Roll Out

Had a very interesting conversation today with a colleague at work. I've recently noticed a lack of accommodating the disabled. There are no ramps. Limited underground stations have lifts. And let's not forget the impatient and rushing traffic in London. There are stairs and there are way too many people that appear stressed to catch a train that will have one proceed it within minutes. I feel bad for the disabled here; well there are none. They wouldn't survive in such a place. Nor would an injured person, someone rehabilitated, or someone recovering from either. I'll even go to the extent of saying someone with the flu. Has anyone here heard of equal opportunity? There are plenty of disabled that are fully capable of the same things we do and have in this city, and I think they are entitled to the same freedoms. A bad strike of luck and unfortunate nature shouldn't say otherwise.

There's a movie called Music Within. Though I'm a flick-o-phile and appreciate just about any movie, it has to be one of my favorites in its genre - the inspriational. It's based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, a gifted public speaker who loses his hearing in the Vietnam War. He befriends a disabled fellow and becomes a pivotal figure in creating the Americans with Disabilities Act. I don't want to give too much away for I hope some of you will watch it after this puffery. Despite the drama and pancake humor (you'll see when/if you watch it), the significant element of the plot is the Disabilities Act and the realization of its importance to Americans and American infrastructure.

The Disability Act, signed by Bush Sr, has 5 parts:
1) Employment
2) Public Services and Transportation
3) Public Accommodation and Commercial Facilities
4) Telecommunications
5) Misc provisions

The law entitled the disabled equal opportunity in all the above stated. It's Title II and III which strikes me as I walk the streets of London.

The conversation with my colleague digressed into any and everything that doesn't really work in London, either because it's too old, the city wasn't built to accommodate such volumes, public apathy etc etc etc. Not to say that Brits aren't today integrating facilities for the disabled or injured. For example, the Jubilee line which runs northwest to southeast London is one of the newest if not the newest underground route and majority of the stations have lifts, Braille, and are more spacious. However, unless one is traveling from Maida Vale to London Bridge, it is beyond me how one would live, work, and be mobile within the city.

Ask anyone over here and they'll tease about the stereotypical people in electric wheelchairs at Walmart or the more transparent existence they have in the States in general. They may wonder why on Earth it's in the States you see these kinds of people - perhaps they're lacking or lacked the health care to prevent them from even being disabled - but I'm also thinking it's because we accommodate them to do the basic things we all do. Even if that means getting up a ramp to eat somewhere, riding the bus with their crutches or wheelchair, or shopping at Walmart. They are apparent in the public sphere. Can't say so much here. (My colleague later told me about a time he walked up Downing Street and saw picketing disabled protesting exactly what I'm talking about.)

Watch Music Within - you'll be amazed at what you notice within your city's framework and the importance of it.