John,
This is not a suggestion or a prod for you to take any particular course
of action. It is merely a question and an effort to supply you with
information that you may already be aware of.
Is this party a departmental event? If it is, then it is covered by the
ADA. Carrying you up a flight of stairs in your power wheelchair, or
carrying you and it up separately, would be dangerous and would not
constitute a reasonable accommodation. A reasonable accommodation would
involve relocating a departmental party to an accessible site.
I am not urging you to insist on such an accommodation, even though it is
your legal right. There are other considerations, such as your
professional relationship with faculty whose support you may need in order
to complete your degree and get a job.
One approach might be to discuss the issue with faculty members you
consider open to learning about disability rights. They need to
understand that this is not just a matter of doing a nice thing so that
you can attend a party. It is a matter of ensuring your access to, as you
note, professional "networking." You cannot pursue a career on an equal
basis with your colleagues if you cannot participate in events such as
this. The department would never schedule an event at a venue that
practiced racial or gender exclusion. Perhaps educating a few key members
of the department would lead to different planning of future events.
Best wishes,
Paul
Paul K. Longmore
Professor of History
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
phone: 415-338-6498
TDD: 415-338-6349
fax: 415-338-7539
On Thu, 27 Apr 2000, John B Kelly wrote:
> I was recently part of a department-wide invite to a book
> publication party. My adviser is one of the editors of a sociology
> anthology. I'm not sure what to do, and would like the wisdom of anyone
> who could respond. I use a power wheelchair, and would never get carried
> up steps.
> I'm ambivalent about the thing twice: not sure I really wanna go
> all that much, but maybe it would be good for networking, etc, since I
> might well teach in this field; secondly, I'm not sure whether I wanna
> make a deal over it (not sure I would go even if it were accessible, and I
> have that "what if" anxiety of "what if they switch locations and I end up
> not being able to go?"), but then maybe I should/have to, because of the
> exclusion ("We are sorry Mr. Negro [circa 1960 USA], but perhaps you could
> enter via the servants' entrance? Once inside, I'm sure you'll enjoy
> yourself")
> Any relevant experiences?
> Thanx,
> John
>
> Here's 2nd response from the RSVP person, with names removed.
> -----------
> John,
> I am sorry to report that there are stairs in both the front and back
> of [the host's] building. If we could help carry your chair up the
> stairs, we'd be happy to do so. Her apartment is all on one floor and
> very open (in the eyes of a person not in a wheel chair). I think it is a
> fairly accessible place once inside.
> I know that power wheelchairs vary greatly, so its your call whether
> yours can be carried in doors and whether you'd want that sort of assistance.
> [The host] asked me to apologize for the problem.
> [RSVP person]
>
>
>
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