May 25-28
To celebrate Justin’s high school graduation, we are on a wheelchair van road trip with the first stop in Memphis.
Traveling with Justin can be a lot of fun but sometimes also very
frustrating. We had trouble finding accessible accommodations in every
city stop on this trip.
Julia booked us at the Hilton. When we arrived, we discovered that
all of the handicapped rooms were in the basement/parking level.
Our room was accessible for perhaps an older person who could walk
but needed a rail support for the toilet or bath. However, we had asked
for a wheelchair accessible bathroom with roll in shower. The bathtub,
narrow door and tight spaces didn’t work.
An hour later. We were settled into a room that worked. It was
located in the very back of the basement floor next to the staff break
room door. But it worked.
The pool had a lift for disabled people but could only be reached by
negotiating a flight of stairs. We asked how a power wheelchair user
could access the pool. Each employee we asked looked at us like we were
aliens. No one knew.
This is often business as usual for wheelchair consumers in our
country. Things are better with the ADA (Americans with Disability Act).
But we have a long ways to go with regard to access and respect. It
isn’t as though our room was cheaper.
Think for a moment how races or genders would feel about being
segregated in hotel basements or restaurant side rooms. Or ushered into
the back room or freight elevator representing the handicapped entrance.
We were pretty tired when we finally got settled into our room and got unpacked. Still, we had time for some Memphis barbecue.
On Saturday, Julia and Justin toured the Civil Rights Museum while I
took a long stroll to downtown, Beale Street, and the riverfront. I
ended up drinking a 201 Poplar IPA at Earnestine’s and Hazel’s.
We met up for an afternoon stroll around downtown, stopping for
gyros, and listening to music at a riverfront festival. On Saturday
night, we dined on delicious fried catfish at the Soulfish Kitchen,
along with sides of fried okra and collard greens.
On Sunday, we returned downtown and toured Old Dominick Distillery.
Our guide did a great job, and the location provided excellent
accessibility for Justin who enjoyed it all including fresh squeezed
lemonade at the end of the tour. Julia and I sampled some of the
distilled stuff.
Sunday evening, we ate burgers at Huey’s and listened to live music.
Although it was crowded, staff did a great job of finding us a table and
creating a path to get there. Food, service, and music were awesome!
Next–Nashville.
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