March 1994

"Barrier Free Day" --

Anachronistic, Accommodationist, or Reasonable Alternative?

"The inclusion of this particular article seems to validate a position on accessibility which is at best anachronistic, at the worst accommodationist. I am concerned that TAP's reprinting this article implies approval of such messages. I hope that is not the case..."

On the same topic, Marian S. Vessels, Executive Director of the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities provided the following counterpoint.

Editor: The Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD) fully supports removal of all architectural barriers to provide for full access to all citizens with disabilities. The article reprinted from the Salisbury Times in the Tapping Technology Newsletter focused primarily on non-structural methods of accommodation. The Salisbury Access Day demonstrated that existing facilities can be effectively renovated to provide full access. The Committee will continue to encourage all businesses to provide for full inclusion for citizens with disabilities. TT: It is the policy of TT to report on organizations, activities and issues of importance to persons with disabilities affecting us in the state of Maryland. We do not endorse products nor services. Our intent is to offer an open forum to keep readers informed, and to facilitate systems change in ways which assure consumer input. The editors recognize a wide spectrum of means available to achieve objectives such as access to buildings and services. The article was chosen because we felt it to be an important topic, and illustrative of one approach taken by a significant segment of the business community on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

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