Until you've spent time with someone who is physically challenged, you have no idea of the 'challenges' the world presents. I learned so much just in the first few months that Merrym was back in Utah. Here are few of my lessons.
Just because a bathroom says it is 'Handicap Accesible' that is not necessarily true. On one of our outings Merrym and I used the bathroom in a city building. It was great that the doorway was wide enough to get Merrym's wheelchair through, but the door was so heavy that I had a hard time pushing it open, much less Merrym, who was extremely weak. Then, they had a handicap stall with the bars, etc. but the stall was not large enough to get Merrym's wheelchair in and close the door. I had to stand there until she got on the toilet, then rolled her chair out of the stall and closed the door, so she could have some privacy. When she was done she hollered and I opened the door rolling the wheelchair in for her. Oh yes, I didn't mention that Merrym couldn't reach the lock from inside the stall, so I had to hold the door shut. WHAT WOULD SHE HAVE DONE IF SHE WERE BY HERSELF?! Next she had to wash her hands. I was excited to see the low sinks, until I realized the soap dispenser was so far away that she couldn't reach it from the sink. And of course the towel dispenser was above her head. IDEA! Let's get physically challenged people to design the bathrooms!
Most people smile at Merrym, but there was the time we went to the bread store. I was trying to get her in the door, which was very narrow, and there was a man wanting to come out. I had Merrym kind of wedged in the doorway, because I was trying to hold the door open and push her at the same time. I thought maybe this man would help me by pulling Merrym through the door, but NO, he literally stepped right over the top of Merrym, the wheelchair and went on his way. Of course there were a few swear words from him also. I was appalled and so was the store clerk.
Have you ever noticed all the handicap parking in front of stores? Well this is great, but where are the cart racks? Thirty to fifty feet away. Then, there are the handicap parking places along curbs. That's nice, but the place where you can roll a wheelchair up is sometimes a long ways away. So truthfully the handicapped person has to go twice as far.
Another question is; When was the last time you lifted a wheelchair? There all kinds and all sizes. Merrym has had all kinds. Someone needs to come up with a sturdy, strong chair, that is light weight and compact. After you have lifted and struggled with a wheelchair for many years, it takes its toll on your body, especially the back.
Another story is; the people in our church go out every Sunday to eat. One particular Sunday we had just ordered our food, when Merrym needed to go to the bathroom. I of course, helped her, but when we got to the bathroom hall, it was so narrow that I could hardly walk through myself, much less get a wheelchair through. Thus we couldn't even get to the bathroom. I was angry and Merrym was crying. I went and asked if there was another bathroom. They said "no". We left without even canceling our order. All our friends sat and looked sadly after us. I have never set foot in that restaurant since.
LIGHT BULB MOMENT! Let's get more physically challenged people on committees or in jobs to solve these problems or at the least people who care to confer with someone who is physically challenged.
But when you give a banquet invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.
Luke 14:13
Love, Mother Hen Glory
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