No, it’s not wheelchair friendly

As I think about the investment our city has made in building the Everett Events Center, I have mixed feelings as to the full impact it could have.

I took my husband in his wheelchair to see the home and garden show. After first inquiring about special parking availability and feeling resentful that I had to call long distance to inquire about a local facility, I was told there are plenty of special parking spaces. Actually, I can find more at the local grocery store. Once we got there, I had to abandon that idea and circled the center in search of another place to park and finally had to settle for one on a very steep hill. Taking my husband down that hill was an experience I never want to repeat. One misstep and we would have easily become a statistic on Hewitt Avenue.

Our next hurdle was the elevators. After years of mastering elevators in hospitals, we weren’t prepared for the quick shutting doors at the center. It was only with the help of fellow patrons that we made it.

Once we finally reached our destination, we found the aisles between the displays were covered with a paper-thin carpet covering cables, creating, once again, hurdles. One was so high we had to detour to another aisle.

After struggling and not really seeing anything at this point and totally exhausted, we found a place to exit. I parked my husband and tackled the hill to get the car, for I knew I’d never be able to push him back up the hill.

Once we were on our way home, I couldn’t help thinking of all the disabled people who will suffer as we did or would not be able to enjoy the events. We feel totally cheated and will never return. I feel whoever designed and planned the center totally wore blinders with their hands on their wallets and no concern for the people who really need it so they too can enjoy life.

Everett

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