I haven’t posted anything here for some time, but I’m back. Today I am announcing that I am slightly changing the direction of this blog.
I have struggled over the years with both
overt discrimination and also just simply being treated as an afterthought.
Over the past couple of years, I have realized more than ever that I need to be
willing to advocate for myself. I also know that when I do I am advocating for
people like me as well.
With this in mind, I am
formally launching an initiative that will use this blog (and
hopefully a new YouTube channel) to shed light on accessibility challenges
throughout West Michigan and elsewhere.
This will be done
primarily through a two-pronged approach:
1) I will praise
businesses and other public places that get access right.
2) I will
constructively criticize businesses and other public places that get access
wrong.
I look forward to doing
this in a fun and engaging way and I’m open to anyone's suggestions to make it something you would actually engage with.
The other thing I am
going to do Lord willing, is offer myself as a Disability Awareness Consultant
for businesses as they are remodeling. It is far better to get advice from
someone who is actually disabled when you are building than to get criticism after
the fact.
I have done extensive
research on this topic and have found that there is no formal licensure for
people to consult in this crucial area. That being said, I do have almost 44
years of experience as a disabled man, so you’d be hard-pressed to find someone with more experience and insight than myself. If you know of
anyone interested in hiring me to assist them with a project of
this nature please let me know. I am just starting out so I’m not sure where to
begin.
As with all of my ventures,
my primary goal will be the glorify the Lord Jesus and to love people. That’s
what life is all about!
Thanks for joining me
on this adventure,
Andrew
