My rights are like "a child asking for candy" By Janalee Minnich Gage August 13, 2014
And after 17 years; although I have heard from several abled bodied people who have attempted to assure me that the Ketchikan Community is better and more understanding of the disabled community, I was proven that my skepticism was not unfounded. Because once again, at last night s Ketchikan City Council Meeting, it was proven to me again that there are still so many who are shallow, ignorant and downright rude when it comes to the Ketchikan Disabled community. Apparently having 5 disabled community members at the city council meeting did not deter able bodied community members from choosing their words unwisely. Do you believe that those of us who were sitting in the audience with disabilities were hired to show up, that we are not involved in the arts or enjoy going to a show? You might want to go see a show, pay closer attention to the many people the First City Players has involved in their programs, or those who attend these shows, because you will be surprised to find many of us have a physical disability of some kind. I find it offensive that there has to be a fight over what you call Premium parking in the first place, of course there will never be enough disabled parking; we cannot even begin to accommodate everyone who will need a spot. But a level access spot allows people to drop off and the abled bodied driver can go park across the street or down the hill. Another thing I would like to remind everyone about is that there is a perfectly nice large parking lot across the street from the police station that is within walking distance for anyone who can easily sprint across the steep hill. If you are an able bodied individual are you really going to be put out by having to walk or sprint a few extra feet to go do your business down town? For example I spend a lot of time downtown for work, but 5 out of 10 times I can t find a disabled parking spot to park in so I have to park on the hill where I can, and in a spot that allows me to open my car door far enough to get in and out. But this doesn't stop me from doing my job. Yes I am a taxpayer, and so are many of the disabled people here in Ketchikan. Of course whether or not you make the parking available to the disabled or not, I will always make the effort to get where I need to go and so will so many of us with disabilities. The question is how many of you who are able bodied can say the same, how many of you will make the extra effort to do the right thing here? How many of you will give up your easy glide into a building so that another doesn't have to test their abilities on the hill or negotiate ice, snow in their wheelchair or other assistant devices. Ask yourself, what would Ketchikan be without our local Artists, and the great art programs in this community? You don t know? Well I do, it would be nothing, it would be just another place where people live and work. It would be nothing but another city in the line of cities along the Southeast Route, selling all the same things made everywhere but here. I have never been a big fan of the cruise ship industry, I feel like Ketchikan sold its soul years ago to the devil. I remember when my grandmother looked at me one day and said. I think I have Alzheimer, because I went downtown and no longer recognize my home town. Without our amazing arts programs we lose our soul and distinction as an individual community and as an individual who has experienced living in other parts of the state without the arts. It is a most dismal existence. Of course we cannot help change; it is the only thing that is constant, however; we also need to understand what makes our community stand out from the rest and appreciate it. Yes I am angry, Because last Thursday night a community member referred to disabled people as children, and if your child begs for candy are you going to give them the candy every time? Whether or not he realizes that his statement was demoralizing, rude and disrespectful to the disabled community that was present in last night s meeting and all those who were not present, I don't think so but above all if this statement was said in reference to any other minority it would have been received as racist. This statement is just a glimpse at the daily disregard many of the Ketchikan disabled community deals with on a daily bases. The Americans with Disabilities Act is now twenty four years old, and it still does not represent the population of people with disabilities in America with equal rights. When your own community traditionally views you from the perspective of the medical, charity, and pity models of disability, the abled bodied community sees the disabled community as a people who are diagnosable subjects; people who need to be given things out of charitable intent and pitied. It is time that we be met on equal ground and instead, be seen for what we are; people with disabilities who are fellow citizens. I would also ask all community members, where do you plan to retire, die and be buried? Do you already have your snow bird plane ticket? If this is your idea of community well maybe you should not be a voice for those of us who plan to retire and be buried here with our families. My Great Great Grandmother Harriet Hunt, was a firm believer in making Ketchikan accessible to everyone, she worked hard along with many generations of my family to make this community one of the greatest places to live. My Great Great Grandfather also fought for the rights of all individuals to have opportunity. They didn't just come to Alaska to make a buck and leave, they built, ran a business, sat on the 6th senate, implemented the owning of KPU, and was the first woman on the Republican party for Alaska and believed that all people regardless of race or disabilities were equal and that access was important to keep families together and involved in their communities. This was way before the ADA laws and if they were alive I know they would fight for this access to the theater. There are a lot of people who have no regard for being fair, or honest when it comes to the law and what it means both in business and access, because the cruise ship boom is like the gold rush in their day. There is a lot of bad business being done out of bias and cut throat business dealings, and this needs to stop. It is time that people put away their personal issues with selective programs and realize these programs, businesses and individuals bring something to the table that adds the much needed spice to our community. Look around; what would it be like if the arts just went away? Close your eyes and imagine a town without Ray Troll's painted buses, Delores and Holly Churchill, Ken Decker and Nathan Jackson, McPherson s band, Dale Curtis and the Jazz Band, and Borough Mayor Dave Kieffer s saxophone and writing. What would Ketchikan be like without a 1st city players performance, the Blueberry festival, the wearable arts show, monthly individual art shows, the monthly grind, cabaret, Kayhi choir and band; who were absolutely fabulous last year, Dave Rubin s paintings, and all the other amazing artist who reside, create and sell their wares. I apologize because there are so many amazing artists here in Ketchikan and if I were to name them all, well it would take up to 6 pages and I am feeling guilty ending it here because of the many I haven't named. Ketchikan, please make your voice heard, it can and will make a difference and so will your silence. Janalee Minnich Gage About: "Janalee Minnich Gage is the Great-Great Granddaughter of Harriet Hunt and Forrest Hunt, and the Granddaughter of Jane & James Talbot Church. She is a Disabled community member who lives in the city of Ketchikan. 19 years ago she had her left leg crushed by a 20 ton boulder in Ketchikan. She is a Photographer and will be having a Photography show in October at the Main Street Gallery that focuses on the barriers the people with disabilities face every day in Ketchikan. " Received August , 2014 - Published August 13, 2014 Related Viewpoint: Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:
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