Downtown Ann Arbor’s iconic fairy doors are visited by thousands of children every year, all of them hoping to catch a glimpse of the magical beings who use these tiny portals. Now, recent actions by Federal and State accessibility regulators have put the doors into questionable legal status, and they may be closed or require expensive work to remain open.
“The proliferation of Fairy Doors definitely raises accessibility issues that clearly violate State and Federal building codes.” Says Warren Pesstolsty, a mid-ranking Federal official instrumental in the investigation and complaint. “If they were human sized entrances, they would never get approval from any agency, let alone pass inspection.”
It seems that the main reason this inequity escaped regulatory notice for so long is because the doors are built for creatures generally invisible to adults. As is the story in so many cases, it is the voices of the truly marginalized unseen, creatures of folklore living with disabilities, that are now being heard for the first time.
“It’s like we were standing in the weeds, unable to fly, and shouting for help for centuries.” said Vernal Buttercup, a member of Fairies Living In The Shadows (FLITS), an advocacy group and party to the complaint (Their name has been changed to protect them from potential repercussions).
The government action is causing tremors throughout the dominant Fairy culture and professional community, including the Washington DC based Business Advocates for Diminutive Doors (BADD). At this point, the aftershocks promise to continue for years, for FLITS literature points directly to broader diversity and intersectional issues, such as access for giants, yeti, and other shadowy figures who, literally, can’t fit through the doors others have constructed.
I’m so glad someone finally recognized this injustice!
Really???
As a handicapped individual, I say, This is just pure garbage! Get over it! Surely this is a joke!
It IS a joke. Unless you believe in faeries. Then IS it a joke?
Faeries?
Its a joke, just a light hearted piece.
Keep “Giant” government away from our doorsteps 🙂
Little steps…. 🙂
The Wing Wing at Mott Hospital is accessible.
http://urban-fairies.com/locationspages/MOTT%20CHILDREN's%20HOSPITAL.html
So ridiculous!
No it’s redicous! You or your loved ones must not be disabled. Open your heart, open your mind. Just think for a few minutes. You and people disgust me & make me want to puke & then cry. Shame ON YOU!!
You cant be serious….my cousin, who has CP, laughed hard when she saw this! Its meant to be light-hearted. I got that. My cousin got that. People seriously need to learn to take a joke! At no point in the story does it poke fun at, nor attempt to diminish those with disabilities. People who get offended by Everything are getting out of hand. Smh
Just Wonder-filled!
Suggestions for pushback groups:
#NEVERFLITS
#invisiblelivesmatter
#donatetofairydoors
#fairydoorknobismybff
#nogangcolorsonfairydoors
#no1waymirrorsonfairydoors
As long as the faeries have air conditioning in their workplace, I say, No harm, no foul. This is based on personal experience with ADA.