Dear Conference Call Organizer,

It was very frustrating to hear you talking the way you did today - I wish you were not so closed-minded about something that could be a very good thing. As an advocate for rights of people with disabilities, I was appalled to hear you say that you didn't want to encourage people to renovate a home to be fully accessible as "that's not what the market is looking for." You only want the home to be "visitable." Well, the way I look at it, the home is either accessible or it's not. The only way that the mainstream will accept a home with "one of those ramps out front" is if they become mainstream. If an advocate doesn't push for change, what the heck do they do? I think you, as the theoretical leader of this project, should take a longer view and be willing to take some risks.

I was very surprised to hear you refer to a fully accessible home as a "handicapped house." Language is powerful - although not everyone realizes it, YOU certainly should know that a "handicapped house" by definition, is a house that doesn't work.

I was happy when you seemed to listen to my point of view - when you acknowledged my comment that just because there is a minimum standard doesn't mean that there should also be a maximum standard. After all, I can use a ramp with my two feet (and it would make it easier to get my bike into the house); I don't have to have a disability to enjoy the benefits of accessiblity.

I was angry when I reviewed the 'minutes' you prepared for the conference call. None of my concerns or comments were included, yet your point-of-view was certainly expressed.

Sometimes I wonder why I bother... then I remember how important it is.