So you think DEI is needed to inside current laws are being followed?
Diversity is a good thing. Don’t believe people are arguing against that.
Not treating people equally should be a bad thing. But apparently others feel different.
I think DEI programs are a good place to start and at least provide for conversation.
Let’s just stick w disability issues for an example.
There are requirements for restrooms and ramps. But the law does not go far enough and sometimes is the problem itself. Let’s take bathrooms. Go into any Walmart, McDonalds. Go into GIA or BPS.
1st problem is the bathroom door. Put yourself w a cane or walker or wheelchair. Now envision how you open the door and keep it open while you go in. Often the doors are not on an automatic switch and they are heavy and close quickly. So you have to go ask someone to help you with the door.
If they have a handicap stall is it properly labeled as such?
Now go look inside the handicap stall. Is it built to ADA specifications? Door width? Locking mechanism down low enough for person in a chair to reach? Is it big enough to accommodate a walker or chair? Does it accommodate enough space for a lift? What about space for a helper?
Next time you’re in one look at the placement of the rails. 99% have a rail behind the stall not even at the proper height. Now think “How in the he!! Does a rail behind an elongated bowl or bowl w a tank even help 99% of the people who would use one? Next look at the toilet paper placement is it where a lift can access the bowl? How about can someone disabled reach it? Is the bowl the proper height? What about flushing mechanism?
Since you mentioned ramps how about this? Are they built to spec? Are they the proper incline? Width? Are they adjacent to the handicap spot or do you have to walk/wheelchair half a block IN TRAFFIC (bc remember you can’t access the sidewalk). Are they made of solid safe material? Is the material crumbling? Are the handicap parking places sufficient in number and properly marked? Are they at an angle (like all in downtown Stillwater) where the handicap vehicle can’t poperly park bc the vehicle ramp gets to close to the curb which doesn’t allow the wheel chair enough room to exit? So the wheelchair has to wait in the street or adjacent to the vehicle bc remember that ramp you said was solved by the law is half a block down the street.
Is every DEI program perfect? Probably not but they allow for conversations to take place safely that allow for people to think about issues like I mentioned. They also allow for minority based discussions to occur. They also address issues that whether you agree or not need addressed.
