Lori Falce: Is it fair to criticize a candidate for a health problem?

Ableism refers to attitudes or actions that make assumptions about or throw roadblocks in front of people dealing with a handicap or medical issue. Sometimes it is intentional. Sometimes it is uncaring. Sometimes it is simply unaware.

But ableism also is frequently correctable — just like the medical issues in question.

Sidewalks can be ableist if the curbs prevent access to people with wheelchairs. A theater can be ableist if it doesn’t consider ways to reach the blind or deaf communities. Schools can be ableist if they treat kids with autism like a problem to be boxed rather than a population to be engaged.

All of these are addressable today in ways they weren’t 10, 20 or 50 years ago. Sidewalks have curb cuts and gentle slopes. Theaters offer closed captioning or audio interpretation. Autistic students can be better reached with new technology and therapies.

But these are things we often identify as disabilities and expect to be accommodated today. What about transitory issues that are a problem now but only need to be accommodated until after healing or rehabilitation? For example, what about a stroke?

A stroke is an incident in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted and oxygen is depleted. It can be mild or deadly or anywhere in between. Only 10% to 20% are fatal. That means 80% or more of stroke victims survive. A 2020 study shows about two-thirds of victims returned to work within a year. The average return was within 90 days, although there generally were accommodations to be made.

So why do some people have issues with John Fetterman’s use of available accommodations? The Pennsylvania lieutenant governor is facing cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz in the race for U.S. Senate. It’s a contentious battle that has been ugly — frequently on Fetterman’s side as he attacks Oz as a New Jersey outsider.

Lately the Oz camp has been returning fire, criticizing Fetterman as unable to do the job in the wake of a stroke days before the May primary. Is that possible? Sure. The stats say there’s a one-third shot he can’t get back to work. But there is better evidence that he should be treated like anyone and judged on the merits of his message and record than on his medical disability.

There are available accommodations to deal with the lingering auditory processing problems that are common for some after a stroke. One of those is closed captioning for debates and interviews that better permits understanding of the questions posed.

The two candidates will meet for their one and only debate Tuesday in Harrisburg. Fetterman will utilize technology that translates spoken words into written text. Oz will not rely on that technology because he did not suffer a stroke five months ago.

To frame the accommodation as disqualifying is like saying Franklin Roosevelt couldn’t be president in a wheelchair or U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, or U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, can’t do the job with combat injuries. Would we say no one in Congress can wear glasses? Would we eliminate people with hearing aids from office?

Any candidate should be treated like anyone else and judged on the merits of message, position, experience and plans. But ableism shouldn’t be part of that, whether the accommodation is a crutch or a computer screen.