Disabled Access
Posted: Fri 15 Feb 2008 23:56
I do not want people to feel that what I say is critical of any posts on this forum!
But anyone or their partners who are dealing daily with a disability are done an unintentional dis-service by able bodied persons.
Being a Grand Malade myself able bodied people have a completely different perspective on daily life to disabled persons or our partners.
Before Anne and I go anywhere it is like a Military operation!
I must make sure I have not only that period medication (midi etc) but in case of a problem with me/the car/train/ plane.
that I have two days on my person:
With the associated bandages/plasters/ creams/ Betadin.
When we go away by Plane my cabin luggage is full of various types of medication.
Restaurants ( Toilets must be street level no stairs, parking outside)
Bars must have seats that take our weight as we use them and the tables to get up and down.
Ville's and Villages, Street's must be flat without uneven pavements or high kerbs,no acute angles.
Public buildings must be easy to access without heavy doors and lifts to all floors.
Museums/ Theatres must have lift access to all floors with the associated Toilets and Museums must have Wheelchairs available, If not I cannot chance it.
Parking. We must be able to park without some selfish person parking tightly behind so that a wheelchair uses cannot easily open the boot.
We must be able to open the doors wide to allow us to slide in or out easily.
! it is so demeaning explaining every time to non French that we have priority and are not pushing in.
Stores where guys or women's clothing is on the upper floor with the only access being stairs, how do you buy a present for Christmas/ Birthday/anniversary, or even look for your own clothes.
Handicapped Toilets/ Parking are for our use, not yours even though " you you are only using my facilities for a minute" I cannot use them when you are there, my needs are greater than yours.
The Seats on Buses Trains reserved for Handicapped persons are reserved for a reason.
Associations that arrange trips, never think of the walking involved/ steps to navigate/ lack of seating because we cannot walk and stand the distances that able bodied persons can.
Airports where at a moments notice they close the moving walkway without supplying wheelchairs.( Stansted and Dublin are very bad for this)
Immigration where you have to stand for maybe 10mins + without any seating available.
The next time you go out, Look at the Heavy Doors/ Parking/ Kerbs/ Pavements/Toilets/ Boxes in Aisles/ motor bikes/ push Bikes chained in Handicapped parking spaces.
People who are Handicapped have a different perspective on what constitutes a good or a bad town.
Manchester which I love does not have seating within the Main shopping areas, but they loan electric wheelchairs which allows you to get around all the city ( So do a lot of other cities except London).
Certain French/Spanish Hypermarkets also offer them.
And Remember I do not look Handicapped, whatever that means!!!!
France is better than the UK but it still has a long way to go!
Michael
But anyone or their partners who are dealing daily with a disability are done an unintentional dis-service by able bodied persons.
Being a Grand Malade myself able bodied people have a completely different perspective on daily life to disabled persons or our partners.
Before Anne and I go anywhere it is like a Military operation!
I must make sure I have not only that period medication (midi etc) but in case of a problem with me/the car/train/ plane.
that I have two days on my person:
With the associated bandages/plasters/ creams/ Betadin.
When we go away by Plane my cabin luggage is full of various types of medication.
Restaurants ( Toilets must be street level no stairs, parking outside)
Bars must have seats that take our weight as we use them and the tables to get up and down.
Ville's and Villages, Street's must be flat without uneven pavements or high kerbs,no acute angles.
Public buildings must be easy to access without heavy doors and lifts to all floors.
Museums/ Theatres must have lift access to all floors with the associated Toilets and Museums must have Wheelchairs available, If not I cannot chance it.
Parking. We must be able to park without some selfish person parking tightly behind so that a wheelchair uses cannot easily open the boot.
We must be able to open the doors wide to allow us to slide in or out easily.
! it is so demeaning explaining every time to non French that we have priority and are not pushing in.
Stores where guys or women's clothing is on the upper floor with the only access being stairs, how do you buy a present for Christmas/ Birthday/anniversary, or even look for your own clothes.
Handicapped Toilets/ Parking are for our use, not yours even though " you you are only using my facilities for a minute" I cannot use them when you are there, my needs are greater than yours.
The Seats on Buses Trains reserved for Handicapped persons are reserved for a reason.
Associations that arrange trips, never think of the walking involved/ steps to navigate/ lack of seating because we cannot walk and stand the distances that able bodied persons can.
Airports where at a moments notice they close the moving walkway without supplying wheelchairs.( Stansted and Dublin are very bad for this)
Immigration where you have to stand for maybe 10mins + without any seating available.
The next time you go out, Look at the Heavy Doors/ Parking/ Kerbs/ Pavements/Toilets/ Boxes in Aisles/ motor bikes/ push Bikes chained in Handicapped parking spaces.
People who are Handicapped have a different perspective on what constitutes a good or a bad town.
Manchester which I love does not have seating within the Main shopping areas, but they loan electric wheelchairs which allows you to get around all the city ( So do a lot of other cities except London).
Certain French/Spanish Hypermarkets also offer them.
And Remember I do not look Handicapped, whatever that means!!!!
France is better than the UK but it still has a long way to go!
Michael