The Traveling Wheelchair

Searles Building
41 Pleasant Street
Methuen, MA 01844
Phone: 978-983-8510
http://www.cityofmethuen.net/

On Monday, December 15 my mom, friends and I traveled to Methuen City Hall to meet with J.J. Huggins, Staff Writer and Carl Russo, Staff Photographer for The Eagle-Tribune. I was so excited that it was the big day that the  Methuen City Council was expected to approve a new law that would require all newly constructed buildings that serve the public to install automatic door openers.

We met with J.J. and Carl in the Great Hall at Methuen City Hall and discussed the positive impact this new law would have on the disabled. The Great Hall is the same room that Methuen City Council was to meet later in the evening to vote on the new law. .J.J. notified me the following morning that Methuen City Council ended up tabling their vote on the law.

The Methuen City Council has scheduled a public hearing about the proposed law for Monday, December 22 at 6:30 p.m. They are scheduled to vote on the law this night so if you live in the Methuen area and support this law, you may want to attend !

To read J.J. Huggins full story, “When it comes to access laws, Methuen could be a pioneer – Disability advocates applaud proposed automatic door requirement” published on December 22, 2008 in The Eagle-Tribune you can click on   http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_357000213.html

My friends and I were very impressed with the wheelchair accessibility of the Methuen City Hall.  Methuen City Hall is located in the Searles Building which was once the estate of millionaire Edward Searles who was a successful interior designer. This beautiful, historical mansion is set high up on a hill. As soon as you enter the parking you can take a sharp left where you will find two handicapped parking spaces in front of an automatic door. This entrance is in the rear of the building and takes you to the main floor of City Hall.

The main parking lot, located down a hill and in the front of the building has two handicapped parking spaces that are conveniently located in front of an entry door. This entry door is an automatic door which leads you to the lower level of City Hall. Most people climb the large staircase and enter though the main entry doors.

Once inside this entry door I was intrigued by a brick tunnel that lead my friends and I to huge open double doors that look like old stable doors.  My friends and I were very impressed by the beautiful architecture of this historical mansion and could just imagine that horses once traveled though this tunnel.  The tunnel had side railings on both sides of the walls for disabled to hold onto for added safety and guidance.  It was dimly lit but beautiful.

Once through the open stable doors we entered a huge foyer that had very tall ceilings and a beautiful large crescent hanging on the wall. In this foyer is an elevator with glass doors that take you up a half level so you can gain access to the main level of Methuen City Hall.

Methuen City Hall has an elevator which you can use to access all levels. J.J. took us to the Great Hall, which is the room where the City Council meet and public hearings are held. 

There is a tall podium where people speak.  The podium is surrounded by a half circle of desks where City Council members sit. I, in my Permobil C350 Power Chair drove behind the podium and elevated my seat and imagined giving my speech on the importance of having automatic doors in all public places so all people will have equal access with no barriers. 

My friends, Ric and Tony were sitting at the desks acting as members of City Council and voted to approve this new law.

The Great Hall is very spacious and easy to maneuver my power wheelchair around. The lighting is perfect. There are many windows that are very long and reach to the top of the tall ceiling, bringing in natural light. On the windows there are many “Christmas Stockings hung with care in hopes that St. Nick soon will be here” :)

The halls are all very wide and spacious, as are all the door ways leading into different offices and rooms. The only accessibility problem I found was with the second floor restrooms. These restrooms are not fully wheelchair accessible. The men’s restroom doesn’t have the ADA required safety grab bars on the side and rear wall of the toilet, yet the women’s restrooms has the safety grab bars.  Neither restroom has a wheelchair accessible sink for the sink is on top of a vanity with cabinets underneath blocking wheelchair access.

I give Methuen City Hall FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install the ADA required safety grab bars on the side and rear wall by the toilet in the men’s restroom and install a wheelchair accessible sink in all restrooms. 

I give J.J. Huggins and Carl Russo FIVE STARS for being sensitive, respectful and kind and especially for covering such an important story about the importance of accessibility. Thank you J.J. and Carl :)