So after being in bed for almost 2 weeks with my foot elevated post-surgery, hubby & I had date night at the movies. We saw #ProudMary and loved it. We went to one of those movie bistros so that I wouldn’t have to do too much. BUT...1/? #spoonie
As much as our communities have become more “accessible”, they really haven’t. Let’s start with the walk from the car to the theater using my knee scooter. This is a new development and someone thought offset brick was a good idea. It ain’t 2/? #spoonie
Offset brick means that every 3 steps, the wheels of my scooter get pulled in the wrong direction. My crutches were even worse as the unevenness meant walking was uneven so scooter it was. But that’s not all. #spoonie 3/?
“Thankfully” like most buildings, the theater entrance has a ♿️ door. I had pre-purchased our tickets online and chosen our seats. The staff was very friendly & helpful. The next problem came when I had to go to the bathroom. #spoonie 4/?
Picture it. Me and Ethel the scooter speed down the hall to the bathroom and the door isn’t accessible. It did open in. The accessible stall fit both of us. I could reach to wash my hands but had to stand on my tiptoes to reach the towels. #spoonie 5/?
If I were in a wheelchair and not on a knee scooter, I wouldn’t have been able to wash my hands or reach the towels at all. Here comes the best part...when I was done, I couldn’t open the door because it opened in. #spoonie 6/?
“Thankfully” someone came out of another stall and let me out of the bathroom. This all has me realizing how much my disability being normally invisible had me missing about those whose is quite visible and how much more we still need to go to be accessible #spoonie 7/?
Architects, builders, designers, etc need to consult with everyone who will be using a space not just comply with basic ADA guidelines. We are doing a disservice to so many when we don’t. #spooning 8/?
It never occurred to me before today that most buildings have ♿️ entrances but not to the bathrooms even when there are special stalls. I will eventually not need the scooter and move on to a cane and then nothing. #spoonie 9/?
Eventually I will be back to being invisible in my disability which has its own share of problems. But this country still has a way to go to make places accessible for people for whom a disability is not invisible. #spoonie 10/end
