Wheelchair access, or Image is everything.

There was an interesting discussion last night at the annual general meeting of owners of our condominium. The matter of wheelchair access was raised, as it has been before, this time by one of the owners who is temporarily disabled by an orthopedic problem for which she is awaiting corrective surgery. The president and treasurer said that it would be very expensive to make the necessary alterations to install a ramp or an elevator to permit wheelchair access through the front entrance where three shallow steps, a level landing then four more shallow steps, present an insuperable obstacle to wheelchairs. The chairman pulled from thin air a grossly exaggerated cost figure and the treasurer said an elevator from the outer to the inner lobby would destroy the 'esthetics' of our lobby. I am not alone in thinking the lobby is quite ugly now, and that either an elevator or a ramp would not make it any uglier. The issue of human rights was raised by one owner, but regrettably was not pursued. Those opposed to any change insisted that access down the ramp to the garage and through the corridor from the garage to the lower ground floor will suffice. I would love to watch one of them do this and see for themselves how difficult it is. It is also demeaning, like separate entrances for blacks and whites in the bad old days. I think the opponents of improved wheelchair access are out of touch with the times: it is universally accepted in all civilized countries now that all public buildings must be wheelchair accessible, and those built before rules were in place must be modified to make them accessible. I believe modifications to accord with 21st century standards would raise, not lower, the value of our investment in this condominium. I hope this will all be discussed again soon, if necessary at a special general meeting.