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Wheelchair access in shops
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Like I said, my main objection to trying it with the Tesco chairs is the potential for depriving the use of it from someone who might need it. Our local Tesco is an enormous "Extra" and they have like 3 manual chairs which may or may not work.
That said, we do have a backup chair on order. She's ordered a Quickie Helium for when we travel together as the Kuschall Champion is too heavy for me to lift without hurting my back, so when that arrives we may well revisit the idea.
Only problem is, I'll be terrified of breaking such an expensive chair!
As for the other disabilities you suggested to try. My only experience of blindness is from doing a training thing at the local fire station back in my school days. It was supposed to simulate being in thick smoke, but the principle of not being able to see and trying to avoid walking into things while trying to find something is hopefully similar, though I realise it's not in the same league as I didn't have to deal with cars or people wandering about not paying attention etc.
For hearing, need to get my partner to do that, then maybe she'll stop trying to hold a detailed conversation with me from two rooms away!
No idea what you mean with jelly and singe cream sorry.0 -
My suggestion of trying out a day in wheelchair was not meant in any way to deprive another of the use of one, but I honestly think if people understood how inaccessible places were and how it feels to be "trodden over" ( this is the most disgusting form of ignorance and incredibly common).
Another lady I cared for had one of those chair powered by a joystick type thing, now when she had gotten into bed one night, she asked if I would like to try it out, I did and it was bloody hard work, you have to have a whole new sense of proportion!
I don't think it would be absurd to let kids in schools try using them, kids form opinions on things they understand, so get them to understand and they just might grow up with some consideration for wheelchair users and others with access issues.Won 2012:Bobbi Brown Mascara / TRIA System
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OneYorkshireLass wrote: »It always saddens me when people stare when I'm walking with a stick. Mostly it's young children whose parents just ignore what they are doing,Signature removed for peace of mind0
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My suggestion of trying out a day in wheelchair was not meant in any way to deprive another of the use of one, but I honestly think if people understood how inaccessible places were and how it feels to be "trodden over" ( this is the most disgusting form of ignorance and incredibly common).
I've seen people walk into my partner's chair even when I'm with her, but her biggest complaint is people who think it's ok to just move her around, which is why she ordered a chair where the handles can be folded down and rendered inaccessible, which lead to this amusing exchange a few weeks back:I'm making my way into the local sandwich shop. It has a small step at the door, which I can get up fairly easily. This conversation starts as I'm pushing the door open.
Confused guy: Hey, do you need any help?
Me: No thanks I'm fine.
Confused guy: Okay I'll just lift you up.
Me: No, I said I'm ...
Confused guy: Hey, I can't push you! You've got no handles!
Me, turning to face him: Yes, I know, it's to stop people pushing me after I've told them I don't want any help.
He stands bolt upright with a mixture of shock and confusion, turns sharply to his right, and disappears from view at speed.Another lady I cared for had one of those chair powered by a joystick type thing, now when she had gotten into bed one night, she asked if I would like to try it out, I did and it was bloody hard work, you have to have a whole new sense of proportion!
I don't think it would be absurd to let kids in schools try using them, kids form opinions on things they understand, so get them to understand and they just might grow up with some consideration for wheelchair users and others with access issues.
Funny you should mention school kids and power chairs. When I was about 8 or 9 or so, a local elderly person let me have a go on his chair, riding on his lap and driving it with the joystick. Having spent a lot of time at computer games I thought this would be no problem.
I think I managed about 3 metres before he had to stop me as I'd been drifting to the left due to the steeply sloped pavement and was about to go over the edge of the curb.
I did a bit better a few years later with my grandmas's scooter, only real fail I had with that one was when I tried to pull on the brakes, like a pushbike, and it just carried on going!
At the time I thought it was a silly design decision to put a second accelerator where the brake should be, until someone explained that it was for people who might not be able to use their legs!0 -
Oh jeez, your partner must get frustrated, can you imagine someone asking an "able-bodied" person if they could just move them...:o Unbelievable really.
I just think its a shame, kids are taught about all different cultures and religious festivals at school, but not really about disabilities. My niece (8) has a friend in school who recently broke her leg and was given crutches (with the choice of a wheelchair too) and was kept inside at breaktimes because of the bullying, my niece volunteered to stay in with her at breaks and lunch, and they have both become masters of the crutch! I thought it was worth mentioning as the little girls mum actually bought my niece a gift and was in tears as she hadnt known what to do. Though she has been brought up well, she now understands what its like to be disabled and that it doesnt make you incapable.Won 2012:Bobbi Brown Mascara / TRIA System
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I so agree about the texting thing - drives me mad! I have got my confidence now & will actually just say loudly 'Look out!!!' if someone's walking towards me texting or on the phone!
