Just Venting- Lack of Sensitivity to Need for Accomodation

[Guest guest]

Just venting to people I know will understand. As I think I have mentioned I

sometimes preach and often read (scripture)during mass at my parish. (I am

Catholic). I also serve as a Eucharistic Minister. Today I was scheduled to

preach and had spent a huge chunk of time preparing. I got there- and without

any notice-I found that the church was set up early for lent. That means that

the ambo( lectern- -place where the scripture is read and preaching is done) was

moved out of the sanctuary and down on the floor to a built up platform - read-

open stairs and no railing- and the lectern itself was so far forward on the

platform- people like me with short arms- can't reach it to get there balance to

get up. It has been set up similarly in past years- but never with the lectern

so far forward. The remicade has helped my hands and shoulders but has done

little for my feet and ankles - and when they flare- and they were flaring

today- it really has an impact on my balance. If it weren't for the help of a

friend of mine- who saw the paniced look on my face and placed herself in a way

that I could balance on my way up and down- I could easily have fallen. It was

embarassing. I don't need a cane for every day activities - and wouldn't need

one for this- if they had worked a small railing or ramp into the design. Did I

mention this was the Cathedral parish- and there is no excuse for the lack of

sensitivity. Why do people think that if they have a small elevator for people

with mobility problems so folks can attend services that they have done all they

have to do..by failing to accomodate - they coopt people- otherwise perfectly

capable of ministering from doing so ( the altar set up for communion minister

is a similar open staired set up.) I spent most of the evening and forty five

dollars on a cane with prongs so that I could get up and down tomorrow morning.

The money will come out of my envelopes for the collection- it is my donation

for the next two weeks or so. The liturgy commission, parish council, my pastor-

and the new Bishop- if I have to contact him- will make changes around there. I

have begun the letter - may run it by the group next week. The gospel- -

is the similes of Salt and Light. They will get salt- and some light thrown on

the subject. GRRRR . Thanks for listening.