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Rasha’s Petition: Young Coppell Girl Starts Petition for Accessible Airline Restrooms (3/18/2004)

By Stacy Rector, Staff Writer
The Coppell Gazette, Coppell, Texas
March 18, 2004

On the first day of spring break, three of her friends gather at Rasha’s Coppell home to giggle and goof off like other third-graders.

Her usual routine of occupational therapy is broken up by the presence of her giggling friends and a puppy that Rasha’s occupational therapist, Sonja Wihksne, brings to brighten the spring day even more.

Rasha doesn’t like the words 'disabled' or 'handicapped.' In fact, she doesn't think of herself as those things at all. She has cerebral palsy and in, her own words, drives "a cool power wheelchair." To share this point with others who may not understand, she wears a button that says "I AM ABLE."

And able, she is.

"She’s a typical child, she’s just in a wheelchair," Laila, her mother, said.

That’s why she’s spreading the word about her online petition for accessible restrooms on airplanes, fueled by her own inability to use the small wheelchair-unfriendly laboratories.

But on this spring day, Wihksne guides Rasha’s hands to pet the furry creature, her friend Jenna Lehto stand back, a bit frightened by the dog. Rasha, sitting in her wheelchair, throws her head back and has a hearty laugh. Rasha’s longtime friend Ophir Jokel, whom she met at Cottonwood Creek Elementary, jumps up on Rasha’s lap to get a closer view.

"She’s my best friend," Ophir says as they watch Wihksne play ball with the puppy. The two have known each other for three years and have stayed friends, even though Ophir now goes to a difference elementary school.

Laila recalls the 'best friends' poem they wrote and recited together at the school’s talent show last year.

"[It said] I thought she was very interesting, and then when I got to know her I knew she was interesting," Ophir says.

The quiet one of the three, Jenna says that Rasha is always nice to everyone.

Wihksne knows Rasha is a remarkable child.

She and Rasha have grown quite close over their time together. Wihksne first came into the job to get some hands-on experience part time during a summer, and though she had no prior experience working with children or children with disabilities, she loves both her job and Rasha.

"Although she does have some challenges, when I look at her all I see is a child with abilities who is trying to meet those challenges," Wihksne said. "All she has is abilities."

And perhaps the ability to change.

Through www.petitiononline.com, Rasha has been able to share her story with people all over the world.

"Every year I go with mom to Israel to visit my two grandmas and cousins. Last summer on our flight back, I really needed to use the restroom, but it was too small and I mean really, really small…like maybe the size of a rocking chair," Rasha said in the petition introduction. "It was so hard for mom and me to fit in it together because I needed her help. I hit my head maybe 100 times, maybe more, and it really hurt a lot."

Her belief in accessible restrooms caused Rasha to write a letter to President George Bush about the problem.

"I asked him, 'Can I please meet with you on the weekend? Or maybe if you are free one week or day you can come here, because we really have to talk,'" she stated.

On Monday afternoon, Rasha could barely wait to venture out into the neighborhood with Jenna and Ophir. Guided by Wihksne and the puppy, the girls stop at houses throughout the block to pass out business-sized cards with her mission on them.

Familiar with Rash and her cause, neighbors come outside to say hello and wish her luck. One teenage boy tells them he thinks "it’s really cool."

Kelly Theriault, parent, physical therapist, and executive board member of the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas, found Rasha’s petition and left her own comments.

"I am amazed and impressed at the foresight of this 9-year-old who is addressing an issue that is long overdue," she wrote. "Thank you for considering this petition."

"This child deserves to be heard and accommodated," Maria E. Cardona wrote in the comments section of the petition. She was the 1,193rd person to sign.

By Tuesday, the signatures were up to more that 1,800, only a week after Rasha started the online petition. She has the support of her classmates, friends, family, neighbors, mothers who have children with disabilities, heavy or tall people, mother with babies, those in wheelchairs, and many, many others who believe in the cause she is supporting.

Claudia Walker, the 1,713th person to sign the petition, wrote: "I should have started a petition like this myself years ago. I simply have chosen not to fly anymore because I cannot fit in the restrooms with my 13-year-old son who cannot use the restroom on his own. I would hope the airlines realize that ridership would increase greatly if the restrooms, seats, aisles, etc., were accessible by EVERYONE."

Sign Rasha’s petition for accessible restrooms on airplanes now.

Copyright Star Community Newspapers 2004.

Reprinted with permission from The Coppell Gazette.

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