Re staring, I find the best response, especially with children, is to smile - kids either smile back or look away, and adults are embarrassed by being caught out staring! The funniest thing to me is toddlers in pushchairs - they just gawp cos they don't know any better & they can't quite believe there's an adult sitting in a buggy! I've had some lovely conversations with little ones while we're parked next to each other in lifts!0 -
I agree with your wife about being moved! Drives me nutty & I've actually just let go of a carer - yes, a 'carer' - partly for that reason! I'd be looking at something on a shelf & she'd just move me without asking if I was done. She also had the habit of parking me facing a wall, which was bizarre to say the least! She'd also gently rock me back & forth like a baby - as I have balance issues, I'd get quite nauseous! What with that plus her tendency to race me over pot-holes as if we were in F1, it was time for her to go!
I've got in the habit of putting my brakes on now, whenever I stop -- it's a nuisance as it's painful, but it does at least keep me in control!
The best lesson re the moving thing is the sketch from The Office, where Ricky Gervais moves his colleague, who is in a wheelchair, as if she is a bag of bones.0 -
Although schools don't teach Disability Awareness, Guiding does. I am a Rainbow and Brownie guider and as an organisation we are fully inclusive (I realise that some leaders are more comfortable with accepting disabled children than others). We have a programme to follow and can choose from many options within that programme. One of the Brownie badges (for girls age 7-10) is Disability Awareness, which gives activities about mobility, sight and hearing. Brownies also have to find out about two other disabilities.
Rianbows (age 5-7) don't have specific badges, but disability awareness can still be covered in the programme. I'm not as familiar with Guides, so I'm not sure if they have a specific interest badge, but I do know that this can be covered in their programme too.
I find that the girls in my unit tend to enjoy learning about disabilities. They all know someone who has a disability, often someone in their school, and this can lead to some interesting discussions with them. Questions in the past, that have lead to further discussion, include why someone speaks differently or not at all, why someone in their school looks like my son (my lad has Down's syndrome), why someone wears a hearing aid and what would happen if they didn't wear it, why some people have a wheelchair, why some wheelchairs need someone to push them and others have a joystick instead, what is autism, why do some children go to a different school instead of their school (in some cases the disabled child attends mainstream school for an afternoon and special school the rest of the week).
In addition to having children with disabilities in my units over the years, I have had several girls who have had disabled brothers or sisters, or occasionally parents. The other girls accept disabled children easily, although they might ask questions. I am a firm believer in answering questions within a child's ability to understand, but obviously there are concerns over children's privacy. In many cases, I can relate the girls' questions to my own son, so I do that. The general answer from the girls tends to be along the lines of 'Oh, ok then', and then they go back to their activities.
http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/brownies/badges/disability.html0 -
Kingfisher, I must admit than when I read your first lines about Brownies being taught 'disability awareness', I was skeptical & thought it would be tokenism but, having read on & having looked at the link you attached, it's much more thna that. It's clear that the children are taught real info, rather than just the 'be nice to the disabled kid' kind of attitude.
It's also interesting to see info on the link that I didn't know myself until I became disabled - some of those children will face disability of themselves/friends or family members in the future & that info is givng them a head-start. If only all organizations took such an active role - perhaps this is the future &, for coming generations, this discussion won't even be neccessary!0 -
Many guiders take disability awareness seriously - they invite representatives from charities such as Guide Dogs for the Blind to come to the unit to talk to the girls, and in return, they fundraise for the charity. Others take on the role of adviser for members with disabilities, to help guiders who may need further information or help.
Personally, I am an adviser and I also use Makaton at times when it is appropriate. I have taken in my son's wheelchair for the girls to experience both pushing and being pushed. I regularly discuss disabilities, as they are a part of everyday life for me - and if they are mentioned at appropriate times, it becomes less frightening for the kids. I think that fear is a big factor in people treating disabled people differently. Take away the fear, make disability 'normal', and it becomes more acceptable - and the kids can teach their parents a thing or two at times!
Later this year, I'm hoping to create a collage of disabled people with the girls, to celebrate the Paralympics. It will be accompanied by lots of discussion, several activities, and plenty of fun!0
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