Shirts And Shoes Are Required. Wheelchairs Are Not Allowed.
I like when I see a sign on an establishment that reads "Shirts and Shoes Are Required To Enter". So you're allowed in you have a shirt and pair of shoes on? Correct. What about if you have wheelchair? Entry may be difficult.
Have you ever been turned away at restaurant because they said they didn't have handicap accessible seating? How about a concert or sporting event? Just because someone has a disability doesn't mean they don't deserve to participate in activities such as going out to dinner, going to a concert, or attending a sporting event. I have a couple of friends who are in wheelchairs who have told me they've been turned away because an establishment or event couldn't accommodate an individual in a wheelchair. How is this even possible in 2019? The effort it takes to even get out of the house when you have a disability can take everything you have. To show up to an event just to be turned away is disheartening. The emotional toll that takes on someone is something these places and events are not even taking into consideration.
I'm always on the the look out for places that are handicap accessible. I look for rails, curb cuts, elevators, and stairs. There are many times when I've gone out with friends and thought to myself "can mom come here?", "does she have to do stairs?", "is there an elevator?", and "what is the parking like?"
Recently we went out to dinner and when walking up to the door, I noticed the sidewalk did not have a handicap accessible walkway. There was no curb cut anywhere. So I had lift her walker up and then hold her up to get her up over the sidewalk. I thought to myself "what if I wasn't here? How would she get up?" I also thought "what if someone is in a wheelchair? How do they get up here?"
I did recently learn that Google Maps allows users to add wheelchair accessible details in location searches. You're able to search for handicap accessible paths and roads. Although, this service is not available everywhere (which I think it should be). It's available in big metropolitan cities such as London, New York, Tokyo, Boston, and Sydney.
All this got me thinking on how I commonly I see places that are not handicap accessible. Here's a few thoughts I had for businesses and events:
1. There needs to be more ramps, rails, and elevators.
2. Individuals with disabilities shouldn't have to worry how they are going to enter a building. They shouldn't have to stay home because a business isn't handicap accessible.
3. Make eye contact with individuals with a disability.
4. Have more curb cuts.
5. Have and alternative entrance with a ramp for walkers and wheelchairs.
6. Retail stores should display items at wheelchair level.
7. In restaurants, provide seating/tables that a wheelchair can pull right up to and be seated.
8. Make bathroom doors easy to open for seniors or individuals with a disability (my mom has issues with this all the time). Some doors are just too heavy to push. Adjust closers/settings on doors.
9. Have automatic door opener buttons (when I do see these, they rarely ever work. I wish more places had them).
10. Allow service animals. You would think this would be a no-brainer but I've been out in public and individuals with service animals have been turned away. We have a terrific shopping mall by us and they allow animals in the stores. They don't even have to be service dogs. They even leave water dishes full of water for the doggies! Ask first if you can pet the service animal.
11. In bathrooms, have sinks that are level with a wheelchair.
12. Refer to people as individuals with disabilities, not a disabled person.
13. Be patient with people who have cognitive issues. It may take them longer to speak, get words out, form sentences, and process information. I know for my mom, sometimes she gets confused and I have to speak for her or explain things to her. Just be patient.
14. Make aisles clutter free.
15. Be polite, don't look down on individuals with disabilities, make them feel welcome. Ask them how their day is going. Make small talk with them. Be engaged. Ask them how their experience was. Welcome any questions, concerns, comments, and feedback.
What are some challenges you've faced when dinning out, shopping, going to a live event, or sporting event?
Have you ever been turned away at restaurant because they said they didn't have handicap accessible seating? How about a concert or sporting event? Just because someone has a disability doesn't mean they don't deserve to participate in activities such as going out to dinner, going to a concert, or attending a sporting event. I have a couple of friends who are in wheelchairs who have told me they've been turned away because an establishment or event couldn't accommodate an individual in a wheelchair. How is this even possible in 2019? The effort it takes to even get out of the house when you have a disability can take everything you have. To show up to an event just to be turned away is disheartening. The emotional toll that takes on someone is something these places and events are not even taking into consideration.
I'm always on the the look out for places that are handicap accessible. I look for rails, curb cuts, elevators, and stairs. There are many times when I've gone out with friends and thought to myself "can mom come here?", "does she have to do stairs?", "is there an elevator?", and "what is the parking like?"
Recently we went out to dinner and when walking up to the door, I noticed the sidewalk did not have a handicap accessible walkway. There was no curb cut anywhere. So I had lift her walker up and then hold her up to get her up over the sidewalk. I thought to myself "what if I wasn't here? How would she get up?" I also thought "what if someone is in a wheelchair? How do they get up here?"
I did recently learn that Google Maps allows users to add wheelchair accessible details in location searches. You're able to search for handicap accessible paths and roads. Although, this service is not available everywhere (which I think it should be). It's available in big metropolitan cities such as London, New York, Tokyo, Boston, and Sydney.
All this got me thinking on how I commonly I see places that are not handicap accessible. Here's a few thoughts I had for businesses and events:
1. There needs to be more ramps, rails, and elevators.
2. Individuals with disabilities shouldn't have to worry how they are going to enter a building. They shouldn't have to stay home because a business isn't handicap accessible.
3. Make eye contact with individuals with a disability.
4. Have more curb cuts.
5. Have and alternative entrance with a ramp for walkers and wheelchairs.
6. Retail stores should display items at wheelchair level.
7. In restaurants, provide seating/tables that a wheelchair can pull right up to and be seated.
8. Make bathroom doors easy to open for seniors or individuals with a disability (my mom has issues with this all the time). Some doors are just too heavy to push. Adjust closers/settings on doors.
9. Have automatic door opener buttons (when I do see these, they rarely ever work. I wish more places had them).
10. Allow service animals. You would think this would be a no-brainer but I've been out in public and individuals with service animals have been turned away. We have a terrific shopping mall by us and they allow animals in the stores. They don't even have to be service dogs. They even leave water dishes full of water for the doggies! Ask first if you can pet the service animal.
11. In bathrooms, have sinks that are level with a wheelchair.
12. Refer to people as individuals with disabilities, not a disabled person.
13. Be patient with people who have cognitive issues. It may take them longer to speak, get words out, form sentences, and process information. I know for my mom, sometimes she gets confused and I have to speak for her or explain things to her. Just be patient.
14. Make aisles clutter free.
15. Be polite, don't look down on individuals with disabilities, make them feel welcome. Ask them how their day is going. Make small talk with them. Be engaged. Ask them how their experience was. Welcome any questions, concerns, comments, and feedback.
What are some challenges you've faced when dinning out, shopping, going to a live event, or sporting event?
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