Gregory Mansfield

@ghmansfield.bsky.social

Disabled lawyer. Disability Rights and Disability Justice. Email: Gregoryhmansfield at gmail

“You don’t need your wheelchair. We have wheelchairs.” Note to airline carriers, terminals, transportation providers, hospitals, medical providers and all others who need to hear this: Wheelchairs are not interchangeable. Wheelchairs are not one size fits all.

It is a sad commentary on our ableist society that, these days, the only access for disabled people that is prioritized is access for disabled people to die; assisted suicide and medical assistance in dying.

It is coercive for disabled people to be asked over and over again: “Do you want a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order?” Nondisabled people are asked once. Disabled people are asked repeatedly. It is devaluation. It is ableism.

35 years ago 1000 people marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand Congress pass the ADA. Activists left their mobility devices & crawled up the Capitol steps in protest of inaccessible architecture. The ADA was signed into law 4 months later. I honor them today ♿️✊🏽

Then eight-year-old Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins crawling up the stairs with a group of activistsAnother view of the crowd in various locations on the stairs, some being assisted by other people