When it comes to shoveling--snow sucks. Many people say it, so do I sometimes. But, there are degrees of suck-itude when it comes to snow, my friends. A lot of people suck it up and don't say anything, but it affects them much more. I've come to realize that snow doesn't suck as bad for me as for my neighbors and coworkers at IndependenceFirst who use a wheelchair in the winter. Here's what I've come to understand:

1. Its near impossible to shovel for yourself when you use a wheelchair--so it sucks to have to rely on someone else to do it. (It also sucks to have someone push you in the wheelchair when you can do it yourself any other time of the year.)
2. It really sucks when someone didn't clear the snow in front of an accessible doorway or doesn't clear off a ramp that you need to get somewhere.
3. When you find a snowplow dropped a snowbank suddenly next to an accessible parking stall and you can't get in or out of your car, that sucks.
4. It sucks to cross the street successfully from one corner's curbcut and then not have anywhere to get up the corner across the street because a curb cut wasn't shoveled on the other side. It also sucks then when you have to wheel in the street until you find a cleared driveway (usually with a deep muddy puddle to drive through) for you to access a sidewalk. THAT sucks.
5. The bus stop sidewalks, where the bus lifts drop down for riders who use wheelchairs, aren't always clear to get on or off the bus--this sucks for sure.
6. People who use power wheelchairs have it even worse, since tires spin on ice, they slide sideways or out of control on snow/ice terrain or mechanicals freeze up and shut down. Think about a breakdown on the side of the road and how much THAT sucks--but now think of it without being able to wait for the police in a semi-warm car and out of the elements. There's nowhere to go in a stranded power chair. THIS sucks more.
7. To get in and out of a car to drive an adapted vehicle--you have to watch out so the wheelchair doesn't slip when you transfer from your seat. If it does, you're on the ground and that sucks too. Wet clothes and increased chance for hypothermia.
8. You try to make a good impression at work or in the community but your tires tread mud, water, snow, ice, salt into businesses, on carpeting or other flooring. Your outfit gets trashed. Your hands are cold, wet and dirty from the snow, puddles and wheeling yourself around in the winter. This happens every day for 4 months. That SUCKS.

There's a lot of people in wheelchairs who are trying to suck it up and get to work and live their life like everyone else. If they complained about it in any way, they may be stereotyped as angry or seeking sympathy. Most of them won't tell you this so I am...they are waiting for you to shovel your snow, clear the curb cut, plow the lot, shovel the ramp and accessible door. Snow sucks, no question. For some, it sucks way more. By doing our part for snow removal on a timely basis, everyone can get around easier and snow will suck less for all. Suck on that.

 If you'd like to help make snow removal suck less for people with disabilities, shovel your snow and curbcuts or volunteer to shovel for someone with a disability through IndependenceFirst--call Char at 414-291-7520 or go to www.independencefirst.org/get_involved/volunteer/  .