This weekend we took a road trip to Indianapolis to see my dad, and a couple of accessibility issues came up along the way.
Just ask if you need help
While we were on the way home this afternoon, we stopped at a McDonald’s and I noticed a sign next to the condiments. I wish I’d had good batteries in the camera so I could show you, but basically it showed an icon of a person in a wheelchair and read, Please ask and our employees will be happy to help you if you need any assistance.
This struck me as a little odd. Although I think it’s great that they’re trying to be helpful, it seems inconvenient, if I’m in a wheelchair and can’t reach the ketchup dispenser, to have to go find someone who’s not busy to help me get ketchup. It made me think about design and accessibility.
May I help you maneuver your mouse?
Can you imagine if a website offered to (or even had the ability to) turn on an “accessibility” function that would send someone to your house to move your mouse and click for you if you had trouble navigating a web site?
Why is it that the counter couldn’t have been lower, or could there be a separate condiment area for handicapped patrons? There are separate high contrast stylesheets for those who need it. Why not a little more help for those in wheelchairs?
Why are changing tables typically found in the handicap stall?
Speaking of… I spend a lot of time in handicap stalls (way more than I like) because the changing tables are usually in there. I feel guilty, and yet I was thinking today, how many people probably use them all the time, not thinking of it the same as a handicap parking spot.
What makes it different? Do we think the odds are no one will come in who needs the stall in the few moments we’re using it? How is that different from the person who says they’re just going in for a minute so it’s okay to park in that spot even though there’s a great big blue sign on it.
I’m not sure what the point is, but…
…I felt like sharing my random thoughts. What do you think? And for pete’s sake, why don’t they have more changing tables in the men’s restroom too? Sheesh.
Karen of Scottsdale left a comment on March 31, 2008 at 2:33 pm | #
Good question, Natalie. As a lifelong wheelchair user I’ve often wondered the same thing about handicap stalls having changing tables. Maybe they figure some of us wheelchair users might actually have babies? I don’t have any children but I know of wheelchair using women who do have kids. However, it’s kind of hard to reach the changing table if it’s too high, which usually the case.
That funny sign in McDonald’s reminds me of the one I see on department store doors. A sign on the door using the handicap symbol explains that their employees will be happy to assist you. Now if I could just figure out how to get their attention when I want to get through the door that I cannot open to enter the store? LOL
One time at church I tried to use the single stall “family” restroom which is the only one that’s wheelchair accessible. It seems that the nursery staff decided it was the appropriate place for mothers to breast-feed their babies in privacy. Well, it was not very nice to me when I had to go to the bathroom and couldn’t because the door was locked from the inside. I had no idea who was in there and wondered why it was taking so very long only to find out that it was a mother breast-feeding. Breast-feeding generally takes a lot longer than going to the bathroom and if you really have to go it’s not very nice to have to wait that long! (OK enough with the rants!)
One more thing — one of the shopping malls here in the Phoenix metro area has handicap parking along with pregnant women parking and mothers of infants parking. I guess everyone wants a spot near the door. I just want one that has a space on the side wide enough to get my ramp out of the van with room for my wheelchair to exit.
Natalie left a comment on March 31, 2008 at 2:58 pm | #
Karen, I’m so glad you responded. I’ve thought about you a lot actually. Something else I forgot to mention was aisles in stores. I’m seeing things come to my attention since the twins came since my double stroller is double wide, not double long. I’ve found it difficult to get through doorways and down aisles where junk is in the way, trying to “sell” to me but clearly not to accommodate. I find myself repeating often, “I’m sure glad I’m not in a wheelchair” and not flippantly at all, but truly in wonder at how you must get along.
To clarify about the changing table issue, I didn’t mean to imply they shouldn’t be there because handicapped women don’t have children, but that inside a stall is not the place for a changing table. Unfortunately, whoever is in charge of designing these restrooms don’t account for the space needed for a changing table and they end up throwing it in that stall.
And about the pregnancy parking, I wish more places had at least one spot (though definitely not over handicap spots). When I was in my last trimester with the twins it was difficult to walk. It hurt terribly just to get to the store from the car, no matter where I parked and then to walk all over the store getting what I needed… I ended up only shopping at those stores with closer parking. However, I think it should be limited to the second half of the pregnancy and not afterward. I see too many women trying to count a 9-12 month old as an “infant” and even toddlers.
BUT… your point about the width around the space is spot on! I can’t believe all the “blue” spots I see with no space around them. But then, there are lots of people these days qualifying as “handicapped” who’ve never used a wheelchair. I know a couple of people who have injuries or other ailments that leave them with a severe limp, but most of the people I’ve seen in those blue spots lately have had no visible problem with their ability to walk into the store from a normal parking spot.
Finally, about the “family restroom” - I agree with you. I suppose there could be a separate handicap restroom or they need to have a “family” area somewhere other than the restroom. At my church there is a couple of couches and chairs in a sitting area inside the women’s restroom for breastfeeding. It’s separate from the stalls too, so it’s pretty comfortable. Then, there are two great big stalls for wheelchairs, AND a separate changing area completely.
Do you know if there are places you can call or write to where you could suggest better handicap allowances?
Karen of Scottsdale left a comment on March 31, 2008 at 10:14 pm | #
Yeah, grocery stores and clothing stores are a headache to navigate.
To my knowledge there isn’t one catch-all repository for accessibility issues. If something really bugs me I start with the place of business and tell them what doesn’t work. If they are in violation of the building codes I report them to local authorities only if they don’t try to make accommodations.
'Mas left a comment on April 3, 2008 at 10:32 am | #
Our daughter and her husband both have Cerebral Palsey - he is chair-bound. They moved to the Mesa area 7 months ago and their search for an accessible apartment was enlightening. Seems that Arizona is opting to not comply with the ADA. An accessible apartment is merely a 1st floor apartment. If you need wider doorways or ramps, it’s on the renter not the landlord. We were shocked to discover this.
Wal-Mart, who’s supposed to be more mindful of accessibility concerns, will not allow employees from other departments to assist our daughter when she has to lift something heavier than she can manage in her department.
Guess I’ve been saving that up for a bit. :|
Natalie left a comment on April 3, 2008 at 11:01 am | #
‘Mas I’m really sorry to hear things like that. That bit about WalMart is just crap though. I can’t believe someone would do that, refuse to help anyone if they’re able. It’s hard to believe that’s actually a policy, but if it is, I’m sure it doesn’t apply to people needing physical assistance (as opposed to “where can I find ____”). Either way, the employee would be wrong not to help, policy or none.
It reminds me of Ephesians 6:1 which has been AJ’s memory verse this week, which says,
I’ve explained to her that “in the Lord” essentially means that if Mom and Dad are not obeying the Lord then she has an out. For example, if Mom tells her to lie or to steal, she is not to obey Mom but obey the Lord first and not lie or steal.
Seems that in this case, the WM employee should obey Right before any company policy that is Wrong. Of course, this requires a basic sense of what is right and the common sense to act on it, and sadly lots of people don’t have those.