Before the pandemic, the rights, needs, and voices for people with disabilities were an afterthought. Many public places aren’t accessible, including schools, businesses, restaurants, etc. Now we’re in this pandemic and seems the accessibility has gotten a tad bit worse.
- The masks. If an individual is hearing impaired & their go to is to read lips, they can’t do that. Granted, I have seen some people with masks that are clear in the mouth area. Special shoutout to those people. More retail places should have them available. Another barrier that comes with that is not everyone knows American Sign Language (ASL). So how do these people get assistance. One of the options is to either not wear a mask at all or pull it down when communicating. And neither option is safe.
- Benches, chairs, etc. at restaurants can’t be used because of social distancing. This in particular is hinderance for me because I can’t stand for long periods of time and after a while I need somewhere to sit. I respect the concept, but I think their should be an exception with individuals with disabilities and even people without a disability who needs a place to sit like the elderly or pregnant women.
- Having access to people inside the work places without necessarily making an appointment all the time. For instance, drive thrus in general are difficult for me, but the drive thru at banks, in particular are extra hard because I struggle to get the tube out of the machine. I literally have to get out of my car (while trying not dent my door on the thick poles they have) to remove it. It’s much easier to just walk in and handle my business. It’d be nice to have the ability to call someone and they come out, while social distancing and having a mask on.
Back in December, I went to the Cocoa Cola Factory in Georgia. For places such as amusement parks, aquariums, zoos, etc. I need a wheelchair because of all the walking. When we got there, I asked them for a wheelchair and they said they aren’t available because of COVID. What kind of bullshit is that? I looked at that as them being lazy and cheap because why not just take the time to wipe the chair down or use the spray some companies have to sanitize. I also looked at that as them saying during this pandemic, the disabled should be in quarantine more than others. If I don’t have a wheelchair, I have to find places to sit and rest and doing that takes the fun out of the places for me. It also makes me feel like a burden for the others that I’m with because they have to slow down for me. Overall, it wasn’t that bad of an experience, but I feel like I could’ve enjoyed it more.
A month or so ago, I needed to get COVID tested. It was the weekend, a holiday weekend at that. Urgent Care where I normally would go didn’t have any available appointments until that Tuesday or Wednesday and I didn’t want to wait that long if I didn’t have to. The local CVS had COVID testing appointments available. When I got there the next day, I found out that I had to do the swabbing myself. When I told them that I needed assistance, they told me they couldn’t. I was then forced to get my testing done at Urgent Care. It was frustrating because it’s obvious that I’m disabled and I’m a regular there seeing that I get my prescriptions refilled. To me, it felt like one of those things where accommodations and expectations should be okay and not the end of the world.
When it comes to work, a lot of employers have become work from home. Because of that, we, the disability community have more access to job opportunities. I feel as if, this should’ve been an option for us. As far as schooling, not everyone is a virtual learner. But imagine, having a learning disability or ADHD and not being in that controlled, structured environment. A lot instructors aren’t using platforms that have captions.
Time after time the disabled community is counted out. It’s not fair. It’s not right. Individuals with disabilities are human too. We deserve to be included like everyone else. Employers should write their COVID guidelines to accommodate people with disabilities. I don’t see where the problem is, long as masks are worn and social distance is maintained. Instead of these places, instructors, or employers feeling like they’ll be judged; they should create the change. Be the leaders.
Resource Table
| Accessible Masks | How to Access Captions on Zoom |
| How to Access Captions on GoogleMeet | How to Access Captions on Microsoft Teams |
| Guidelines for Accessible COVID-Testing | COVID Testing Locations |
Comment your experiences as an individual with a disability during this pandemic.
#stillRising
#stillRising 