Quaker YMG Bath 2014 I was looking at Kathy Bells concern about being put in a tent or caravan when she had booked and hoped to book otherwise and paid for that. Numerous Quakers, including myself, do not go to the yearly meeting gatherings, held in the countryside or outside London. The reason for this is - and I speak for myself. I am one of many disabled Quakers, who could not contemplate walking through fields or even quite long distances to get to large tents where meetings and activities are held, often in fields. Our able-bodied Quaker organisers, do not cater enough for people with disabilities in the Society of Friends. You only have to look at all the photographs of Bath - and other Yearly Quaker gatherings, in recent times around the country. None of them to my knowledge, show people in wheelchairs or with Rollator-wheels that get them from place to place. The reason for this is that many of us are terrified of even contemplating going to Yearly Meeting Gatherings held outside London. 10 years ago, I would never have believed that I would have become so disabled with my Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT), also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. It was November, and I was asked by my Area meeting to go as a representative to a Quaker establishment. I was delighted to be asked to go as a representative from my area meeting. I took the early Ferry and drove for several hours to my destination. When I got there, there was no toilets suitable for people with disabilities, no ramp access. Only stairs and steps everywhere. When it came to lunchtime, I was invited to go out by a particular door and walk around the buildings with the aid of my rolator wheels, in order that I might find the door that would get me into the restaurant area for lunch. It was extremely cold and the November rain was teaming down. I walked for some time before I found the door in question. The door was locked. I could not find my way back to where I had started out, as I became disorientated. It was nearly an hour before somebody came looking for me, and guided me back to where I had come from. I was hauled and pushed and shoved up steps and stairs to get me to the restaurant area (albeit by helpful, kind and considerate people). I was so terribly embarrassed. They had no facilities for people with disabilities. When we finally got to the restaurant, dinner had stopped been served, and most of the food had more or less run out. The chef very kindly put something together for me. For the rest of the day, I was very well looked after, by caring and concerned Quakers, some of whom were horrified that I should be sent out on my own in teaming rain, to find a particular door, in a place I had never visited previously. Finally, I found a hotel on my way home ... that had disabled access and toilets that I was able to use. As a society we have a large number of people in the older part of their lives. They find for various reasons - getting around much more difficult. The religious Society of Friends, are so busy helping others around the world and standing up for bad treatment, and all sorts of causes they absolutely must support. While on their own doorstep - They are blind to the fact that they are not catering for - or looking after their own disabled, young and older Friends. BYM does not insist that all meeting houses, and meeting places, must have access for people with disabilities. We are constantly told on arrival at some Quakers establishments that we cannot afford it even though, it is the law to provide such facilities. Sadly, a large number of us, disabled people, will be unable to attend the yearly meeting gathering this year-or any year, if it is held outside London. I suppose its really only for the young and able people - the disabled are just a nuisance. People like us that find it so difficult to walk on grass and manage in tents or caravans without help or electricity. It is just so shortsighted of YMG. So many of us lose out just because we have a disability. Sad isnt it? I have never complained about my disability. I go everywhere. I go to London on the train. I travel from the Isle of Wight on the ferry. I walk for miles. But, like other disabled people, I find walking on lumpy grass and uneven ground will cause me to fall. It was when I saw someone else with a disability having some real trouble managing - that it occurred to me how little we do in the Religious Society of Friends for our own members with disabilities. People who wouldnt risk going to Yearly meeting outside London, for fear they may find themselves in incredibly difficult situations, and unable to cope. What does that say for our society? Marlêne Cantan-Taylor Newport meeting Isle of Wight Hampshire and Islands Area Meeting.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 00:20:46 +0000
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