Middleboro – handicap inaccessible
I was eating lunch at the Flat Iron Cafe yesterday(6/1/2009) with my buddy Rich. At the table next to us was a group that included a young man in a wheelchair. Beyond being unable to walk, he looked like he had other medical challenges as well.
As I drove away, I saw them taking pictures and later I found out why. That night, a google alert pointed me to his blog – The Traveling Wheelchair. He is an accomplished blogger and had written a review of the Flat Iron Cafe and other local restaurants(and even crosswalks) from the perspective of how accessible they are for wheelchairs.
The young man – Kenny Cieplik – has certainly faced some challenges:
Kenny’s blog features reviews on various downtown places and rates them for wheelchair accessibility.
I’m not going to point out the businesses that got zero stars for accessibility but I will point out the crosswalk in Everett Square. I will also point out the one downtown restaurant that got a very acceptable four star review from Mr. Cieplik – The Flat Iron Cafe.
I have to admit, I’m an ahole, or YingYang, or rectum, or whatever term is acceptable to Hal. Access for people with disabilities is never on my radar – it’s something I never think of and that’s why I’m a wazoo. Reading this man’s blog was an eye-opener. Many places in Middleboro – places we all take for granted – are not accessible for all despite the laws we have that are supposed to require it.
Kudos to the Flat Iron.
Please join me 
Bumpkin,
I'm glad you blogged about this and your consciousness has been raised.
This gentleman is part of the population that is faced with loosing services with the current budget cuts:
The Least Among Us
In the past, several of us have commented on the inaccesibility of the High School Auditorium that is used for public meetings, such as the Annual Town Meeting. There are only a limited number of spaces immediately in front of the doors, a curb, a long uphill distance if the lower parking lot is used, once inside, the ramp in the auditorium is too steeply inclined for a wheelchair (causing a risk of toppling over), which successfully discourages attendance by anyone handicapped.
Victor Sylvia would arrive an hour early to be assured of a parking space in front.
While no one expects major changes overnight, ADA was passed in 1990. Many have made great strides in providing accessiblity, while others have mostly excluded this population. Some of the changes mentioned in Mr. Cieplik's blog are relatively inexpensive, like the grab bars and the wider door.
Hopefully, with the heightened awareness, access will improve.
Funny you mention the crosswalk at Everett square. It is one of the few you can still see when driving. Several of the towns crosswalks have disappeared.
I know we have a budget problem and every department is scaping by with less, however it is a public safety issue when crosswalks in front of the early Childhood Education Center and at the four corners cannot be seen by drivers.
A few lines of paint is not going to break the budget,and could save a life
Everett Square is difficult to navigate at the best of times – there's too many roads coming in from too many angles.
Anyone having an interest in the handicap needs and laws in Middleborough are invited to open meetings. The next disability commission meeting is next Wednesday at 6 pm in the finacial building on the third floor. If you have questions about disabilities, you can contact Eileen Gates(town clerk and secretary of the commission) and/or come to the meetings.
You can also, log any disability complaints with the ADA coordinator Town Manager Charles Christello.
anon 2:49 PM,
I don't see this as a need to attend meetings, but rather to make people aware that they might be only a car accident away from being handicapped.
Many businesses are merely renting space and don't have the option of making the necessary changes. Maybe if enough people say that they would shop at the business if they could get into the store, things would gradually change without mandate.
Recently, I accompanied a handicapped individual into Boston and we negotiated the subways. She can't negotiate stairs and the elevators are poorly marked and inconvenient. At one station, we had to actually leave the station (and were given free passes to get back in at no charge). The elevator was more than half a mile walk underground.
It's not only the handicapped, but parents with infants in strollers.
Painting pavement markings should be a priority!