We want to challenge businesses and organizations to consider all patrons in the planning and building process, not just those who drive. According to the 2012 U.S. Census, roughly 19 percent of the 317 million persons of the U.S. population has at least one disability. As well as 31 percent of those people report having transportation issues. According to a publication by the Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Disability in America that is. What these numbers tell us is that if those 31 percent want to shop they must rely on friends, public transportation, or walk to a particular shopping area.
It is the persons who ride the bus or walk that need to use crosswalks. Let me explain. if I take the bus to go shopping and I finish at one store but my next stop is across a busy street or in some cases a highway, I have to wait on and then pay full fair for a bus ride across that street. Now, if I walk, I have to brave the dangerous and busy traffic just to cross to the next store or organization. If I am using a scooter or wheelchair I am in real trouble trying to cross the street that does not have a crosswalk. Ask yourself if this kind of compromise is freedom. We here at Consideration's Way do not think compromising on safety or equal access is freedom.
Well, there you have it internet. All Consideration's Way wants to do is make sure that the 31 percent or 186,713 disabled Americans have the same freedom to shop as every other American shoppers.
Sources
Census.gov: World Population Clock
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Disability in
America; Field MJ, Jette AM, editors.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2007.
