“Simple As A Push Of A Button”: The Pursuit of Accessibility 

by Luke Durling 

05/26/2026

I recently got some wonderful news! The Croswell Opera House has received a grant from The Stubnitz Foundation to install automatic door openers on both its exterior and bathroom doors. Some details still need finalized, but the openers are likely going to be installed this summer! The Croswell and I have been working on the proposal for a couple months now and are ecstatic to not only receive the grant, but to see it come to fruition.  Simply being a part of the project is a privilege and has only made me appreciate The Croswell all the more. 

While this is an incredible development, a lot of people probably don’t know what it takes to get something like this in happen.To open doors with the push of a button, people often have to jump through hoops and regulations that most see as unnecessary. These changes are anything but. 

A thing as “simple” as a door, a step or a curb isn’t so simple to those who have to consider them. I cannot patronize businesses, cannot explore places- even in my own neighborhood- because of “simple” things people can overlook. Hundreds of people are in similar situations just in our communities alone. Yet, these changes can seem insurmountable to many people and organizations, and understandably so. These accommodations, as crucial as they are, often cost hundreds or thousands of dollars  while being wrapped in red tape. Even well intentioned institutions like The Croswell have difficulty making these accommodations due to both bureaucratic and/or financial limitations, as well as a lack of awareness of these accommodations to begin with. Accessibility should be the standard, not the exception. The only way we can make this the reality is by advocating for and supporting access in all forms. 

Regardless, I am immensely grateful for The Croswell- a 160 year old institution, mind you- for not only listening, but actively including me in this project. I hope more organizations will follow this wonderful organization’s example so more opportunities like this can become a reality. I also want to thank The Stubnitz Foundation themselves for their generous approval of our proposal. These buttons will do much more than just open doors, they will allow independence and inclusion in theatre for all who seek it. It’s an incredible honor for me to see the results of my advocacy pay off for future generations. If my legacy is a door opened, I consider myself an extremely lucky man.