Disabled and let's do it?

HB58

Cyclamen wrote: »

Even in the UK with loads of research i ended up unable to visit places i had thought and been told were accesible.

It's often amazing to see what people consider 'accessible' isn't it?! At one cafe I visited recently the 'accessible' toilet was lovely and big, with handrails and everything. Only problem was that it was 3 steps up from ground level...

Indie_Kid

HB58 wrote: »

It's often amazing to see what people consider 'accessible' isn't it?! At one cafe I visited recently the 'accessible' toilet was lovely and big, with handrails and everything. Only problem was that it was 3 steps up from ground level...

Indeed. I've noticed a lot when it comes to companies saying "accessible", they're only covering people with mobility problems and not those of us with sensory impairments.

JacquayDavis

Why you don't want to fly. If you are going to book the airline early then the authority at the airport will know about you and assistance will be provided to you as per your need. So I would recommend Get up and Go. Enjoy your life at its full and don't let your disability hold you back.

wildwestfan

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Indeed. I've noticed a lot when it comes to companies saying "accessible", they're only covering people with mobility problems and not those of us with sensory impairments.

I would honestly not consider sensory impairments when considering accessibility to facililities. What sort of sensory impairments would prevent someone accessing say a loo or getting into a train or onto a bus etc?

I know it's not what you want to hear but quite honestly there cannot possibly be any sort of legislation to cover every possible impairment that anyone has. For goodness sake not everywhere is suitable for me, a profoundly deaf person. My wife is partially sighted with just peripheral vision. We tend to combine abilities and are grateful that there are some concessions for us.

We have to adapt as we live in a non disabled world, certainly we don't expect the world to change to accomodate us.

Indie_Kid

wildwestfan wrote: »

I would honestly not consider sensory impairments when considering accessibility to facililities. What sort of sensory impairments would prevent someone accessing say a loo or getting into a train or onto a bus etc?

I know it's not what you want to hear but quite honestly there cannot possibly be any sort of legislation to cover every possible impairment that anyone has. For goodness sake not everywhere is suitable for me, a profoundly deaf person. My wife is partially sighted with just peripheral vision. We tend to combine abilities and are grateful that there are some concessions for us.

We have to adapt as we live in a non disabled world, certainly we don't expect the world to change to accomodate us.

Er, how about signs that are actually readable? Unless I'm being ridiculously unreasonable in expecting companies to think about more than wheelchair users and think about those of us whose disabilities mean we need large print, Braille, etc?

And it's a bit difficult getting on and off a bus when you can't see well enough to see where the next step ends and the other begins.

Like everyone else, you appear to be clueless.

And why wouldn't you consider sensory impairments? They're disabilities and are just as valid as any other disability. And the law does state that you have to make reasonable adjustments, which does include alternative formats, etc. So your comment about there being no legislation is a load of rubbish.

wildwestfan

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Er, how about signs that are actually readable? Unless I'm being ridiculously unreasonable in expecting companies to think about more than wheelchair users and think about those of us whose disabilities mean we need large print, Braille, etc?

And it's a bit difficult getting on and off a bus when you can't see well enough to see where the next step ends and the other begins.

Like everyone else, you appear to be clueless.

And why wouldn't you consider sensory impairments? They're disabilities and are just as valid as any other disability. And the law does state that you have to make reasonable adjustments, which does include alternative formats, etc. So your comment about there being no legislation is a load of rubbish.

Thing is with the best will in the world the greater world outside your home is never going to be tailored to your exact specifications and to your specific disabilities.

As you are happy to insult me by saying I am 'clueless' about disability perhaps I can return the compliment by suggesting you are extremely 'precious' and appear to expect the world to revolve around you and your issues.

malebolge

wildwestfan wrote: »

Thing is with the best will in the world the greater world outside your home is never going to be tailored to your exact specifications and to your specific disabilities.

As you are happy to insult me by saying I am 'clueless' about disability perhaps I can return the compliment by suggesting you are extremely 'precious' and appear to expect the world to revolve around you and your issues.

