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How accessible is the City of Marquette for the disabled?
Posted: 03.23.2011 at 8:13 PM
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A Universal Design Symposium Wednesday explored the issue
MARQUETTE -- David Boyd of Marquette showed me how difficult, and dangerous, it is for him to maneuver his wheelchair around the cracks and potholes outside the Peter White Library in Marquette.
"The City of Marquette has made a lot of progress in the past number of years, but there's still a long way to go. It's a process," says Boyd.
Also outside of the library, you'll find two garden enclosures, one is wheel chair accessible and the other isn't. This problem could easily go unnoticed to someone who doesn't need to use a wheelchair. That's why Dan Lord of the D.N.R. stressed the importance of Universal Design at Wednesday's symposium.
"This is trying to be inclusive, thinking about bringing in a stakeholder, advocacy groups, people that have disabilities, to be part of discussions and getting them involved from a project perspective," says Lord.
And it seems this is a mindset the city of Marquette is looking to embrace. They're working on an ordinance that requires consideration of all residents in city projects.
The library is looking at ways to improve the garden enclosures; they're hoping to start construction this summer.
And as for David Boyd, he's using his position as Chair of the Marquette Access Group to help get some of the challenges he faces everyday fixed.