Paralyzed councilman asked to climb out of wheelchair onto debate stage

Denver City Council member Chris Hinds had come to a local dance theater on Monday afternoon prepared to debate politics ahead of an upcoming municipal election. Chairs and water bottles were laid out onstage, and an audience of around 100 local voters was watching. There was just one issue.

There was no way for Hinds, who is paralyzed from the chest down and uses a wheelchair, to get onto the raised stage to join the other participants. Staff, puzzled, suggested lifting Hinds and his 400-pound wheelchair onto the stage. That was a no-go.