Being disabled is more common today then it was 10 years ago. Part of this is do with the population getting older, people living longer with problems and the general decline in our overall health. Whatever the reason, the problem exists and it is not easy for those who live with the problems every day.
The degree of your disability plays a big part in where and what you can do. I am going to limit this article to those who use an electric wheel-chair or scooter because of the room they require and what is accessible.
Restaurants can be a challenge. Having tables that are not on top of each other seems reasonable but many restaurants have only booths or expect you to get into a very small area. The bathrooms state they are handicapped accessible but the doors are sometimes obstructed and hard to get in, the area is small or you can get in, but you can’t turn around to get out.
Hotel/Motel rooms can be a real hassle. You can request a handicapped room but most of them contain tubs. Most people who are handicapped have difficulty lifting their legs in or out of a tub. So what if there are rails if you can’t get in the tub anyway. They think they are being really nice to their guests by putting in soft, fluffy, pillow-top mattresses. If you can’t get into the bed it really doesn’t matter how comfortable it is lying down. In today’s world with cell phones, computers and mobility products the availability of enough plugs in a room is non-existent. Common sense seems to have been forgotten when designing these rooms. Marble on a bathroom floors seems rather dangerous for anyone.
Being disabled is not fun. Unless you or a loved one is disabled you cannot understand the frustrations you incur on a daily basis. Most people are either angry because you are handicapped and are in their way or are completely oblivious to your existence and run into you. Whatever happened to consideration, courtesy and compassion?
Comments (0):