Published: July 21, 2008 10:25 pm            

Lets keep the ball rolling

Eighteen years ago in July, a law was passed which benefited my late husband Harrell Simpson and is still encouraging other people with disabilities today. It is the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in private sector employment and continues to ensure equal access for those with disabilities to public transportation and communication.

While Harrell was in the hospital recovering from a surgery, he suffered a stroke in his spinal cord. As a result, he was admitted to the Spinal Cord Unit of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas. There he was assigned a “buddy” to counsel and encourage him. Harrell was truly blessed in the buddy he received. It was a gentleman who not only had a spinal cord problem but who also had been active in working for the passage of the ADA.

Although this gentleman was very important in the struggle for acceptance of the disabled to join in the true participation as citizens, he always rolled into Harrell’s room at the VA just like an old and true friend. Harrell could not speak at the time because he had a breathing tube in his throat, but his buddy was very patient and supportive. He did the talking and knew just what to say. There is nothing like personal experience to develop skill.

Other visitors encouraged Harrell also. I could see some of them as they drove into the parking lot, unloaded their wheel chairs, and rolled into the hospital to visit the veterans in the spinal cord unit. One man always had a good supply of fruit in the basket attached to his wheel chair, and he dispensed oranges with a big smile and some welcome small talk.

Also there is an office for the Lone Star Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Representatives of this organization visit the patients regularly and publish a periodical to advise the members of the activities available to them. They even have fishing trips and other activities such as contests of various kinds. A meal out or a movie is available for those who can leave the hospital.

One special activity of this chapter is to provide a rifle volley as a salute at funerals of their deceased members. They travel many miles each year to provide this service.

But let me get back to the ADA. None of these pursuits would have been possible if people like Harrell’s buddy had not insisted that those with disabilities could be productive citizens. I have to tell you that almost every time I rode the light rail out to the VA Hospital, I witnessed a paralyzed veteran wheeling on or off and scooting to or from the train. It had become just an ordinary part of their experience.

With more and more soldiers returning home now with disabilities, we should be even more thankful that medical improvements are being discovered to make their lives as successful as possible. One young man keeps coming to mind as I am writing this account. He was in the spinal cord unit for a stint as those who spend much time in wheelchairs often must be. He had to lie on his stomach, but he didn’t waste any time. He had a cheerful word for everyone, and when Harrell was moved from that ward, this young fellow gave him two of the miniature model cars he had put together during his stay.

It takes a great deal of spirit and grit to keep up the day-to-day struggle, but what goes for disabled veterans can certainly be said for any disabled person. If we have not had an experience with the loss of some physical ability, we might be prone to forget those first protesters who insisted that they have a way to avail themselves of public transportation.

It is true that as people become accustomed to a situation, they may tend to forget how hard the struggle was to achieve it in the first place. They may even let their active support slip a bit so that little by little the hard-fought battle fades into the distance and ground that was difficult to gain can be lost.

Let’s make an effort to renew our support for any plans to improve the accommodations for people with disabilities. I can personally attest to the fact that a sudden calamity can happen in any family. It did in mine. I thank God that we did not have to start at square one.

—————

Gelene Simpson is a Daily Sun columnist. Her column appears Tuesdays.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.