I have a new view on designs and designers. Since I broke my ankle I have been in a wheelchair and I am now using a walker. The Dr insisted I must only put 50 pounds of weight on my foot. Trying to decide how much 50 pounds of weight is was a real dilemma.
I understand that designers are trying to design everything to be handicap accessible, but I have decided they need to try the wheelchair to understand what handicap accessible really means. Beautiful ramps in front of buildings are not easy to use if they are slick!
We are spending the winter at an active resort with a beautiful bathroom that is completely handicap accessible, NOT! The shower area is huge and my wheelchair fits easily into the area. The towel and clothes hooks are abundant BUT they are so high I am not able to reach them. These hooks were hung by a standing person and they are about eye high, way to high for me to reach. The sink and mirror are way to high for me to reach without being able to stand. The shower is large with a seat, but there isn’t a bar on the wall to help steady myself while pulling myself to the seat. The seat is not securely on the wall and I was afraid if used it might just pull off the wall. Luckily there was a portable seat to use. The stationary seat was at the back of the large shower making it impossible to reach the water control, but I was able to position the portable seat in the correct area. In front of the shower was a large no slip mat making it very difficult to get my wheelchair onto it without a struggle and then it was very hard to push my chair away from the shower once I got in. The water control was in the perfect spot and next to the control was the removable shower head, but the shower head was positioned for a standing person to reach it! Luckily I had Duf with me the first time so he could hang the removal head down where I could reach it.
When water is turned on it usually comes out cold for a few seconds and then gradually heats up and the proper temperature is selected. The shower head was at the normal height and covered the normal shower area BUT it did not turn off so when I turned on the shower expecting water to only come from the removable head it came from both heads! I had what seemed like hours, but was only seconds, of ice water pouring down on me to begin my first after hospital and much desired shower! My cast was encased in waterproof plastic, but it was still a shock to be hit with ice water and then realize my cast could be getting wet. Finally, the water warmed and I was able to quickly shower while worrying that my cast was getting wet because the shower head being turned off was not an option. Dashed my desire for a long hot shower!
Duf was a doll and hung my clean clothes and towels on the hooks, but when I was ready to dry off and dress I could not reach them. I did not want to try to stand because the floor was moist and so was my good foot. I was so happy to take a shower, but in tears over the problems!
So designers get in a wheelchair before you design handicapped assessable items!
Our solution was to get a new shower installed at his mothers so I could take a daily shower when he went to check on her. Plus she needed a new shower for herself. Everything in her shower is perfect for handicap accessible except there is a 6 inch front on the bottom that I must scale to get in the shower. Six inches doesn’t seem like much until you have one leg BUT we had two hand rails installed in just the right places so it is doable!
I love taking showers again! Her shower is beautiful and I needed the extra toilet height because her toilet is so low! I also use the potty chair as my height when I get into the shower! A total win for everyone!!!!
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