ADA Story July 30: Lorraine Woodward
My ADA Story: Remembering Life Before the ADA
By Lorraine Woodward
Lorraine Woodward playing a light green ukulele
Muscular dystrophy is the deterioration of muscles in your body. Surprisingly, it’s not a disease but a category of diseases. There are over 40 different types of muscular dystrophy. I have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and it causes weakness in my arms and my legs. The onset of muscular dystrophy can occur at any age. There is no cure, as it is a deteriorating disease. Thankfully, lots of things have changed over the last 50 to 60 years thanks to great research. I was diagnosed when I was two years old. I have lived with it for 56 years. It’s just a way of life for me. But it’s the quality of life that is important to me.
There can be so many barriers for someone with issues related to mobility. You could be like me and have muscular dystrophy and use a wheelchair or someone who uses crutches or a walker. We experience a lot of barriers related to mobility. Something as simple as not having a curb cut in the sidewalk can create a huge barrier.
For me, I’ve had to deal with a lot of attitudinal barriers, particularly of others looking beyond my wheelchair and seeing me as an individual. For example, I can be at the meat counter in the grocery store. I’m in my wheelchair and the person behind the counter will ask everyone around me what they would like and not really see me. I’m like, “I’ve been here. I’m here.” They don’t see me. So, it’s important for me to use my voice and communicate. I’ll speak up to say, “Yes, I would like two pounds of….” I have to use my voice to be heard and seen.
I think a lot of times when you're in a wheelchair, as I am, my voice is very important. With my voice it is really educating people, as that person behind the counter may not know I’m there because they can't see that I’m there.
I live at Carolina Beach. That was a bit shocking to my two sons who also have muscular dystrophy. They were like, "Mom, why are you building a house at the beach? We can't get on the beach." And I said, "You're right, we can't get on the beach. Not easily." But with the ADA, we have assistive devices that help us access things like the beach. We now have beach mats. They are long mats that are laid over the sand and provide a flat and stable surface for people with mobility issues. It allows me to go on the beach and hang out with my family and my friends. Now, when my seven-year-old friend comes to visit and wants me to build sandcastles with her, I can. I simply roll on the beach mat and can be next to her on the beach. Or, if I just want to watch the birds and listen to the ocean, I can do that, too. Things like accessible beach mats happen by sharing our story with others and exploring ways we can make things more accessible and inclusive.
It's like getting to my favorite ice cream place. There was a curb that got between me and my ice cream. So, I went on to Facebook. I talked to the town manager. I talked to the mayor, and you know what? I can now get to my favorite ice cream place without any trouble because they put a curb cut in the sidewalk. It wasn’t very expensive. Sometimes changes are not made because people simply don’t know they need to be made. They may think, "Gosh, we can't afford that. We don't have the equipment to do that." And sometimes it may be cost prohibitive, and a lot of times it may not be expensive. Often, it’s about creating that awareness and understanding – sharing your story. That scoop of ice cream from my favorite ice cream place was particularly important for me. Ice cream is a great emotional support! I’m a very happy person at Carolina Beach.
I am graphic designer and a communication strategist. I also enjoy painting walking canes. I do a lot of different things. I think that’s true for people with disabilities, too. When I think about people with disabilities and employment, it's important to consider what you want to do as an individual. What are you able to do? What are your skills and your talents? And then, what are those barriers that might get in the way of you to achieve your goals? I remember early on in my career I was interviewing for a job, and I looked at the office I would work in. I couldn't get my wheelchair at the desk. All it required was a few blocks to lift the desk higher so that I could wheel under the desk. It was a simple solution. We often talk about barriers in the workplace. There are lots of things you can do that are zero cost. I knew that because I researched. I knew what I needed.
I once had a project with a large tech company working on small business solutions. I noticed that their target audience likely needed to use glasses and might be dealing with mobility issues – similar issues that I was experiencing as an individual. I went into the project thinking they probably already knew that about their target audience. But, when I started educating them on disabilities, I discovered they never thought of those things. They had never been educated or provided disability awareness training. They were very welcoming and thought I was brilliant! My sharing became an ‘A-ha’ moment for them even though it is simply the way I live my life. You never know what kind of change you can make by simply sharing your story.
My two sons have grown up living inclusive and independent lives, thanks to the ADA. They sometimes get annoyed if a parking space isn’t close to the door of a business. I remember when there were no designated accessible parking spaces at all. They get annoyed if a business doesn’t have accessible, automatic door buttons. I remember having to wait and ask other people to open the door for me.
The ADA has done lots of great things for people with disabilities. We have curb cuts, accessible parking spaces, automatic door openers, and better awareness and standards for employment and so much more. For my boys, it’s a way of life. Their experiences and what they look for is so different from my past experiences and how I look at the world.
I have much gratitude and am so thankful for the ADA.
Quote from Lorraine Woodward:
“I remember life before the ADA. There were no curb cuts on sidewalks, no accessible parking spaces, and no automatic door openers. My life was dependent on other people to help me. The ADA has broken down both physical and attitudinal barriers. I am a mom, a wife, a successful businessperson, and I have muscular dystrophy. I am grateful for the ADA, as it has allowed me to live a full and independently abundant life.”
Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the ADA