

Simon




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