Quite proud of myself, thank you very much! :)

[Shannon]

Nearly every single house in my neighborhood has a bunch of steps to the front door. Over the years, when there has been a meeting that I get invited to at someone's house, I just don't go (occasionally I agree to be carried up the stairs). Anyway, tomorrow night there is a meeting for the parents of this group that my daughter is in. It's at someone's house. I just sent an email to everyone and I asked if it would be possible to have this meeting at a wheelchair accessible location so that I could attend. The library perhaps. A local church maybe. Normally I don't like being a pain in the ass, but I'm sick of being the dog that tucks it's tail and rolls over exposing it's belly.

It's going to be interesting to see how people respond. I predict they will say, "We can carry you up the stairs!" I don't f-ing want to be carried.

[Eileen]

You go girl! Stick to your guns and ask for accomodation that is accessible.

[Shannon]

Response:

"I will ask Heidi if we can use the school for the meeting. Not sure if it will be unlocked though - but whatever the case, we'll find a wheelchair accessible place. I'll let people know that the location will be announced."

Yay!

[Eileen]

Yay!!

[rdf]

That's great Shannon

[Shannon]

I know it seems like a little thing, but it's unlike the ways I've always handled such situations in the past.

[Bonnette]

Excellent! I don't think it's a small thing at all, it's major!

[NorthQuad]

No, it's awesome. It really makes people realize the crap we go through on a daily.

[woman from Europe]

It is not a little thing, it is a big thing. I never want to be carried either, the only time is when it is a meeting at the school for my small one and his father is doing it. I have hit my head a couple of times too much because they have lost me.

And into the shop if it is two or three steps they can drag me

[pararich]

That's great to "stand up" for yourself!

[MSWIFE1]

Way to go. I am proud of you too!!!

[PN]

Shannon, way to persevere!

A change of venue should not be a BIG deal.

[Patty41]

That's great--it gets frustrating when others don't have reasoning skills to figure out such things ahead of time, when knowing the individuals that have been invited.

[keps]

Yay! I'm glad to read this, but irked at the fact that it's never crossed any of your neighbours' minds before (in YEARS?!)! It took you saying it! But it's good.

[SCIfor55+yrs.]

You are being very reasonable. There are real risks involved in being carried up stairs for both you and your carriers. It is a damned shame people are still so unaware that they have to be asked. Some things have not changed much since the 1950s, that is, people's heads.