Local Santa Clara County Creates Office of Disability Affairs to Improve Accessibility
sanjoseJune 23, 2021
At the beginning of the pandemic, Michele Mashburn noticed that he was operating a pink electric wheelchair around the Covid-19 test site, which was blocking the only wheelchair-accessible entrance in his medical center.
She was worried about the increased risk of getting sick, interweaving crowded areas with people suspected of having a respiratory infection. Mashburn, director of the San Jose Peace Justice Center and the Greens of Santa Clara County Councilor, lost his choice and eventually filed a federal complaint on the matter.
Instead of changing the layout of the test site a few weeks later, she was surprised at about the same time her complaint was marked “solved” when the organizers set off with their luggage packed together.
As the worst of the pandemic recedes, Mashburn is one of those who are trying to push another mission, especially elected officials, education and business leaders accepting the reopening of the region in search of “normality”. Therefore, we are asking the government to reassess how access for persons with disabilities is considered.
“In the early days of the pandemic, telecommuting accommodation was what people with disabilities [...]