Children’s book author shares views on people with disabilities

[Guest guest]

Children's book author shares views on people with disabilities

By LYNN FRANEY

The Kansas City Star

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/340528.html

Banister is a " Woman on Wheels. "

That's what Banister, a 43-year-old quadriplegic, calls herself.

She'll be coming to Kansas City next week, hoping to show people

that those with disabilities have the same dreams and desires as

everyone else.

Banister, who was living in Kansas City when she became disabled in

a 1990 automobile accident, now lives in St. Louis. She has written

a children's book about people with disabilities, called Aunt

's Visit.

Her talk, which is open to the public, is planned for 10 a.m.

Thursday at Whitfield Centre at Avila University, 11901 Wornall

Road. She also will discuss cultivating healthy relationships

between caregivers and people with disabilities in a 1 p.m. talk at

the Whitfield Centre.

Banister talked to The Star about her thoughts on disability

awareness and how she hopes to build understanding.

The Star: Are people better at interacting with people with

disabilities today than they were when you were first injured?

Banister: There is a real fear factor with people with disabilities

because we look different, we move different, we speak differently,

especially with people with disabilities affecting their speech.

It can be scary. It can be intimidating. People need to see that

people of my culture want the same things that you do. We just do

things differently. When I show them my assistive technology, when I

show them how I use a fork or use a pen, it's not that they're

amazed, they're just, " Wow. I just didn't know that. "

I'm very open about my disability. We talk about bathroom issues,

personal care. Everyone tells me how they appreciate my frank style

of presentation.

Are people better at interacting with people with disabilities today

than they were when you were first injured?

I believe people are much more open. The world is becoming more

inclusive.

I was injured the same year the Americans with Disabilities Act was

started. At that time, there were 38 million people with

disabilities. Now we're up to 54 (million). I think there is a real

recognition, much more so than when I was initially hurt.

What is the biggest problem today in making sure people with

disabilities have the access they need to facilities and information?

Attitudes. Businesses think, " Oh, it's going to cost me money to

bring people with disabilities into my business. " Sometimes, access

isn't that expensive. For businesses that might have a step in their

entrance and can't put in ramps because of city codes, there are

(portable) suitcase ramps. Someone presses the bell, someone sees

someone with a chair (and says), " Let me get my portable ramp. " Put

it down. Boom. Suitcase ramps are about $125. They're amazing.

They're light. They're portable.

… Which is easier: build a ramp or open a mind? It's hard to get

people's minds wrapped around inclusion because they're so

intimidated by it. … I tell kids, " The nicest thing you can say to a

person with a disability is hello. " Our culture is used to being

dissed and ignored. "