What He Said: A Moment To Remember

We don’t know the Atlanta airport at all. Thus we ended up stumbling around a bit trying to find our way. We wanted to get to the car and get going because we had a long drive ahead of us. Finally we were pointed in the right direction and found ourselves the first in line for an inaccessible bus that was heading to the rental car centre. We asked the driver about accessibility and he told us to just wait for a second and he sprinted off coming back with a very friendly and helpful woman.

She told us that she had called for one of the accessible buses and that it would be there in about five minutes.

She explained that the older buses were not accessible but the new ones were. I was skeptical, not having much luck with buses in the past.

But sure enough it showed up and pulled over to the curb. The driver opened the door, asked us to stay back, and then she engaged the ramp which folded down enabling us to board.

This was all still theoretical to me because I was wary of the turning space and then the ability to maneuver my chair into it’s assigned space.

They offered to help me up and respected me when I said that I wanted to do it on my own. With the folded out ramp continuing to a ramp inside, there were two differing slopes, the first grade was easy the second much harder.

I gave the chair a strong push going up the steeper grade and felt it tip back slightly, felt the anti-tip bars engage and in a second I was under control again.

I made the turn in, rolled down to my seat and backed in without a problem.

It was great.

My first good experience on a bus as a wheelchair user.

Here’s the interesting part and I hoped you kept reading because this post isn’t really about that entry onto the bus, it’s about getting off the bus.

We arrived and the ramp was engaged and I easily slipped into place and got off the bus. There was a crowd of people there waiting to board.

The driver asked them to wait and then hopped into the bus and pushed whatever button that causes the ramp to disengage and turn back into a step.

While she was doing this and the ramp was moving she couldn’t hear the non disabled people, all with their luggage on wheels calling for her to leave the ramp down. One man, a tired looking, sweaty from travel, businessman was almost frantic. He wanted the ramp down. But it was put away and people were getting on, all having to lift luggage of some kind.

He got to the door and said, nicely, that he could have used the ramp.

Others around agreed.

He looked at me and said, “You guys fought for this, but everyone can benefit, so thanks.”

Okay.

That was the first time that a non disabled person has ever even hinted at an understanding that, first, we fought for access, and second, that access is universal.

I’m still in a bit of shock from the remark, and don’t really know what to make of it.

But then, sometimes I think it’s okay to just enjoy the moment.

So, that’s what I’m doing, here in the hotel, hours later.