By Elaine Carlson

I was pleased when I read "Local ACLU Chapter, Town of Silver City, Partner to Continue Accessibility Improvements in Historic Downtown," in this "Grant County Beat" (Local News Releases/June 16, 2021).

I am physically disabled because of a serious injury I had when I was 24 way back in 1973. So, I am one of the people who will benefit from the coming accessibility improvements.

I have lived here for thirteen years and in that time I have had a few accessibility issues when I have been out walking. Still, I think Silver City is a great place for a disabled person. I will deal with my problems first.

In 2010 I decided to embark on a fitness program. I was sure if I were to walk every day it would not be long before I would become physically fit. For my first walk I decided to go from the "Red Barn" to the "Billy Casper Wellness Center" on Silver Heights Boulevard.

I just looked up that route. "Google Maps" have it down as a .4 mile and a seven-minute walk. But it didn't turn out to be a leisurely stroll. It should take me fifteen minutes to do a seven-minute walk but that one took longer.

I had a rough time because the sidewalks were often broken up and it was hard to go through, or around, the irregular patches of dirt and rock. And there weren't smooth transitions from the sidewalks to the streets. The city doesn't need to put in ramps at street corners but a smooth bit of pavement to the road would make things a lot better.

At the end I am sure I looked very disabled as I was crossing 16th Street to get to "Billy Casper." I say that because a man stopped and parked his pickup and came over to help me get across the street. After we got to the other side, he helped me step up onto the sidewalk. I thanked him.

More recently six or seven cars were stopped when I was walking down Silver Heights Boulevard and attempting to cross North Gold when another man stopped and parked his pickup. He walked over to me and guided me across the street. Both times I thought of the "Beatles" song "I get by with a little help from my friends."

Once I was startled when I was at the same spot trying to cross Silver Heights when it seemed like the whole "Silver City Police Department" came up to me. There were just five or six cops but at the time it felt like there were a lot more of them. I got defensive and said I wasn't doing anything illegal.

One of the officers said they were worried about my safety. I was a little confused and not sure what to say. I ended up saying I was just trying to get across the street. Later I wished I had thanked them for their concern.

I am sure the fact that I have a rough time getting where I want to go has more to do with the nature of my handicap than anything to do with the condition of the road. Even if there were the right number of, and perfect, accommodations there would still be people who wouldn't be able to go outside or do something as simple as crossing a street because they have disabilities.

I should admit it really isn't all that big a deal that I can't walk on Silver Heights Boulevard. There are so many other good places to walk in Silver City.

For instance, a few good walks are from the beginning of Bullard to Broadway or to "Q's Southern Bistro" and from the "Global Resource Center" on College to the "Silver City Public Library" or even further to Hudson.

I have been able to do those walks because my husband has driven me to the starting point and later picked me up at the destination. Cells phones are a marvelous invention that makes such handy arrangements possible.

But come to think of it these drops-offs and pick-ups would have been feasible a number of years ago --- back then I just would have to have been careful to always carry some change (well at least a dime) so I could stop at a phone booth to call him to tell him where to pick me up.

It is exciting that the "ACLU" and the "City of Silver City" are working to make our city a better place for the disabled. By doing so they are working to make this a better place for everyone. Because as we all should know being physically able-bodied is not always permanent. Anybody could become disabled at any time.