Commenting on the media’s coverage of the inauguration, satirical BBC Ouch! columnist Disability Bitch says she hated the disparaging metaphors used to describe former vice president Dick Cheney’s use of a wheelchair. (She also wasn’t happy that Barack Obama didn’t refer to people with disabilities in his speech.)

An excerpt:

Um. Blimey. I was unaware until reading all this that using a mobility aid signified so many disastrous things. There was I thinking that a wheelchair was nothing more than a useful means of getting around when one’s body fails to cooperate with one’s life. Apparently I’ve been wrong all this time, and in fact it signifies total economic meltdown and failure. I stand corrected and have since been looking at all my Abnormal friends in a new light. I’m certainly not going to trust them with my handbag or lend them any money.

To be honest, I’m glad the commentators spelled out what the wheelchair symbolizes. If they hadn’t done so, I would’ve imagined Cheney’s injury represented other things more commonly associated with disabled people. Perhaps that America was incontinent, useless, committing benefit fraud and leeching off the state. Good luck, President Obama.

See also:

Helen Henderson: Injured Cheney spurs negative response – Toronto Star

Earlier posts here and here.

With record crowds expected and unprecedented security in place for today’s inauguration of Barack Obama, the disability community has been raising concerns that lack of access may unnecessarily bar people with impairments from the festivities. (Earlier posts here and here.)

It’s now being reported that at least one of the dignitaries will need special accommodations. According to the Washington Post, Vice President Dick Cheney will be attending the ceremony in a wheelchair.

Cheney was moving into his new house in McLean from the Naval Observatory when he hurt his back moving boxes, according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. Cheney’s doctor has advised him to spend the next few days in a wheelchair.

Current inaugural arrangements for people with disabilities are described in The Hill:

“No exceptions will be made for vehicles on the Capitol carrying people with special disabilities.

Instead, the U.S. Capitol Police plans to use golf carts to shuttle people with disabilities from two drop-off points (South Capitol and E streets; North Capitol and E streets) to the various screening points.”

From Susan LoTempio, writing on the website of the Poynter Institute:

Logistics in Washington are becoming a huge problem for citizens with disabilities who want to be part of the Inauguration Day festivities, and some are concerned that organizers are sending a message that says “don’t come.” Links here and here.

An excerpt from LoTemio’s column:

Exclusion is a fact of life for people with disabilities, and I used to think that inaccessible polling places were the worst form of exclusion because they denied the rights of citizenship.

Access problems at inaugural events take those exclusionary feelings to a whole new level.

… My hope is that reporters covering the inauguration will also take the issue seriously, and find out whether accessibility for the disabled was handled as it should have been, and why.

The non-profit Poynter Institute is a school for journalists, future journalists and teachers of journalists.

See related stories:

• Access problems loom at inauguration (earlier post)
• Accessibility at swearing-in ceremony — Inaugural Committee website
• Inaugural organizers worry disabled may have to stay home — D.C. Examiner

From AP/Los Angeles Times:

People with disabilities are worried about the challenges they may face next Tuesday when President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in, amid warnings of record crowds and unprecedented security measures.

Inaugural planners have stressed that it will be difficult for everyone to get around, with expectations of cold weather and long waits on roads, trains and buses. Organizers say there will be drop-off points with waiting golf carts for people with disabilities, but warn that they’ll probably be difficult to reach because of street closures.

See also:

• Disabled Kansans get rooftop view of inaugural — Wichita Eagle
• Kansans with disabilities invited to inauguration — AP/Lawrence [KS] Journal World
• Cape Codders thrilled to attend inauguration — Cape Cod Times
• Column: ‘Underserved’ get taste of the upper crust — Boston Herald
• Disability community to host first-ever inaugural ball — PR Newswire

(AP photo)