The Traveling Wheelchair

Nationals Park
1500 South Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone:  202.675-6287
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/

After traveling all day on the train; checking into our hotel room; having dinner at Bin 1700; we then headed to Nationals Park to attend the Massachusetts Democratic Inaugural Presidential Party last night. Congressman Barney Frank’s very nice District Representative, Lisa Lowney gave my friends and me four tickets for this special event.

I will be forever grateful to Representative Steve Canessa and Congressman Barney Frank for thinking to give me tickets so I could attend the exciting and historical Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

I’ve supported Barack Obama throughout the presidential campaign because I like how he advocates for people with disabilities and also wants to help create a barrier-free world. I believe that Barack Obama will help to make the world more sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all. I love Barack Obama’s Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities .

Nationals Park is home of the  Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball and is fully wheelchair accessible.

Entering Nationals Park reminded me of a smaller version of our Fenway Park in Boston. Once we entered, a very nice security person guided us to a place where we gave our names to verify we had been authorized tickets. The place was indoors and fully wheelchair accessible with automatic doors, wonderful restrooms that are all fully ADA compliant. It was well lit and very spacious and easy to get around.

We were then pointed in the direction of the party. As soon as my friends and I walked into the room that the party was held, I saw my good friend Dr. Jean McGuire, Assistant Secretary, Disability Policies and Programs of EOHHS. She picked me out from the crowd of people to come and say hello. I was very excited to see her. She then told us that she just saw our Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and told us where we could find him.

We then headed to the Presidential Suite of the Ball Park, hoping to once again meet Governor Deval Patrick. I had previously met Governor Patrick in April of 2008 at a function for Representative Steve Canessa at Century House.With so many people around, we searched and searched until finally we came across a group of people swarmed around the Governor.  In order to speak with Governor Patrick we first had to speak with one of his security persons. As soon as I told him that I wanted to speak with the Governor, they kindly cleared a path for me to get to Governor Patrick. It was great to see Governor Patrick again.

I was especially happy that he remembered meeting me in April. My friends and I told Governor Patrick of the work I’ve been doing on my website,  The Traveling Wheelchair with advocating for accessibility for all disabled citizens and advocating for legislation to ensure W/C Passenger Safety. We also told him that we are very excited that Representative Steve Canessa and Senator Marc Pacheco recently filed new legislation in MA Senate and House titled: “An Act relative to the transportation of individuals seated in wheelchairs”. The legislation doesn’t yet have a bill number assigned to it but it should very soon.

We then had the great pleasure of seeing my friend and State Senator Marc Pacheco ! I have known Senator Pacheco for many years and feel grateful that he is my State Senator for he has always supported the rights of the disabled!

The party went on for quite awhile throughout the night, as we danced and mingled with various people. We then headed back to our hotel on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (METRO), which is very wheelchair accessible.

I give Nationals Park FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility and I give The Massachusetts Democratic Party FIVE STARS for helping to make the world more sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all!