Garrick Scott is executive director of the Multiple Choices Center for Independent Living, an organization in Athens that focuses on providing resources, advocacy and support to people with disabilities across 10 Georgia counties.

Q: What are your thoughts about general accessibility for people with disabilities in Athens?

On a scale of one to 10, I’m going to say a three. Transportation being at the head of that. I really thought it was a slap in the face to the disability community for the city of Athens to have public transportation, and it’s not the whole city. It’s just one little small circle that’s the closest to the UGA campus. And if you’re outside of that area, even if you’re in the city of Athens, there’s no public transportation. So it’s like dangling a carrot in front of the disability community, and they can’t get to it.

I recognize that this is a rural area, and there are a number of organizations that are doing their part to try to create safe spaces for people with disability, but they need work. They need employment. They need an opportunity to live the life they want, to engage with people, to have relationships. And they’re not getting that. So it’s at a three for now. But if I’m worth my weight in salt, and Multiple Choices does what it’s supposed to, then we’ll improve.

Q: What can Athens-Clarke County do to improve their transportation services?

You can’t make decisions for people without them. They should be looking to try to fill a spot with someone with a disability so that is always on the table as a forefront of decisions that are being made that impact the entire community, because they are part of the community too.

Q: According to Pew Research Center, Americans with disabilities are less likely to vote on Election Day due to obstacles to voting. Do you have any accessibility concerns about the upcoming election?

Those people who work the polls, they are so genuine. But for whatever reason, there’s never enough of them who are familiar with accessibility devices, with the equipment. I don’t think there’s enough diversity and sensitivity training in how to engage someone with a different demographic than theirs. And because of that, it can get frustrating.

Voting has anxiety in itself. You get there, and people are talking to you like you’re a little kid: “I just think it’s so great that you’re coming out,” when I’m an adult. I’m a grown man. All that sort of thing is off-putting, and it really does affect the voting aspect to where people want to do more absentee voting, and even that is becoming an issue now.

And believe me, I’m never the person to point out, “This is wrong, this is wrong” without coming up with a solution. There have to be off year conversations that take place. It shouldn’t be, “Oh, there’s an election year, let’s try to engage with some people with disability.” That sort of thing has to happen in the off year. When there’s no pressure on anybody, it has to happen.

People want to determine how someone needs to be supported, rather than asking a question, “OK, I’m here to help, how can I support you?” If you start there, just that one question would change the total perception of that whole day and how they are perceived.

Comments trimmed for length and clarity.

Gabriella Etienne is a political science and public relations major covering diversity.