What would be different ?

rwagoner

Next time you are walking down your Main Street....or go to your favorite Store or Restaurant...Or go to your Doctor or Dentist.....or to your kid's School or City Hall or the local Golf Course....or maybe your favorite vacation spot.....

Think like a guy/gal in a wheelchair for a minute............

Is your town accessible ? Are there ramps or steps into buildings ?

If you HAD TO use a wheelchair...could you do the things you do now ?

What would you be excluded from ? How would it effect you and your family ?

Could you ride the local bus ?

What would be different in your life if you were on wheels ?

I know how things are in my town but it is interesting to hear how accessible (Or Not) things are across the country or in other countries.

Thanks

FMZ

Rwagoner mate...

I couldn't even imagine what it would be like. I'm sorry you have to go through that mate.

FMZ

rwagoner

My case is a birth defect so it is all that I have ever know.....not a big deal really.

Thanks for your concern but I am more interested in how other communities are as far as access for people with disabilties....some places I visit are wonderful to get around in while others are nearly impossible....

Thanks again.....

FMZ

Hmmm..

Our community seems rather well accessible for the most part. The main areas I could see that would need some improvement is the places on main street. With it being a very old street with old buildings, none of them were really built to be accessed by those not blessed with mobility. In fact, come to think of it, even one of the newer buildings was very badly planned as far as accessibility goes.

I guess you just don't notice these things until you look from another perspective.

Edited to add: Just thought, as we don't have any public transportation at all in town, and no sidewalks where we live, there would be absolutely no way to get around in a wheelchair. Wow.

FMZ

rwagoner

Thanks FMZ....thats exactly what I'm looking for. Hoping to have folks use that new perspective to see what things might be like for people with disabilties in their towns.

bem

A good part of the restraunts where I live are accessible. They are newer and large enough to get around in. I noticed how easily a man in a wheelchair could get around at my favorite restaurant. just this last Sunday.

Some of the older places have ramps. But they are smaller inside and bathrooms would be difficult to get in and out of.

Getting into the post office would be no easy task, if you were alone, unless you were by gosh Armstrong.Cause the ramp seems a bit steep to me.

My house would be very difficult for me, since the kitchen appliances & sink are really to high for me now.

My job would be accessible again it's a newer building and built to better accomadate all of us.

We do not have public transportation, But we have buses that folks can get to pick them up that need extra room or help to do shopping or some day trips.

My cousins girlfriend was just telling me a new store she is managing in the even smaller town I used to live in is shopper friendly for everyone. A lady in a wheelchair thanked her for having the isles wide enough to move down and be able to get to items. minus clutter and etc. in walkways.

Then I am aware of these things because I work with kids, and have relatives that need to be able to get out and around, on wheels.

Dorothy

rwagoner

Thanks Dorothy.....

When my business partner started working with me his eyes were opened. He had never realized how difficult it can be to travel with a wheelchair. Now after 18 years in business he can't go anywhere without looking at the access..even his wife will call him now all upset when she sees something that is obviously inaccessible.

It is an eye opening and educational experience to just stop and think about it...your own Town...House...Job. Disability is the only minority that ANYONE could join..at ANYTIME.

holly

i cant imagine life in a wheelchair, i really cant. but then i am profoundly deaf, and most people cant imagine life being deaf.

locally things are pretty good. there are plenty of free taxi services for wheelchair users, and you can get on a bus with a wheelchair. most of the larger service providers are hot on equal access. you get reduced entrance to places like cinemas, or you can take some one in 'a carer' for free.

there is a very small shop on the corner of my road, just a one man business, but he has a ramp, a loop system and delivery service of goods to your home.

all in all, still room for improvement, but looking good. i work as a trainer, teaching companies about the laws of equal access, and most of them are doing these things, and making changes where necessary.

holly

rwagoner

Holly,

Thanks for the post. I have a hearing loss myself and getting worse with age. Its nice to see that your town is making progress.

I own a National ADA Compliance Consulting firm....we go all over the country doing ada compliance and diversity awareness trainings...what part of the country are you in ? PM or email me if you want....would love to hear your qualifications if you are interested....always looking for trainers.

What would be different ?

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