TO THE UNITED STATES SPONSOR FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS
Dear Sara Minkara,
My name is Ainsley Hale, and I am from Louisiana with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. My hope in life is to one day be an advocate for people with disabilities. Throughout my life, I have been exposed to the injustices and discrimination that people who have disabilities—like myself—have to face daily. While I am pleased that there is now an ambassador for disability rights, equality for people with disabilities has a long way to go.
Firstly, accessibility must be improved. I am aware of the lack of accessibility in the White House press room. I am thankful that a reporter raised the question of where the seating was for disabled journalists, but unfortunately the question was ignored. The lack of accessible seating in the White House should be fixed. Furthermore, there is a lack of accessibility almost everywhere, not just the White House. For example, many buildings have stairs without ramps or elevators. I am ambulatory, but there have been numerous times where climbing stairs has been a struggle. Considering that cerebral palsy is the most common permanent disability, I know that I am not alone in this struggle. People who have disabilities should not be forced to climb the stairs in order to get where they want to go. Installation of working elevators or ramps should be mandatory in all buildings with stairs.
Another issue that many people with disabilities face is a lack of accessible parking. Most places that I go only has a maximum of three to four accessible parking spots in the parking lot. There have been many times where I have not been able to use an accessible parking spot because all of them are full. In addition, towing of vehicles that do not have a handicap placard should be more strictly enforced. It is absolutely not fair for people who are capable of walking longer distances to take up an accessible parking space just because it is more convenient. Being disabled means having to adapt in a world that is not equipped for you. Almost nothing is convenient for someone who has a disability. My parents and I have had to struggle to get accommodations. A parking spot should not have to be a daily struggle. My sister has recently learned to drive, and she can park the car anywhere because she is not disabled. Parking will not be that way for me. I will try to save myself from extra pain, which means parking in an accessible space. It would be so much easier if people who did not need accessible parking were not allowed to use it.
In addition, importance of disability rights must be emphasized. When the interaction between the press secretary and the disabled journalist occured, it brought up more than the topic of accessibility. It was upsetting to me that seating, such a necessity (especially for people with disabilities) was overlooked. Nearly 15% of Americans have a physical impairment. When the reporter posed his question, he was not simply asking for himself, but for all people with disabilities. Despite the ADA, discrimination toward people with disabilities is a common occurrence.
A common obstacle I have experienced is using the elevator. Using the elevator should be simple. However, due to how mild my cerebral palsy is, I do not appear like I have a disability. I have been embarassed several times because of people’s reluctance to allow me to use the elevator. I agree that people who have disabilities should be prioritized when it comes to using elevators. Despite what people think, I do have cerebral palsy, and climbing the stairs is extremely strenuous because of my spasticity. Though I know you can’t change what people think, I wish there was a way to prove that using the elevator is necessary for me. It is often degrading when people question me about my right to use the elevator. It should be easier.
Dear Sara Minkara,
My name is Ainsley Hale, and I am from Louisiana with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. My hope in life is to one day be an advocate for people with disabilities. Throughout my life, I have been exposed to the injustices and discrimination that people who have disabilities—like myself—have to face daily. While I am pleased that there is now an ambassador for disability rights, equality for people with disabilities has a long way to go.
Firstly, accessibility must be improved. I am aware of the lack of accessibility in the White House press room. I am thankful that a reporter raised the question of where the seating was for disabled journalists, but unfortunately the question was ignored. The lack of accessible seating in the White House should be fixed. Furthermore, there is a lack of accessibility almost everywhere, not just the White House. For example, many buildings have stairs without ramps or elevators. I am ambulatory, but there have been numerous times where climbing stairs has been a struggle. Considering that cerebral palsy is the most common permanent disability, I know that I am not alone in this struggle. People who have disabilities should not be forced to climb the stairs in order to get where they want to go. Installation of working elevators or ramps should be mandatory in all buildings with stairs.
Another issue that many people with disabilities face is a lack of accessible parking. Most places that I go only has a maximum of three to four accessible parking spots in the parking lot. There have been many times where I have not been able to use an accessible parking spot because all of them are full. In addition, towing of vehicles that do not have a handicap placard should be more strictly enforced. It is absolutely not fair for people who are capable of walking longer distances to take up an accessible parking space just because it is more convenient. Being disabled means having to adapt in a world that is not equipped for you. Almost nothing is convenient for someone who has a disability. My parents and I have had to struggle to get accommodations. A parking spot should not have to be a daily struggle. My sister has recently learned to drive, and she can park the car anywhere because she is not disabled. Parking will not be that way for me. I will try to save myself from extra pain, which means parking in an accessible space. It would be so much easier if people who did not need accessible parking were not allowed to use it.
In addition, importance of disability rights must be emphasized. When the interaction between the press secretary and the disabled journalist occured, it brought up more than the topic of accessibility. It was upsetting to me that seating, such a necessity (especially for people with disabilities) was overlooked. Nearly 15% of Americans have a physical impairment. When the reporter posed his question, he was not simply asking for himself, but for all people with disabilities. Despite the ADA, discrimination toward people with disabilities is a common occurrence.
A common obstacle I have experienced is using the elevator. Using the elevator should be simple. However, due to how mild my cerebral palsy is, I do not appear like I have a disability. I have been embarassed several times because of people’s reluctance to allow me to use the elevator. I agree that people who have disabilities should be prioritized when it comes to using elevators. Despite what people think, I do have cerebral palsy, and climbing the stairs is extremely strenuous because of my spasticity. Though I know you can’t change what people think, I wish there was a way to prove that using the elevator is necessary for me. It is often degrading when people question me about my right to use the elevator. It should be easier.
Throughout my life, I have faced discrimination. In elementary school, physical education was a mandatory class. Because of my cerebral palsy, I had to wear AFOs, leg orthotics (braces). In PE, everyone was required to run around a mile-long track. My grade was docked because I could not run a mile. This experience has stuck with me because of its unfairness. My CP is so mild that often I am expected to do things that no one with a physical disability should have to. I suppose what I am asking for is equity. According to “Global Disability Rights”, only 5% of people who have disabilities use a wheelchair. However, the common protrayal of disabilities in society is a person in a wheelchair. I believe that a disability awareness campaign would be beneficial to show society that disabilities can come in many different forms, not just use of a wheelchair.
People who have disabilities are the largest minority group in the United States. So why are our rights not prioritized? Why does a reporter’s question—in the White House, of all places—not spark change? I do not want other teens like me growing up to realize that we have fewer options than our peers, simply because of differences that we have. Why is this fair? It is the twenty-first century, and it is time that people with disabilities get the injustices we face recognized. Please help me effect change for people with disabilities—it may give other people perspective as well.