 ADAPT Arrives in the
Nations Capitol for the 2001 Spring Action
The ADAPT Chapter from Memphis Tennessee flies into Washington DC to meet groups from Atlanta, Utah, Texas, Ohio and many other states from all across the U.S. Groups use every kind of transportation to gather for action.
Eventually it all comes together at the Holiday Inn Capitol on C Street. In the lobby Stephanie Thomas a leader of the national group assumes her
temporary role of a desk clerk - everyone checks in through her - she somehow makes order out of the pandemonium.
The groups that fly into Washington report similar grim experiences as the advocates from Memphis. Nationally, it still remains a mystery to most airlines how to properly and efficiently handle a wheelchair. Airlines remove the person that knows most about handling the wheelchair from the wheelchair. This often begins a comical process of how to make a simple task difficult.
Although wheelchair users are asked to get to the airport earlier than other passengers - this request is because the airline does not prepare to provide reasonable or similar access. The fact is that it does not take a wheelchair user any longer to board the plane with the proper assistance.
At the terminal there are a half dozen uniformed police. I think that it is a little early for arrests. I get past the cops and realize that they are in dress uniforms for some special event. A police officer tells me that this is the annual Police memorial week and they are at the airport to escort families of survivors. Many wear black bands on their badges.
In the lobby, veterans meet each other and introduce the new members from the different groups. Most people play catch-up, and tell their "war stories" from
local actions since the last time ADAPT
got together.
- Tim Wheat
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