Jennifer Longdon was paralyzed after a random, drive-by shooting
Being a member of the minority party of the state House of Representatives isn’t the only obstacle that may keep Jennifer Longdon away from the speaker’s desk.
The presumptive Democratic member from Legislative District 24 made that observation at the foot of three steps leading up to the desk from the House floor. She uses a wheelchair, so those stairs render the dais inaccessible to her.
But the House is already moving quickly to change that.
Longdon, who was paralyzed in 2004 after a random, drive-by shooting, will presumably join the House in January. She and fellow Democrat Amish Shah still have the November general election to get through against Republican David Alger, Sr., but he is undeniably at a disadvantage in the reliably blue district.
Longdon is not the first lawmaker to have accessibility needs. Others have had temporary disabilities due to injury or illness, but she is the first to speak up about permanent challenges for herself and others who will come after her.
