Snow Mountain Curbcuts in Newton: Disability Etiquette 101

Residential Sidewalk Snow Shoveling Ordinance Passed!

Newton passed a residential sidewalk snow clearing ordinance! It is a two year trial. Home-owners/residents are requested to clear their abutting public sidewalks and curbcuts free of snow during the winter. Businesses are allowed 24 hours after the snow ends, residents are allowed 30 hours to clear. Lets all continue to work with Newton departments to stop the practice of dumping snow mountains on the curbcuts and crosswalks. Everyone, lets work together so Newton has safe and accessible sidewalks all year long.

New Construction is Unacceptable!

It has rained for over 24 hours. Above photos were taken on February 24th. They show the snow mountains from city plows still blocking the public sidewalk on Wachusett Rd and Hammond Street at intersection of Commonwealth Avenue.This snow has been sitting here since the December storm. The most disturbing elements in these photos are construction flaws of these sidewalks paid for by our public funds from Mass Highway Dept and overseen by the City of Newton Traffic and Engineering Department. Notice the sidewalks end into utility poles and stop midblock on people's lawn. A wheelchair user is unable to use any of these sidewalks, and would have no other choice but to be wheeling along with the trucks and cars in the street. Newton, this is unacceptable!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Disability Etiquette 101

by Maryan Amaral 2/27/10:

It has been an interesting to see words used to describe persons with disabilities. Recently I read the article in the Newton TAB online concerning the residential sidewalk snow ordinance. A statement in the article by one of our 24 Aldermen/woman termed "pedestrians with handicaps." Earlier the word"invalids" was used in conversation during a meeting, and even one poster on the Newton TAB blog used the word "misfortunates" to describe persons with disabilities. I do believe these terms are "unfortunate" and certainly misnomers. People can be offended. Words do count.

The story has it the word "handicap" comes from "cap in hand," an antiquated term suggesting someone holding a cap in hand on a street corner or begger. In our earlier history, persons with disabilities were shunned in our city's culture with both an attitudinal barrier as an accepted norm and physical barriers preventing persons from being able to visit their children at school or attend gatherings due to lack of wheelchair access. The Federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 reminded people of the need for full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all federally funded programs. The 504 Rehabilitation Act was already enacted since 1973, simple regulation which was more on paper than practiced. The term handicap made its way to the Massachsuetts General Laws, but has since been updated in new legislation using the words "persons with disabilities."

It is always appropriate to put the person first, then the disability, if important to use the disability at all. People who use wheelchairs can simply be called "wheelchair users." People with service dogs can simply be called "person with a service animal." A handicap is a condition placed on people. So for example, in Newton, a wheelchair user would be handicapped due to the actions by the city contractors to store snow on the curbcuts. In Cambridge where the sidewalks are kept clear, this person would not be handicapped. Many of our schools in Newton are still not wheelchair accessible. A new Veterans House was approved by the CPC which by design, would exclude persons who use a wheelchair for mobility. Newton has a long way to go. Please be sensitive to what words you use. Words do count.