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Letter: Dear leaders, as you try to nix the ACA, imagine being disabled

(Susan Walsh | The Associated Press) Protesters chant as Republican and Democratic House members walk down the steps of the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017, after the Republican health care bill passed in the House.

Mr. President and Congress, I am a person who has had a disability since I was 15 months old. I suppose you don’t know anyone in that category because all you want to do is take away the Affordable Care Act. I would like to make a challenge to you and Congress, to spend two days in a manual wheelchair, or a walker, or being blind folded, or with a mental disability and don’t use the accessible parking spot, don’t go up the accessible ramp made for wheelchairs and don’t push the button to open the door going in or out of your building.

Before the ADA came into play, I was on crutches. Anytime I had to go to a door in elementary school or even high school, I would stop at the door, open it, put one of my crutches in the door to hold it open and swing my legs in the door and bring my other crutch inside the door; this was both coming and going home. Sometimes people would hold the door for me; I would always say thank you. (I was always thankful for them doing that.)

We, as disabled Americans, appreciate all the government has done to help us, and now you and Congress are willing to take that away from us.

I would like to see you on television showing that you, Donald Trump, and you, Sen. Orrin Hatch, Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Rob Bishop, are willing to be in a wheelchair, or a walker, or being a blind person, or some other type of disability for two days and do it without calling in sick.

Let me know when you do this so I can see it being done.

John Prescott, Salt Lake City