The Traveling Wheelchair

Fenway Park
1Yawkey Way
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-226-6666
http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/

Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-863-8000
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/group/OrganizingForAmerica

As a member of the DSC Disabilities Outreach Committee, Ben Schwartz, Co-Chair kindly invited me to be his guest at The Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America reception with Vice President Joseph Biden on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Fenway Park. Ben helped organize this special event.

I proudly accepted Ben’s invitation and was thrilled to attend with my mom, Ric and Tony. “Organizing For America (OFA) is the Democratic National Committee-run offshoot of President Obama’s campaign. OFA’s mission is to get Obama supporters to engage in grassroots lobbying campaigns to back his major goals of health care, energy, and education reform.”

I heard about ‘Organizing For America’ at Massachusetts Democratic State Convention at MassMutual Center I attended in early June and was thrilled to attend this event.

The reception was scheduled to be held on the right field roof deck; we were advised to enter Fenway Park at Gate B located on Van Ness Street. We parked in a handicap parking space located in a parking lot right across the street from Gate B for a cost of $10. Once we got to Gate B we were told the event was moved inside because of rain and we were to enter at Gate E which is located on Lansdowne Street.

It was quite a distance wheeling from Gate B to Gate E. The sidewalks surrounding Fenway Park are plenty wide enough for my chair. The entry door at Gate E is very big and was wide open when we first arrived. Upon entering, we gave our names and received a name tag to place on our shirts. We then entered a security check point; the frame of my wheelchair is metal and always sets off the metal detector; secret service security agents were very nice to me when they thoroughly checked my wheelchair and bags.

Once through security, I was warmly greeted by Melody Adams, a very nice member of the Democratic National Committee; she told me that she has been a member of the DNC for a few years and spent two years campaigning for President Barack Obama. She kindly showed me to the elevator.

The elevator at Fenway Park is spacious with plenty of room for me in my chair, my mom, friends and others. We arrived on level 2 where the reception was being held. Located by the elevator are the Men’s and Women’s restrooms. Both are spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant.

The view of the field of Fenway Park was great from the level 2 area of the reception. I went to a Red Sox game in April of last year but haven’t been able to get seats for a game this year. A very nice security guard told us all about the new renovations to the park. The renovations improved upon ACCESSIBILIY!

1. All seats were removed from Section 27 to Section 9
2. The cement floor was waterproofed
3. New wider seats were placed
4. The new wider seats are spring activated
5. The aisles were widened
6. The slope of the aisles were lessened

The reception area was spacious with plenty of room for me to maneuver in my Permobil C350 Power Chair. I kept the seat of my chair elevated the entire time and enjoyed being at eye level with all the guests. I think I was the only guest seated in a wheelchair so I’m glad I brought my power chair. The tables were all of a good height; soft drinks, beer and wine were available at a table/bar. Nice waitresses passed around delicious mini Fenway Ball Park hot dogs, mini hamburgers and cheese balls. I met many nice people. I especially enjoyed meeting Sonya Dunne of the Summer Organizing Program for ‘Organizing For America’.

I was very happy to see Senator Marc Pacheco. I also had the pleasure of once again meeting Nancy, a member of the Massachusetts Democratic Committee. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Senator Pacheco for many years and feel very grateful that he is my State Senator for he has always supported the rights of the disabled!

After I was injured in an auto accident in May of 2008, my State Senator Marc Pacheco and my State Representative Steve Canessa  discovered there is NO specific law in the state of Massachusetts dealing with wheelchair transportation safety. In January of 2009, Senator Pacheco and Representative Canessa filed Senate 1948 and House 3785: “An Act relative to the transportation of individuals seated in wheelchairs”. Passage of this legislation in the state of Massachusetts would ensure that us wheelchair-seated travelers our as safe as all other citizens traveling in vehicles.  

After socializing for a while, it was time for Vice President Joseph Biden to speak. I last heard Vice President Biden speak at the 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama. I loved hearing what he had to say but was seated so far away at the Inauguration that I didn’t get to see him close up. I was thrilled to be able to get a good view while he spoke at this event.

Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Tom Menino graciously welcomed Vice President Biden to Boston! Governor Patrick gave Vice President Biden a Boston Red Sox jersey!! I was very impressed with the enthusiastic speech given by Vice President Biden. He said the Obama Administration has had a lot on their plate and doing ALL they can to help with the Economy; Education; Healthcare Reform; Ending the Iraq War; plus more.

Vice President Biden said the loss of jobs in America is less then what was originally predicted; yet too many Americans are ‘out or work’ and unemployment is weighing heavy on many Americans. He is very empathetic, honest, understanding and down to earth.

Vice President Biden said:

1. When your neighbor loses their job, you think the economy must be getting worse
2. When your brother-in-law loses his job, you think there is a recession
3. When you lose your job, you know there is a depression.

Vice President Biden spoke of the high cost of Healthcare and need for reform.

Vice President Biden spoke about creating more jobs and stimulating the economy.

Vice President Biden spoke about the importance of Education

Americans getting involved in Organizing For America can help.

After listening to Vice President Biden’s wonderful and uplifting speech, my mom, Ric and I headed out. Tony went to get our van that was parked by Gate E while Ric, my mom and I waited on the sidewalk outside of Gate B.

Many Boston Police were stationed outside Fenway Park for added security. They were all very kind and courteous to me while I waited for Tony. Tony pulled up in our van. We noticed the only wheelchair access to the street was located at either end of the sidewalk; which would have meant I would have had to wheel a long distance on the street to get to our van.

NEED NOT FEAR WHEN THE BOSTON POLICE ARE NEAR! The Boston Police Officers kindly offered to stop traffic on Lansdown Street and let Tony back our van close to the sidewalk so he could pull the wheelchair ramp onto the sidewalk which allowed me to safely wheel right into our van! I felt like a V.I. P :>) Thank you to the Boston Police Officers who helped me :>)

I give Fenway Park FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility!

I give the Democratic National Committee, ‘Organizing For America’, Vice President Joseph Biden and President Barack Obama FIVE STARS for helping to make the world more sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all.

I give my friend, Ben Schwartz FIVE STARS for helping to organize this wonderful event and for inviting me!

And I give the Boston Police Officers FIVE STARS PLUS for helping to get me safely back into my van :>)