A Crip's View of Cleveland
ADA Finally Working in Cleveland

What's it like to be disabled in Cleveland? A Crip View of Cleveland will try to answer this. No pity here! Just an insightful, often humorous perspective from a Greater Clevelander who happens to have a disability. This month Rosemary Musachio questions if the societal swing of attitudes are changing because of a law...or because of a handsome companion?! Check out this insider's view on the realities of differently abled persons.

Clevelanders are now responding to ADA [Americans With Disabilities Act]; and Lord knows I’ve beaten the topic of attitudinal barriers to the ground since I started my writing career. I have written about how people stared at me while eating in restaurants, how parents used to pull their kids away as if I had the plague, and how some folks used to talk loudly and slowly “at” me. In short, I used to feel like an alien until recently.

But a gradual change is occurring within society. I really didn’t notice it until my best friend awakened me to the fact while touring Greater Cleveland during our vacation. People were actually nice and friendly towards me. When we went to K-Mart and Giant Eagle, customers and employees said, “Hi, how are you?” as they passed us by in the aisles. One gentleman even offered to help us as my best friend was putting me into the car. The same thing happened when we went to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Art Museum. We received smiles and greetings from complete strangers. Even the security guard at the Hall of Fame waited with me while my friend pulled up with the car.

Besides being nice and courteous, I’ve also noted now that most people who I encounter don’t treat me as if I was retarded. They actually talk with me in a normal tone and at a regular pace. No longer do they talk “at” me. Moreover, unlike ten or fifteen years ago, most folks don’t seem to mind than I do things differently. For example, at a New Year’s Eve celebration that I attended, nobody gawked when my mom was feeding me. In fact, two women talked with me while I ate. To you, that probably doesn’t seem like a big deal. But, to me, if someone talks with me while I’m eating, it means that he or she accepts me as an ordinary individual.

So, why this fantastic change? One possible reason is the September 11 tragedy. Since that awful day, people have re-discovered the value of another human being regardless of race, creed, religion, or disability. We have witnessed how human life can be destroyed in an instant, and how complete strangers have risked their lives to save others. People are nicer to one another, especially in New York where its residents were known to have cold hearts. They are more willing to help those in need, more compassionate towards those who have greater challenges than themselves.

Another theory on why people treat me more “normally,” especially during my vacation, is that I have very attractive friends accompanying me. Since I had a tall, charmingly handsome Italian guy pushing my wheelchair, people —especially women — were nicer to me. What would have happened if I were with someone who was plain looking. People probably would trip over my wheelchair without even saying, “Excuse me.” In fact, a study conducted at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience in London concluded, “liaisons with someone deemed attractive could have...advantages.”

But even without my attractive friends, strangers still treat me more cordially than before 1995. Could it be that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has finally started to change society’s attitudes towards persons with disabilities? Possibly. The ADA has obviously caused us to be more visible on the streets, in the workplace, in the shopping malls. Since others notice us more as a part of society, they accept and treat us more as active members of the social realm. In fact, a 1998 survey conducted by the National Council of Disability and Harris Poll indicates that 63% of those questioned feel that attitudes towards people with disabilities have improved.

Indeed, my best friend was right. For some or all of the above reasons, people’s attitudes have become more positive, not just towards me, but towards all persons with disabilities. But even though society has become more comprehensive towards us, the social acceptance must grow into more education, employment, and housing opportunities. Greetings, smiles, and offers for assistance are all gratifying; however, a degree, a job, and a home are imperative for us to remain productive members of society.

To help Clevelanders with disabilities become more productive, Services for Independent Living (SIL) lends a big helping hand. SIL is a non-profit organization that offers referrals in accessible housing, personal care attendants, assistive technology, and legal services. It also runs a comprehensive peer support program that includes assessing and enhancing independent living skills, along with hosting all-disabled support groups. In addition, SIL leads in disability on the local, state, and national levels. It conducts workshops and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ACT) and disability awareness.

Another non-profit organization that helps persons with disabilities get out within the community is Linking Employment, Abilities, and Potential (LEAP). Like SIL, LEAP offers advocacy, peer support, and referral services. As the name suggests, LEAP also assists persons with disabilities become employed through job placement and job coaching. Even if you cannot work, LEAP can help you start or continue to receive Social Security benefits. If it weren’t for LEAP, I don’t think I could have escaped a Social Security bind. from Cool Cleveland contributor Rosemary Musachio Rosemary02@sbcglobal.net

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