Accessible Warsaw: WCHS Cross Country Course

Warsaw High School has a lovely cross country course.  At least the part I can see from across the street seems like it must be beautiful.  My daughter's middle school team competed there yesterday, and while she ran very well and achieved a personal record, the accessibility to the area where parents and supporters of the athletes are meant to observe and cheer on the runners, is dismal.

I apologize if the pictures on this blog entry seem far away, but that is the reality for me at a cross country meet at Warsaw High School.

Looking closely, you can see way over across the street the crowd of parents and coaches attending the meet in support of their athletes.  There were multiple teams at the meet last night, and there were bleachers in place for the crowd. Some parents chose not to be in that crowd, and brought their own chairs to sit in the grass. However, interestingly, no one sat as far away as I was forced to sit.  There is a sidewalk near the parking lot, but to cross the street to go to where the course is, there is a dip in the grass, the street, then another dip and a small hill, none of which has any pavement or sidewalk that would provide accessibility for a wheelchair.

I got a great view of this wide new entry that is being  installed for the parking lot (which already has many entrances).  I plan to mention to Dr. Hoffert, the superintendent of Warsaw community schools, that while this construction is underway, common sense would be to also make the observation area of the cross country course ADA compliant.

Up close or far away, I am there to support my kids and their teammates in their activities.  I have to push aside the feeling off being unwelcome when a facility is not compliant with ADA guidelines.  

Gracie Jane knew I was there. She ran her best time ever.  I love to watch her run.  

Warsaw High School: Cross Country Course = *

(one out of five stars for accessibility)

+ ADA parking spots are easy to find in the large parking lot

-no paved area where a wheelchair can cross the grass

-no paved area near the bleachers for ADA seating

- no thought given to athletes who have family members who use mobility aids

Elder Care and Disability

I have gone to two meetings now with an elder care attorney. Today I called and made an appointment to meet with a disability attorney. These are smart meetings for me to be attending. The truth is that if my husband would die, my life gets complicated very quickly. I need a caregiver for all aspects of my life and right now my two main caregivers are my husband and my mother-in-law. I need a caregiver to help me be clean, dressed, and presentable in the power chair so that I can effectively parent my kids. Now more than ever, parenting is my priority. Take away the caregiver and I could be a pee soaked helpless lump.

So. To the attorneys we go. First I will need to apply for disability, then apply for a Medicaid waiver. A Medicaid waiver would pay for many hours a week of in-home caregiving for me. My mother-in-law, a retired RN, has been helping me for two years. She is a wonderful and kind person. It's a lot though, to have so much one-on-one time with my mother-in-law. Boundaries have become blurry.

Applying for disability and a Medicaid waiver is so much work. A lot of paper gathering and document producing; basically jumping through hoops. It's a big chore for anybody, but the majority of people are older and not in the prime of business ownership and raising children.

Also, all of our assets now have to be in only my husband's name. Everything. I know that it is only on paper, but it does feel a bit like I'm being stripped of a lot of things that I have spent the past 20 years working for. We have always been equals, joint bank accounts, joint ownership of everything. This is a tough hoop to jump through.

I have already learned a lot through this process. I'm confident that at the end of it all, it will have been worth it for the security and peace of mind that it will offer.  But it also goes on my list of one more crappy thing multiple sclerosis has brought to my life.