United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen visits Detroit
On Saturday February 10th I received an email from Michigan Central in Corktown Detroit inviting me to a special event. Being a native Southwest Detroiter I am excited that Michigan Central has been inviting me to their tours and grand openings for the past two years. Before the Ford Motor Company decided to buy and transform the old train station and its associated buildings it was abandoned and where us neighborhood kids would trespass into and explore and tag. The building and the book depository have been transformed.
This invitation was to hear Secretary Janet Yellen speak. Being very excited at the idea, I RSVP’d yes. As most event surveys do, this eventbrite survey asked if I needed any special accommodation. I stated that I used a walker and needed to be seated somewhere that I could easily get in and out of. Over the next few days, I received emails disclosing more and more details as permitted for security reasons. I never received and followed up about my requested accommodations. The day before I was given the location and time. I arranged for a babysitter to take care of my children.
On Feb14th I made my way to Corktown for the event. There were a lot of people attending and police cars everywhere. I made my way towards the former book depository building, down the sidewalk, up the ramp and in front of the building and I was ready to go inside to join the others. There was a newer type of accessible door button that read “Wave to Open”, so I did. Nothing happened. People are spinning and entering and spinning in the revolving doors. I am waving and waving, and I am still outside. I remove my hands from my walker, step closer to the door and push the metal bar that should allow me to step inside the warm, busy building. Again, it doesn’t, and I am still outside. The door was locked. My brain started buzzing and thoughts ruminating, “I don’t be long here”. I was able to suppress the thoughts when the expensive cars were being parked around me and people wearing expensive clothes and touting fancy titles were exchanging familiar hellos on their way to the building. However now, I was literally left out. Something that was supposed to be welcoming, provide inclusivity now created a barrier, another one. After putting my face up to the glass doors and windows, the woman at the front desk holding conversation with an employee finally removed herself from her chair, opened the door and graciously apologized for the inconvenience.
When inside I checked in the usual spot, stating my name and confirming my identity. The handsome, bearded olive complected man who had introduced himself to me and shook my hand earlier, before he was whisked away by the revolving door was obviously already there. He was greeting and hugging familiar faces, he looked up between hugs caught a glimpse of me and smiled. Approximately 20 minutes later we were all called to the room where the speaking was to take place. We lined up and walked through one those expandable barriers, the type they have at the airports. My walker wasn’t going to fit. The security personnel saw this coming and moved the pole so that I could fit. The room was arranged differently than it had been at previous events. The isles were difficult to navigate. They were zig zags instead of straight rows. The wheels of my scooter kept getting stuck in the legs of the chairs.
I found a seat but didn’t know where to put my walker. I found a spot at the back of the room where I didn’t think the walker would be in the way of anything or anyone. I wobbled my way back to my seat and made small talk with the person a few seats down. Someone welcomed us to the building and expressed excitement for what was occurring. Michigan Central had arranged for some local entrepreneurs and business owners and Secretary Janet Yellen was having a round table with them and a few chosen others. Some entrepreneurs that have called New Lab at Michigan Central their business home. Let me make this clear, I am very grateful to be apart of these gatherings. Every time I attend one of Michigan Central events I hear employees, event organizers praise this record-breaking world’s first mobility hub. They repeat their accomplishments, events and life changing technology that make Detroit and Michigan the best place to visit play, live, and invest. Mobility Hub, these two words does something to me.
Every time I go, I ask some version of: “What can your mobility research, and inventions and investments do for those of us who’s disabilities affect the way we navigate the world?” The answer gets better every time I ask it. This time I was told to connect with a woman in a long, beautiful dress sitting in the front row on the right side of the room. A woman announced that it was time to begin. Senator Debbie Stabenow approached the stage, climbed a few steps and settled in front of the microphone. She spoke about her work and how delighted she was to preceed our Secretary of Treasury. We all stood up gave her a loud applause. She spoke of the current administration’s financial success. At this point, the familiar tightness began to creep down my throat and into my chest. My breathe became labored and my head began to spin. I wanted to continue to listen to her and get the most of this event but as I have learned in my self advocacy journey I needed to take care of myself. Acknowledging and accepting the signs of my conditions allows me a higher quality of living and functionality in the long run. I wobbled back to my walker and made my way to the restroom. The Secretary was done talking by the time I came out of the restroom.
I went back to my chair and got my coat. On my way out the lady in the beautiful long dress, approached me for a chat as she said she would. I told her that I was a native Southwest Detroiter and was excited about the changes occurring and hoped that some of the conversations , inventions and future developments could include people with disabilities. She said she wanted to have a conversation with me over coffee. She well meaningfully asked why I didn’t use public transportation. I was kind of surprised by the question. I always wonder if the person asking me this question has taken public transportation in Detroit themselves. I honestly said, no. When she asked why I said that I didn’t feel safe, that is my truth. She did a double take and stated she was shocked by my answer. I began to explain that it wasn’t that I didn’t feel safe because I was scared of Detroit and it’s people, because I am one of Detroits people. I grew up in the 90’s when there were a lot of gangs and drugs. There were shootings every weekend. I never heard of anyone being shot on the bus but riding the bus is just not something we did, there was your bike or your feet. So now that my legs and feet have time limits for their usage, my brain knows that the bus isn’t an option.
Reader, I had lots of emotions during this experience and writing this article. I am combining my self help tip with this experience. I cried twice in the Book Depository, feeling, potentially knowing that I didn’t belong. In place of expensive leather shoes, I wore rhinestone studded pink cowboy boots. While they wore knee lengthen button down wool coats, I wore a two layered plus size powder pink puffer coat. As they exchanged details of their job titles, Alma maters and career accomplishments, I concentrated on my breathing and hoped they couldn’t smell my insecurities. During my youth, I was denied my disability, I failed out of college because of the amount of times I went to the hospital and medical bills, I was told that winning my case after 3 years of appealing for social security disability that this was the greatest thing that could happen to me. That I wouldn’t about my medical bills and circumstances. For years, I thought that was true. Being there, in that Book Depository building I realized that the only one separating them and I was me!
Again reader, if you haven’t gotten in yet, thank you, for being you. Thank you for where you are, where you started, where you started, where you’ve been and where you are going. Realize now, that you belong, everywhere you go. If ever you feel small, scared and unsure, take me with you, I will hold space for you. It doesn’t matter that you don’t know what I look like, imagine me however makes you feel comfortable. Breathe, see me smile and hear me say “You can do hard things!” Then, know for certain that I will be wearing my sparkling pink cowgirl boots!