by Jennifer Gilliland
Tuesday morning, I was filled with excitement and anticipation of the days events to come since I accepted an invitation to Austin to advocate for change and support speakers from Uvalde as well as reporting for the Hesperian. It’s 5:45 AM when I drive up to the bus only to discover that the bus was not wheelchair accessible therefore, I was unable to go. This was not surprising to me in fact it is rather typical. I received several apologies but the apologies while appreciated did nothing to help my frustrations, it’s 2023 and I’m still dealing with accessibility issues.
How many times do Uvaldeans go to Concan, Leakey, or San Antonio to eat or just for a change of scenery? Do you just hop in the car and go? I consider myself a very independent woman, but my disability dictates that spontaneity and travel will never happen. I’ve been blessed to travel many different places and scratch off a few things off my bucket list including skydiving and a NASCAR ride along to name a few. I have many more items to check off my bucket list, and every time I travel I must consider my wheelchair. It is a part of me, and the proper accommodations are required to and from the airport, airport to hotel which most hotel shuttles are not wheelchair accessible, and I’ve had no luck with Uber Lyft no matter what city I’m in. My point is it takes a lot of work to travel, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I just wanted to shine a light on these never-ending accessibility issues.
Now, I do have exclusive footage of a powerful speech given by Arnulfo Reyes, the surviving Robb Elementary teacher in room 111, follow the link