I have a close friend who is partially paralyzed from a stroke, but she's as fiercely independent as she possibly can be. She was recently called for jury duty, and asked me to ride along with her a few days in advance, to prepare for the trip downtown. She wanted to map the streets, gauge the ease of parking, and see how much walking would be involved. 

Making this trip on the hottest day of the year, we were both glad that the parking garage is close to the courthouse and that parking tickets are validated there.  But the number of available handicapped spots was head-shakingly inadequate. We made our way to the door of the walkway that extends over Cherry Street and found that one door was locked, and the other (necessitating my friend to walk around it) was pretty heavy. I was glad to be there to hold that door open for her. The library has automatic doors. Why not the courthouse? What about the person who makes a visit alone, in a wheelchair? 

I suppose it makes sense to have the security screening area near the door when you first come in, but that means walking down a long corridor afterward, making a right turn, and continuing another long way to the elevator. 

In short, people who walk each day with no trouble, such as judges, attorneys, clerks, and others who make frequent use of the courthouse, probably don't notice this issue. But make the trip sometime with an older person or someone who walks with a cane. It will be an eye-opener. My friend declared her intention to "collapse" once she got home -- I've never seen her that tired -- and to look into renting a wheelchair for the day, another first. 

The court administration needs to do a full assessment of where improvements are needed by the non-walking segment of our population, who deserve access to these facilities, just like everyone else. 

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