I don't think anyone who has any disability expects that places will necessarily be tailored to their own disability. The initial comment was about 'accessibility', and the example used was regarding disabled toilets & steps.
Indie Kid raised an interesting point, and one that I have noticed - that some companies feel that if they have catered to wheelchair users, they have fulfilled their duty. Almost as if people with other, unseen disabilities are in some way not 'properly' disabled.
I accept that some places aren't suitable for my wheelchair. That's life. I've been carted round in a service lift in a hotel (where I was a speaker at a conference) and told apologetically that as it was a listed building there were limits as to what they could do.
What must be annoying is to go to somewhere that has no constraints, and happily boasts 'disabled facilities' only to find that they have not thought beyond the chair, so to speak.
My local garden centre, for example. Disabled toilets - yes. Staff on hand to help me in the restaurant & with purchases - yes. Menus in large print or braille - no. Descriptions of plants in either of these - no. In fact, nothing to cater for anyone other than me, who as a wheelchair user, am one of the 'favourably disabled'. In hotels I've stayed in, none of the large chains have braille/large print info packs as standard in disabled rooms.
It isn't being precious to expect that if a company has an accessibility statement, that they should consider a wider range of disabilities, it's reasonable.

wildwestfan

malebolge wrote: »

I don't think anyone who has any disability expects that places will necessarily be tailored to their own disability. The initial comment was about 'accessibility', and the example used was regarding disabled toilets & steps.
Indie Kid raised an interesting point, and one that I have noticed - that some companies feel that if they have catered to wheelchair users, they have fulfilled their duty. Almost as if people with other, unseen disabilities are in some way not 'properly' disabled.
I accept that some places aren't suitable for my wheelchair. That's life. I've been carted round in a service lift in a hotel (where I was a speaker at a conference) and told apologetically that as it was a listed building there were limits as to what they could do.
What must be annoying is to go to somewhere that has no constraints, and happily boasts 'disabled facilities' only to find that they have not thought beyond the chair, so to speak.
My local garden centre, for example. Disabled toilets - yes. Staff on hand to help me in the restaurant & with purchases - yes. Menus in large print or braille - no. Descriptions of plants in either of these - no. In fact, nothing to cater for anyone other than me, who as a wheelchair user, am one of the 'favourably disabled'. In hotels I've stayed in, none of the large chains have braille/large print info packs as standard in disabled rooms.
It isn't being precious to expect that if a company has an accessibility statement, that they should consider a wider range of disabilities, it's reasonable.

I think I probably just got a bit annoyed at being informed I am clueless about disability issues.

As I said I am profoundly deaf. Should anywhere I wish to go have someone who can sign to me? Of course not. I do ensure when in hotels that reception staff are aware that I wouldn't hear the fire alarms and they are then able to meet that particular need if necessary. I need a wheelchair for distances over about 50 metres, airports and railway stations look after me so carefully. I am very grateful, without this help I probably couldn't travel.

My wife has extremely poor sight because of wet macular degeneration. All the supermarkets and the big stores like M&S are happy to allocate a staff member to guide her round and help with her shopping. She simply has to ask.

What more should we be expecting? I do feel that it is OK for assistance to be provided on an 'as required' basis. I am sure there is cost associated and where does it end?

whodathunkit

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Er, how about signs that are actually readable? Unless I'm being ridiculously unreasonable in expecting companies to think about more than wheelchair users and think about those of us whose disabilities mean we need large print, Braille, etc?

And it's a bit difficult getting on and off a bus when you can't see well enough to see where the next step ends and the other begins.

Like everyone else, you appear to be clueless.

And why wouldn't you consider sensory impairments? They're disabilities and are just as valid as any other disability. And the law does state that you have to make reasonable adjustments, which does include alternative formats, etc. So your comment about there being no legislation is a load of rubbish.

But, equally, you're assuming that all people with mobility problems are in wheelchairs which they're not. As an example, slopes are great for people in wheelchairs and scooters but not necessarily for those on foot. Often, a slope can mean a long walk and be much harder than a couple of steps, if only decent handrails were put in.

Parva

JacquayDavis wrote: »

Why you don't want to fly. If you are going to book the airline early then the authority at the airport will know about you and assistance will be provided to you as per your need. So I would recommend Get up and Go. Enjoy your life at its full and don't let your disability hold you back.

Purely for the reasons that have been outlined several times in this thread. Please try reading the thread.