Photo: Kyle LaMere
Photo: Kyle LaMere
I’ve been driving for over 15 years.
I own my own vehicle.
I have never once pumped my own gas.
This is not because I live in a full-service state like New Jersey or Oregon. I live in Illinois and the reason I have never pumped my own gas is because I am a quadriplegic woman due to a spinal cord injury from a car accident. I use a powered wheelchair and adapted vehicle to drive, navigate and access my world. My wheels are my freedom... until I run out of gas.
As we approach the 2016 Paralympic games I saw a BP ad highlighting the sponsorship of five Paralympian athletes. I was very happy to see this and then immediately wondered if these disabled athletes are able to pump their gas. Is it a daunting task as it is for me? For many of us with disabilities exiting our vehicle and navigating gas pumps is very difficult. For others with limited dexterity and reach, like myself, it is an impossible task. The law requires every gas station to pump my gas when there is more than one employee on duty which has really not helped much in my case. These are my current options?
1. I pull up to a pump that has a sticker stating “Honk for Assistance.” I’ve tried this. It doesn’t work. I was left waiting and other customers were looking at me wondering what the heck I was honking at. Nobody ever came out and if they had I don’t suspect they would have done so happily. There is a reaction that comes along with honking a horn – it’s an alert, a demand- it is definitely not positive. If I were the attendant on duty I would be annoyed and good customer service would not be what I would deliver.
2. I get to a pump with a sticker that says, “For assistance call this number xxx-xxx-xxxx.” Sometimes the number is faded and you can’t even see it! Additionally, this option requires that I have a cell phone with me. What if I forgot it? What if I dropped it on the floor and can’t reach it? What if the battery is dead? What if there’s no reception? What if I don’t own a cell phone? I should not be required to bring my own device to receive service from an establishment. You don’t bring your own knife and fork to the restaurant!
3. I hand over some cash or credit card and ask a stranger to pump gas for me. Nope! Just no. I won’t do that. There are plenty of things that already make me an easy target. I don’t wish to add another.
4. I ask a family member, friend or neighbor to come with me and pump my gas. This requires coordinating our schedules and being in the same vicinity. Someone needs to available and willing which isn’t always viable and leaves no room for a spontaneous spirit!
I chose option #4 because for 15 years it has proven to be the most reliable option although it still doesn’t allow me to be independent and feel confident that I would be able to fuel at any gas station.
I feel a bit of hypocrisy in this BP ad boasting about their support to elite Paralympic athletes. BP sponsors Paralympics - great, keep it up! Please continue to do so because they need you!... However, the core product BP offers the public is not very accessible to 15 million drivers with disabilities. They broadcast to the world about supporting these elite athletes and creating opportunities for wounded veterans and Americans with disabilities, yet many of them struggle to get gas. It’s ironic and frankly a giant microagression.
A disabled military vet who used to fly fighter jets for the marines said it was easier to refuel 21,000 ft. in the air than at the corner gas station. A former Paralympian said in a Tweet “Getting gas is the worst task ever for me!” Even Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth shared her struggle with fuelling and fortunately was able to change military refuelling policy.
Is BP aware of this problem? Are other fuel companies aware? Yes! Of course they are because there were many settlements that resulted in these “Honk for Assistance” and “Call this number for Assistance” stickers. But is this enough? A sticker? And, is it effective? Millions of dollars spent on lawyers but not much spent on a real solution.
If you are going to claim to create opportunities for Americans with disabilities, then do it with integrity. I’d like to see every gas station displaying a poster in support of a Paralympic athlete also display customer service and support by providing better and more accessible fueling options for all of their customers with and without disabilities. It’s the right thing to do!