When it comes to accessibility, even the best-laid plans can go awry
We did everything right but still faced a logistical nightmare
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On May 1, my daughter Jill graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a master’s degree in public policy and management. She also received the department’s student achievement award and was the student commencement speaker.
Earning this degree took quite an effort, as she simultaneously worked full time as director of the Bureau of Policy, Planning, and Program Development at Pennsylvania’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Jill wanted the entire family to attend the commencement ceremony, including me, so she and my wife, Wendy, checked into how accessible the event would be. We didn’t want any surprises, given the challenges I face due to facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).
‘Leave it better than you found it’
The commencement was held at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, a historic landmark adjacent to the university. Wendy contacted the hall to check on accessibility. We hoped there would be handicapped parking close to the facility.
She and Jill then drove to the hall to check things out in person. They spoke with an employee at the parking facility who recommended we arrive early. That person then showed Wendy where to drop me off near an accessible entrance. She’d then have to pull our van into the garage to park. After graduation, she could retrieve the van and pick me up. While it wasn’t ideal, it was workable.
As with many things, the best-laid plans don’t always work out perfectly. Graduation day turned out to be a rainy one, as the weather alternated between a drizzle and a downpour. It was also “move out” day for Pitt students. A number of streets, including the one we needed to use to access my drop-off location, were blocked off. We arrived an hour before the graduation, but a campus police officer manning the barricade refused to allow us to go through. He suggested we drive a few blocks, then turn right to access the parking lot from the rear.
There were traffic snags everywhere, so we knew the detour would put us behind schedule, despite having allowed extra time to get to the graduation.
We followed the officer’s directions, but unfortunately, the street he told us to use was blocked off for construction. GPS wasn’t especially helpful, either. It wanted us to backtrack into the worst of the congestion to take us back to the same spot where the police officer had refused us entry.
Wendy was driving. Ignoring the GPS, she turned a few streets later. Fortunately, the street she chose worked and we eventually found the rear entrance to the parking lot, where it appeared that another police officer was going to refuse us entry.
Jill explained our situation and said that she was now 15 minutes late for her commencement. The officer relented and allowed us to access the parking lot.
Wendy found a parking spot and got me into the building. She decided to leave our van in what was supposed to be an employee-only parking lot instead of taking it to the garage and walking back through the rain, which was coming down heavily at that point. I think a part of her wanted one of the campus police officers to give us a ticket so she could give them a piece of her mind on the subject of accessibility.
My daughter Nicole and her family, as well as my son Ryan and his crew were able to attend the commencement. We all listened as Jill gave an excellent address entitled “Leave it better than you found it.” The entire activity was a success, and I shed some tears of joy and pride over Jill’s accomplishments.
We had planned to allow about a half hour to take my grandkids — Iva Jane, Julia, and Theo — to a playground where they could let off some steam after sitting through the ceremony, before proceeding to celebrate at a restaurant where we had reservations. Unfortunately, the weather just didn’t cooperate. The rain was really coming down when we exited the hall. Fortunately, the restaurant was ready for us when we arrived half an hour early. Sharing a good meal was the perfect way to end Jill’s special day.
FSHD and my other challenges make it harder every day to get around the house and into a vehicle to go to family events, church, and other activities. Most of the time, it would be a lot easier to just stay home, but if I chose that path, I’d miss out on family celebrations and other special occasions. It’s worth continuing to adapt and adjust to make things possible, if not necessarily easier. I want to do this for as long as I can, experiencing the joy of these special moments and, hopefully, creating lasting memories that I’ll leave behind for my family and friends.
Note: Muscular Dystrophy News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.
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