Paraplegic Easton resident searching for a trash collection solution
EASTON, Md. – One woman in Easton is sharing her frustrations with the town, specifically about the issues she’s having with trash collection.
Helen Knight-Griffin is a paraplegic who has lived in Easton for the past 5 years. She says she’s used to having to adapt to things because she uses a wheelchair. But for the past year, she’s been trying to get help from the town when it comes to taking her trash out. It’s a task most of us probably don’t think twice about but she says it’s very difficult for her and she feels the town isn’t making it any easier.
“It’s a physical impossibility to move empty let alone full,” says Knight-Griffin.
Like many adults, Knight-Griffin dreads taking her garbage out. But not necessarily because it’s a chore. More so because it’s such a challenging task. “But that in itself becomes more difficult especially on days like today when it’s raining or in the wintertime when it’s snowing. I can’t even get out the front door let alone to a trash can,” says Knight-Griffin.
Knight-Griffin says she’s been working with the town of Easton since October 2018 to try and get some help. “To simply, once a week on trash removal days, take my trash can 22 feet from the side of my house, empty it into a trash truck and return it to the side of my house,” says Knight-Griffin.
But she isn’t happy with the responses the town has given her including the option of paying for private trash removal. “I pay taxes in this town to have my trash removed just like everyone else and it’s only fair,” says Knight-Griffin.
47 ABC reached out to the town of Easton and received the following statement:
“The Town is taking this request very seriously. We are sympathetic to her situation and are researching possible reasonable modifications to our Town policies and practices. As part of our research, we need to ensure that any potential modifications to Town policies and practices would be implemented uniformly. This is a high priority, and the goal is to complete the research quickly and present possible solutions to Town officials. We will notify our resident as well as make a statement as soon as possible.”
Since the town says this is a high priority, 47 ABC also asked why the issue has taken more than a year to resolve. The town engineer says they are still researching possible solutions.
“I also got in touch with the American Disabilities Act and found the laws that apply,” says Knight-Griffin. According to the ADA, a public entity shall make reasonable modifications to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability. “It’s just small adaptations that are very fixable,” she adds.
Knight-Griffin says she wants the problem to be resolved but she also hopes to educate people by sharing her story. “There are many people who don’t have the ability to speak up. So I’m speaking for myself and those who don’t have that ability.”
Knight-Griffin wants to make it clear that neighbors and friends have and do offer to help. But she feels she shouldn’t have to rely on other people because she pays for this service. She also wants to give the town some credit for adding in a sidewalk ramp and handicap parking signs on the road for her.
