The Buzzz April, 2009

Tuesday's Inauguration the Most Accessible for People with Disabilities in History

On January 20, 2009, when we celebrate the swearing in of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, whether watching on a television from the living room couch, or using a lap top to view the ceremony and parade streaming over the internet, or standing on the fabled Mall in Washington, DC, or being lucky enough to have a ticket that entitles us to a seat at the ceremony at the Capitol, every one of us can expect to participate in the most inclusive and accessible inaugural events in history. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), and staff members of the offices of Congressional Accessibility Services, and countless advocates for the rights and needs of people with disabilities, there is an abundance of advice for people who plan to attend the ceremonies and parade on January 20, and information about what you can expect in the way of accessibility, restrictions, and special arrangements, well in advance of your arrival on the Mall. Highlights of the plans for making the events as accessible to people with disabilities as possible include:

All entrances to the ceremony are accessible. Signs will be posted to indicate which areas have been designated as accessible entrances, where sign-language interpreters will be available, and the locations of restrooms, including accessible facilities.

Recorded voice information: Access recordings at 202.228.4072..

Two drop off locations for people whose vehicles are identified with special disability license plates or tags, one at South Capitol and E Street and A second at North Capitol and E Street. Note that no vehicular access or parking will be permitted in the areas around the Capitol on January 20. The U. S. Capitol police are expected to run accessible golf carts from those drop-off locations, to provide rides to the various screening points through which people must pass.

Staff from the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services will be stationed at all designated accessible seating and standing areas to provide assistance. Movement will be difficult inside the security perimeter. Be prepared to stay within the perimeter and within your ticketed section for the duration of the festivities.

People who use wheelchairs or walkers should know in advance that they will probably need to move across bumpy surfaces, grassy areas, and ice and/or snow, depending on the weather. (It's 7 degrees, F., outside my house in a DC suburb, as I write this, on the evening of January 16. If you're heading for the Mall on the 20th, dress in layers, and bundle up!

Sign language interpretation, closed captioning, and audio-description will be available. Sign Language Interpreters will be located at designated positions within each ticketed section, with the exception of the Mall Standing Area. Jumbo-trons (large television screens) with open captioning, will be positioned on the Capitol Plaza and within the Mall Standing Area. There will be a reserved area for people with visual impairment who wish to take advantage of audio description services. Audio description of non-speaking portions of the program will be offered through headphones, which will be distributed to people seated in the designated area(s).

Emergency Medical Teams will be available to help with any medical emergencies. However, you are encouraged to bring along any medications that you need because you can expect very long delays getting to and from events.

For additional information about permitted items for medical purposes (e.g. insulin syringes),contact the U.S. Capitol Police at 202.512.1226.

The Swearing-in Ceremony is an outdoor event held on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Inauguration day is typically cold-normally 37° F at noon-and occasionally wet. Extra consideration should be given to whether or not it is advisable to bring infants, young children, the elderly, or anyone with a weakened immune system. A vast majority of attendees will be in standing room sections and should be prepared to be on their feet for several hours.

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

• Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated)
• Explosives of any kind (including fireworks)
• Knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length)
• Mace and/or pepper spray
• Sticks or poles
• Pocket or hand tools, such as "Leatherman"
• Packages
• Backpacks
• Large bags
• Duffel bags
• Suitcases
• Thermoses
• Coolers
• Strollers
• Umbrellas
• Laser pointers
• Signs
• Posters
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Alcoholic beverages

Other items that may pose a threat to the security of the event as determined by and at the discretion of the security screeners.

If you are a person with a disability who attends the inaugural events, I hope you will write to Penny for Your Thoughts, so I can vicariously share in your experiences on that historic day. A year ago, when I was shopping at the January winter sales, I found, and bought silk long underwear at a fantastic price. I bought it, I explained to my sister who was shopping with me, so I would be prepared to attend the inauguration if my chosen candidate should win the election. He did win, and I am still celebrating! But, when commentators and planners began talking about an attendance of possibly as many as four million people, I lost my nerve. Thinking about myself and my guide dog on the Metro platforms with that many people, I just don't think it is a wise, or a safe way for me to celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration. So, I'm making a big pot of chili in the crock pot (According to the internet, chili is one of Barack's favorites!), and celebrating in front of the tube!

It will be lots warmer, that's for sure. I'll be able to hear every word of Barack's first address to the nation as president. And, I'll know who's there, possibly what they're wearing, who's speaking, who's laughing, and who's shedding tears of joy and excitement, because the inaugural events will be video-described.

According to Mary Watkins of the Media Access Group at the WGBH Educational Foundation in Boston, the Media Access Group will be providing video description and live captioning for PBS's coverage of the inaugural events on January 20. A described version of the coverage will also stream live on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) web site.  The PBS coverage of the inauguration airs live on Tuesday, January 20 from 11AM to 1:30PM EST. While details from the inaugural planning committee are still forthcoming, PBS plans to include coverage of Barack Obama's arrival at the White House, excerpts of the church service and Barack Obama's speech to the nation from the Capitol steps. Hosted by Jim Lehrer of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, the PBS presentation will feature political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks, as well as a panel to provide historical context.

Director of the Media Access Group, Larry Goldberg, says, ""WGBH is proud to take part in making this historic event fully accessible to all PBS viewers once again. And we're extremely grateful to PBS, the team at MacNeil/Lehrer Productions and to corporate sponsor of the live description Dunkin' Donuts for the opportunity to bring not only the audio of the inaugural coverage to deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans, but also the visual highlights of the occasion to those who are blind or visually impaired."

(Thanks WGBH, thanks PBS, and thanks, Dunkin'!)

And, according to a late-breaking news release from the American Council of the Blind (ACB), the American Broadcasting Corporation's television network (ABC-TV) will also be providing audio-description of inaugural events, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on January 20th. According to Melanie Brunson, Executive Director of ACB, "This marks the first time that a commercial network has provided live audio description access to an inauguration, for the benefit of its blind and low vision audience. ABC will make its SAP (Secondary Audio Program) channel available for people who wish to hear descriptions woven into the pauses in its regular audio commentary.  The descriptive audio will only be available when viewers choose the SAP channel audio stream and only on standard definition broadcasts.

Thanks ACB, and ABC! I'm happy to tune in, on my cable TV, and hey, I can even watch the parade!

Isn't it amazing: In our lifetime, we are celebrating the election of America's first African-American president, a man who inspires so many of us with his candor, his intelligence, his message of hope and promise of change! Whether or not you are there with the millions, attending the inaugural events live and in person, or you, like I, are curled up on your couch in front of the computer or the tv, whether or not you are able-bodied, or you have a disability, we can all celebrate together, at one of the most accessible and awe inspiring events of our lifetimes.