Joe Baroni considers it a blessing when someone opens a door for him or gives him a little extra help in a restaurant. Baroni has been in a wheelchair since he lost a leg due to diabetes complications four years ago.

&uot;A disabled person in Natchez,&160;Mississippi, sometimes gets kicked around,&uot; he said.

But while simple courtesy can’t be legislated, the federal government did come up with a way to help make life easier — and more dignified — for handicapped individuals.

Ten years ago, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, designed to give people with disabilities equal access to public buildings, public services and employment opportunities.

According to the U.S. Justice Department’s 10th anniversary report on ADA, the act is &uot;making the dream of access a reality,&uot; wrote Attorney General Janet Reno.

Around the country over the last decade, cities and businesses have adjusted their services and facilities to accommodate everyone — from interpretation for deaf patrons at Disney World to accessible seating at city halls and stadiums.

So how does Natchez measure up?

Ask attorney Ken Steiner.

&uot;This would have scared you to death the way it was before,&uot; Steiner said as he approached a curb cut that slopes to the street to allow a smoother ride for his motorized wheelchair. Steiner, a quadriplegic, has been in a wheelchair since he broke his neck in a car accident in 1956, long before ADA was signed.

&uot;Natchez has come a long way,&uot; Steiner said recently on a tour of downtown streets. &uot;You can get where you need to go.&uot;

For the most part, anyway. When Steiner comes to the intersection of Main and Pearl streets, he can turn west on Main toward the river and use the curb cuts to maneuver onto the sidewalk.

But forget about turning east up Main. Because of the difference in height between the street and the sidewalk, the only way to reach the sidewalk is by concrete steps on each side of the street.

To travel up Main, Steiner would have to take a circuitous route down Pearl.

He turned west on Main instead.

&uot;Natchez being a historical town, it has a lot of old buildings,&uot; Steiner said. &uot;Many of them could not be adapted. And the law takes that into consideration. I’m in total agreement with that.&uot;

But Steiner does believe all of the sidewalks should be accessible.

&uot;You would think that they would think,&uot; he said simply.

&uot;It wouldn’t hurt to ask for some public input,&uot; he said later, pointing out a downtown handicapped parking space that would force him to get out of his handicapped-accessible van straight into traffic.

Still, Steiner said he rarely lacks for finding common courtesy.

&uot;Most people would go out of their way to help you,&uot; he said.

And even though he is a lawyer, Steiner has no interest in pursuing legal battles against a restaurant or store that would not be able to serve him because it isn’t accessible.

&uot;I’ll just go down the street and eat somewhere else,&uot; he said.

Gayle Anders, a quadriplegic, saw her life change when ADA was signed. In a wheelchair for 14 and a half years, Anders found more buildings, such as doctors’ and dentists’ offices, accessible to her.

Still, &uot;I kind of had to push them into it,&uot; she said.

And she still encounters stores and other buildings she simply can’t enter. &uot;There are some stores I’d love to go into, but if there’s a big step up, I can’t,&uot; she said. &uot;That’s historical Natchez.&uot;

According to the U.S. Justice Department, &uot;the ADA requires all new construction and alterations to meet specific architectural design standards.&uot; But ADA provides exceptions for businesses located in historical buildings if making the building accessible would be an undue financial burden.

Anders has visited most of the historic houses in Natchez, especially before her accident. But she wishes now that she could see them again.

Because historic houses often can’t be remodeled, such modern conveniences as elevators are usually not installed. &uot;I bet a lot of disabled people are disappointed when they come to Natchez,&uot; Anders said. &uot;They miss out on the beauty of the homes.&uot;

Still, Anders, who remembers watching Bush sign ADA, believes &uot;the law has brought us a long way.&uot;

&uot;I had a good feeling about it,&uot; she said. &uot;That’s when (people) knew if they didn’t do something they would have a lawsuit slapped against them. It’s nice seeing people start to change.&uot;