The Traveling Wheelchair

The Enterprise
Alice C. Elwell
Enterprise Correspondent
1324 Belmont St., Unit 102
Brockton, MA 02301
Phone: 508-586-6200
Website: http://www.enterprisenews.com/

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Alice Elwell, a writer for The Enterprise. Alice told me that she and the Editor of The Enterprise had been reading my website; she would like to write a story about me advocating for access for persons with disability for the Thanksgiving edition of The Enterprise. I felt honored!

My mom, Ric, Amanda and I met Alice for lunch at Flat Iron Cafe in Middleborough. It was a place I chose to meet because for many years when it was Farrar’s it was not accessible to me. After Farrar’s closed, Flat Iron Café opened and the owners made it fully accessible by placing some ramps inside which provide wheelchair access. I think the owners of the Flat Iron Café are wonderful because they cared enough to make their restaurant accessible to all customers.

I was really impressed with Alice’s kindness, sensitivity and understanding. Alice took the time to get to know me. She kindly and patiently took the time to listen to me when I spoke or watch  me write the words I spelled out. She also took the time to listen to me, my mom and friends speak about the importance of accessibility for all persons. We also spoke about the fantastic work Mark Belanger, Middleboro Gazette Columnist and Blogger of NEMASKET.NET  has done to encourage local businesses to make their place more accessible to persons with a disability.

Alice asked me if I am an ‘activist’. I never thought of myself as an ‘activist’ but then said I guess I’m an activist for Access for the Disabled like Ace Ventura was an activist for Animal Rights in the movies, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Pet Detective.

I also got to meet Tim Correira, photographer for The Enterprise. Tim was really nice and very kind just like Alice and we all had some laughs. Alice sent me a picture Tim took of my mom and I that we placed in this blog.

I hope Alice’s story will help the public to realize how very important it is for all citizens to have full and equal access to all public places! If there were more people in the world like Alice Elwell and Mark Belanger, then our world would be a better place for all :>)

You can read Alice’s story by clicking on “CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: Middleboro activist fights for handicapped access” By Alice C. Elwell / The Enterprise /November 25, 2009

Alice Elwell and the Editor for The Enterprise deserve FIVE STARS for helping “to make the world more sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all.” Thank you Alice! And Mark Belanger also deserves FIVE STARS for for helping “to make the world more sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all.” Thank you Mark!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!