I apologize for not posting for the past couple of months, this blog is still active, but I am taking a forced break as I deal with a chronic pain flare that doesn’t seem to want to end. I hope to have new posts again starting in April.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing. – Mark Twain
As a person with a disability I could have lost my sanity a long time ago, if not for my sense of humour. Experiencing inaccessibility on a daily basis is a constant frustration, but every now and again I see an example of an epic fail in regards to accessibility and I just can’t help but laugh. How, I wonder, did this make sense to someone? Following are some examples of extreme fails for ramp accessibility. I may not want to run into these in my daily life, but seeing them on my screen allows me to see the humour in how badly people understood the purpose of the ramps they were creating. I hope you see the humour in it as well. Hopefully by sharing these, we can, in a fun way, educate about the need for well done accessibility; accessibility that actually offers access to people with disabilities. Imagine a person who uses a mobility aid (walker, wheelchair, scooter) or a parent with a stroller trying to use these “accessible” features; unfortunately they happen more often than one would think.
Here is an example of a ramp being provided, but access into the building still being denied. Oftentimes accessibility features are added without full consideration as to whether that particular piece of the puzzle leads to further accessibility. Someone with a mobility device can get up this ramp, but it doesn’t look like there is even enough space on the top step for a mobility device, and even if there were, there is no way to access the entrance as the open door blocks the ramp and top step. They need to reverse this door, so it opens to the right, or make it a push entrance. Seeing this, I can’t help but shake my head and wonder at how it ever made it beyond the planning stages.
“Why yes, we do have a ramp for people with disabilities. It is clearly marked.” No mention of the fact that you need to be a daredevil in order to use this ramp! Yes, it is well marked with the international symbol of accessibility, and it is painted blue (which is considered to be the appropriate colour to highlight access features), but how many people have actually used it? Having a ramp doesn’t mean it succeeds in the purpose of the ramp being usable. Simply paving over steps does not make a ramp. The crazy part of me would love to try this ramp, but then I think my body has enough going on without adding additional injuries caused by a ramp made more for skateboarders than people with mobility devices.
It is nice that a ramp was created for these stairs, however, did they have to choose the one spot that leads directly to a lamp-post? Looking at this ramp, I wonder which came first – the ramp or the lamp? With space on either side, why was the ramp centered to the one spot where there was a barrier? Barriers negating the usability of accessibility features, such as this ramp, are often overlooked, even if it seems obvious to anyone who needs accessibility. Again, how did this possibly get beyond the planning stages? And when the people put in the ramp (or lamp) did they not see a problem? How many people worked on this project without seeing this lay-out as an issue?
Oh, they were so close! They built a ramp that is flat and graded well, not too steep, but then they quit before the job was done. Did they run out of energy? Time? Money? It’s super frustrating to see them come so close to a usable accessibility feature, just one step away, and then… nothing.
Knowledge of accessibility is learned, usually because of a personal need for it, or the need of someone you know. When people do not have a daily need for accessibility is can be easily overlooked or misunderstood. And while some people think of accessibility features, they fall short in the final design, as these photos have proved, often because they did not consult with someone who has experience in Universal Design. Please, if you are going to create an accessible feature, do your research, talk to future users, and make sure your design does not replicate these photos!
Parking:
1. If you do not have a parking decal for the parking space do NOT park in spaces marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility (as shown in photograph). Even if you think you are only stopping for a few minutes do not stop there unless you have the decal. These spaces are limited and in high demand by people who require them.
2. Not all disabilities are visible, do not assume a person does not need the space based on their appearance. People with invisible disabilities often experience attacks by those who believe they are looking out for the people who “really need” the accessible space, but there are people with invisible disabilities who do require the accessible space for mobility or agility reasons.
3. If someone parks in a space without a decal, don’t immediately go into attack mode; ask if they forgot to put up their decal. It is illegal to drive with the decals hanging from your mirror and some people simply forget to put their decal up.
4. If, after asking if they’ve forgotten to put up their decal, they admit they don’t have a decal, explain to them, in a polite manner, the importance of the spaces. Some reasons for needing the accessible spaces include: people who have wheelchair accessible vans and need the additional space to accommodate their lift, people who need the parking spaces closest to the door due to mobility or agility issues, and people in wheelchairs who are are below eye level and therefore in more danger in parking lots where drivers often only look at eye level.
Washrooms:
1. Please do not use the washrooms marked specifically for people with disabilities unless you, yourself, have a disability. The only other two groups who should use these washrooms are: families, particularly those with strollers or parents with children of the opposite sex, and people who are transgendered, who might not feel safe in the men or women washrooms.
2. If there is a large stall marked for people with disabilities in the general washrooms, it is okay to use the accessible stall if all the other stalls are in use. If there are other stalls and you do not need the accessible features in the larger stall, use one of the smaller stalls.
3. If, while waiting in a line, you see a person with a mobility device, it is polite to extend the courtesy of letting them go to the front of the line to wait for the larger accessible stall (as their mobility aid won’t fit in any other stall), or to let them know when the accessible stall is available.
4. People with invisible disabilities sometimes require the use of the accessible washroom, whether it be because of the raised toilet seat or the grab bars, so please don’t automatically assume that a person without a visible disability does not need the accessible features.
Personal Space/Mobility Devices:
Please remember that a person’s mobility device is part of their personal space. Do not lean on or touch a mobility device. Never move a mobility device without first asking for and receiving permission. Do not place items on a mobility device. Do not rest feet or hands on a mobility device. Accept that a mobility device should be treated as an extension of a person’s body. This rule is also applicable to all service dogs. The dogs are considered as part of the personal space of the person who employs them. Service dogs are working dogs and need to be focused on their task, so do not distract the dogs, pet the dogs, or talk to the dogs, no matter how cute they may be.
Communication:
1. Speak directly to people with disabilities. Don’t talk to their companion or assistant unless directed to do so.
2. Don’t slow your speech or speak louder unless requested.
3. Don’t assume that because a person has a visible disability they will have a hard time understanding you. Speak as you would to anyone else.
Line-ups:
Please do not take advantage of cashiers not seeing people in wheelchairs to skip ahead of them in lines. If a cashier has not seen the person please indicate that they were there first. And, again, please remember that a mobility device is personal space so even if you’re tired you should not lean on or rest a limb on or place items on a person’s mobility device.
Thank you for considering these etiquette tips as you shop for the holiday season. The malls are already nutty at this time of the year so civility is appreciated.
