Intolerance experience today

[csgray]

After spending a couple of months in a wheelchair I can attest to the fact that compliance with ADA is inconsistent at best in Hawaii, and in my case we are talking about an obvious physical disability, but access to public facilities and services is frequently difficult and not in compliance with ADA.

It is my perception that some people are even more uncomfortable with developmental disabilities, particularly the generation who was raised and educated before developmentally disabled children were mainstreamed into public school classrooms instead of being sent off to "special" classrooms away from everyone else. My brother in law takes his father who has dementia out with him a lot to give his mom a little respite, and runs into similar issues. A little tolerance goes a long way when we encounter people with developmental or cognitive disabilities, it really isn't that hard to overlook behaviors that are a little bit out of the norm, and understand that caregivers are usually doing the best they can in a difficult situation. Any of us could end up needing that kind of patience when we get old, we should extend it to young and old alike so they can participate in society to the greatest degree possible.

Carol