A Denver City Council member is angry after he was forced to drag himself onto the stage at a recent debate because there was no wheelchair accessibility.
Chris Hinds, who is running for reelection, has received apologies from the venue for the incident but says he felt "like a circus monkey" at the event, USA Today reported.
Hinds said organizers intended to carry him onto the stage but he felt it was impractical, saying "My wheelchair weighs 400 pounds. I'm about 200 pounds. That's 600 pounds they wanted to try to lift."
"I am incredibly disappointed and disheartened after the public humiliation I endured at Monday’s District 10 City Council Debate. The lack of wheelchair accessibility on the state at the debate culminated in an extremely uncomfortable outcome: I had to climb out of my wheelchair and attempt to crawl onto the stage in front of a crowd," Hinds said in a statement.
Video shows Hinds, who is paralyzed from the middle of his chest down, shifting himself to the edge of the stage floor, and then using his arms to pull his legs onto the stage.
Hinds was reluctant to try to get onstage without his wheelchair but felt he had no choice because candidates in Denver must forfeit public campaign funds if they decline to participate in an official debate. If he didn’t participate, he would have lost $125,000 in Fair Election Fund money, Hinds said.
"Our democracy is stronger when it represents everyone, and this is another example why we need disability representation," Hinds said. "People often think that the [Americans with Disabilities Act] solved accessibility problems, but here is a stark reminder that serious issues still persist."
In a follow-up statement, Hinds said he received an outpouring of support from the community, some who even shared stories of being in similar situations.
"The unfortunate and humiliating experience I had has elevated the conversation about accessibility to a national stage," he said. "While it is heartbreaking that such stories continue to be told over 30 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, I want the residents of District 10 and beyond to know that I will continue to advocate for the freedom that is granted through accessibility, now and for the rest of my life."
Several officials have apologized to Hines, including the executive director of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, a dance school where the debate was held.
"While our theater is accessible for all patrons, the stage in our theater is not ADA accessible," Mark Robinson said in a statement, adding that a comprehensive plan is underway to address physical accessibility issues throughout the historic building. "I deeply regret it took this incident to elevate the urgency for this change and we are committed to ensuring that no one experiences lack of access to the stage again."
Hinds told USA Today he's "thankful" for the apologies.
"It's very kind of them to use this as a moment of reflection. I hope we can all use this as an opportunity for making our community better for everyone, including people with disabilities," he said.
Hinds became the first elected official in Denver's history who uses a wheelchair for mobility when he was voted into office in 2019.
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