Ramp It!

Seeking support from Legislators to ensure equal access.

The 13 steps leading up to the speakers platform at the front of Michigan’s State Capitol Building are a barrier to those unable to climb them and who are therefore denied opportunities to speak at public events, rallies, and lobby days.

People unable to climb the 13 steps are denied access to this real and symbolic place of public power. The public is denied the benefit of hearing from those people who are chair users, people with disabilities, old people, and others.
Further, due to the cost of privately renting a ramp to accommodate people unable to climb these 13 steps, public event producers are reluctant to consider certain speakers.

Ramp it! Asks the state to provide such a ramp and make it available free of charge to organizations, event planners, rally producers.

Ramp it! Has a cost estimate between $10,000 - $14,000 for the state to purchase such a ramp. The Capital Committee has suggested there is storage space available close by to house the ramp between requests, they have also suggested an un-lawful of chagrining those who request it. This is against the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Help us raise awareness with your State Representatives, State Senators, the Governor and others in state positions of power. Tell them accessibility is a constitutional right. By having the freedom of speech, one is entitled to access to the facility from which one speaks, accessible to all.

For more information contact:

Alicia Paterni
apaterni @ camw.net
517 492 5551

Penny Gardner
Marydrpenny @ yahoo.com
517 484 4512

A project currently being coordinated by Alicia Paterni and Penny Gardner.
Initiated by Nancy English at the Michigan Pride Rally 2007.
With the support of Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
Lansing Association For Human Rights, Michigan Commission on Services for the Aging, Disability Network of Mid-Michigan.