Summertime and the living is not

Many of us who live with disabilities have a love/hate relationship with summer. Those whose disabilities are impacted by winter’s cold and icy conditions welcome the chance to be outdoors more. It’s great to be able to be outside and not worry about a slip and fall on ice. Those of us who use chairs or other mobility devices don’t miss wheeling through the snow.

Many of us do struggle with the need to stay cool. But while we cannot change the weather, there are issues we’d like to see addressed. Call it our summer sidewalks wish list, with three wishes to help us get around.

Our first wish is to coexist with sidewalk cafes. Outdoor dining is in full swing in many places. Enjoying a meal or cup of coffee outdoors is one of our summer pleasures.

What’s not a pleasure is trying to navigate a sidewalk where tables and chairs block the path. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the minimum clear width for single wheelchair passage shall be 32 inches (815 mm). That has to be maintained continuously, to enable someone to get through.

And that is a minimum. We know there are wider wheelchairs out there that wouldn’t be able to clear such a tight space. And single clearance means friends and caregivers travel single file, not side by side.

As coffee shop and restaurant patrons move tables and chairs around, compliance is not always the case. It can be difficult but not impossible for wheelchairs to get through some busy restaurant districts as every single establishment has to have its tables and chairs out.

Asking for compliance can be met with pushback. After all, patrons have paid to enjoy their meals. But compliance is not an option and it’s up to businesses to comply. Even marking a sidewalk with chalk or tape could be helpful, so that staff and patrons