Disabled Delegates to get First Class Transportation Services
(Cross posted from Colorado Confidential. Used with permission.)
http://www.coloradoconfidential.org/showDiary.do?diaryId=3693
by: Leslie Robinson
Sat Apr 19, 2008 at 12:41 PM MDT
Denver is home to the movement, spearheaded in 1983 by Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit, that pushed for wheelchair lifts on buses and other improvements so that public transportation would be available for people with disabilities. In 1990, lifts were required as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In recognition to the ADAPT movement, transportation plans are in the works to make the Democratic National Convention in Denver the most handicapped-accessible convention ever held.
David Kennedy, disability rights coordinator for the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, said he is finalizing his plans to transport delegates with disabilities to and from hotels and activities during the Democratic convention, Aug. 25-28. “Denver is the home of the movement championing the rights of the disabled, so we are setting high standards.”
Kennedy, who is also disabled, has been a long-time disability activist with more than 20 years of experience in project management for exhibitions, events, and building design projects, such as directing the ADA compliances for the new extension of The Denver Art Museum.
“First, we will find out in advance what special needs, such as mobility problems or hearing impairments, must be met,” Kennedy explained. “Then, we will design extensive day-to-day transportation plans to get those delegates with disabilities from the airport to hotels and to downtown for specific events, and then to the convention at the Pepsi Center.”
Joe Beaver, chair of the initiative Dems with Disabilities, a political arm of the Colorado Democratic Party, said he welcomed the efforts to accommodate delegates with disabilities.
“At the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston, our Colorado delegates in wheelchairs were often the last people placed on buses to the Fleet Convention Center and sometimes they had to wait a long time because there was no room for them on the first departing buses,” Beaver said.
“That will be totally unacceptable in Denver,” Kennedy said, reacting to Beaver’s story. “Boston couldn’t handle a sufficient flow of vehicles to their convention center, but that won’t happen in Denver,” Kennedy insisted.
Handicapped accessible vans will supplement bus routes to avoid bottlenecks and some taxis will be modified to transport wheelchairs, Kennedy noted. Special-needs designed three-wheel bicycles will be brought in, too “I’m working with a medical supplier now to have wheelchairs available with the free bicycles so delegates can freely move about downtown to events,” Kennedy added.
Beaver said his group is also going to work with the DNC, the Denver Host Committee and other organizations to help delegates with disabilities navigate Denver during the convention. “We want to sponsor a downtown information booth and a website that disabled delegates can refer to,” Beaver said. “Plus, we will put together a special transportation-access guide that will last long after the convention and could be a useful tourist tool to attract future visitors with disabilities to Denver.”
“Because of the ADAPT movement, it’s only fitting that Denver hosts the most handicapped-accessible convention ever,” Kennedy said, “And I hope we surpass expectations.”
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I’m so exited that Colorado will once again be in the limelight of disability rights. Denver is one of the most accessible cities in the nation and this will be an excellent opportunity to set the standard for others to follow. I’ve worked hard to get leaders in the disability community to join me in participating in the Democratic Party. Record numbers of people using wheelchairs and those who are deaf or blind showed up to their County Conventions. Many were elected as delegates to their CD Conventions and to the State Convention. Your support for those seeking to become delegates to the National Convention will speak loudly when the nation sees what an important role those of us with a disability can play in our Party. Please vote for at least one delegate with a disability.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Tags to Disabled Delegates to get First Class Transportation Services…
Tags: to Disabled Delegates to get First Class Transportation Services April 21st, 2008 11:34 AM by admin (Cross posted from Colorado Confidential … by Americans Disabled for Accessible Public Transit, that pushed for wheelchair lifts on buses ….