Not everyone has the same needs as you, DAVID.
D is for differences.
There is no one “disabled experience” just like there is no singular “human experience.” All of us face disability and society in different ways based on how we appear, how much money we have available to us, where we live, and if we have a partner in care or not. I’m not partnered, but I do have a few lifelong friends and wonderful coworkers who have shown up for me for surgeries, illnesses, and more. They make a huge difference in my life as an un-coupled person with disabilities. Managing my own care is quite honestly a second full-time job that I have no choice in working. If you also have disabilities, how is your experience different than what I’ve shared about mine so far?
D is for Denver and the historic accessibility standards that have been set in Colorado. Denver has been a place of protest for human rights for decades. On July 5, 1978, The Gang of 19 lay down across the asphalt at a busy intersection in Denver to protest the RTD (public transit system) in Denver not being accessible. Check out this article on the history of disability rights in Denver for more information from CPR.
Additionally, in 2017 there was another disability rights protest for an act called ADAPT. ADAPT activists staged a sit-in at Senator Cory Gardner’s office for 58 hours until many were zip-tied, arrested, and carried away by police. Here’s more on the impact of that protest from 5280.com.
If you live in the Colorado area, does this surprise you? How often do you see people with disabilities navigating the streets of Denver?
For friends elsewhere, how does your city stack up? Could you easily access transit and health care in your city if you were disabled? Do some Googling to figure out how you might do that.