Experiencing what it is like to be disabled, even if it’s only for a couple of months, brings awareness about accessibility. Much has been done, but so much more could be done.
A few weeks ago Dave had an operation on his foot. It wasn’t extremely serious, but it had to be done sooner or later if he wanted to pursue an active lifestyle. And Dave clearly does. A full recovery is virtually certain, but it means no weight-bearing on his foot for about two months. Instead of selecting crutches, which used to be the main mode of getting around, Dave selected a scooter, a nonmotorized wheeled device with handlebars, brakes and a knee/leg rest.
Independence
It has been a pleasant surprise to see how quickly Dave is able to get around, particularly inside where surfaces are flat and clear. He isn’t able to carry things around on the scooter, but other than that he can do much of what he needs to do for himself.
Questioning looks
The device has also attracted a lot of questions and stares from other people. Many have never seen anything like it and they have been interested in learning more. Dave always obliges with answers to their questions.
Part of the way through Dave’s recovery process a couple of things have surprised Dave and me.
Surprising inaccessibility
Much work remains to be done to make public areas fully accessible. With one fully functional leg and good upper body strength, Dave is able, in many sub-optimal situations, to flip around his scooter so that he can get where he needs to go. This is not the situation for many people in wheelchairs or on crutches or even on scooters if they lack the same strength and flexibility.
In other instances, no amount of adjusting can make a usable route for the scooter. All too often there are no ramps and no elevators. There are stairs and drops going into buildings. Some intersections continue to have hard drops to the crosswalk. These anomalies mean that someone is always needed to help Dave navigate the hazards.
Common courtesy
The other surprise is the general unawareness of some people to a person who needs a little more space and a little more time. This is particularly true entering and exiting elevators. This isn’t a one-off situation but so pervasive that we can’t help but notice.
Again, Dave has a lot of flexibility and about as much agility as you might expect for someone with an assistive device, maybe even more. But the behavior of others in crowding him and pushing in front of him has been risky for him.
Improving accessibility
In our general day-to-day existence we would not think about what it is like for people in wheelchairs, on crutches or on scooters. With Dave’s condition we are now acutely aware of surroundings and routes that can and cannot work for him. Some fixes to problems appear to be quick and inexpensive. Others appear to need more effort and more cost to resolve.
Dave’s situation is temporary. Before we know it, he will be back on both feet, fully mobile. But now that we have some experience with accessibility issues we won’t forget what it is like. Wherever we can have an impact on the accessibility of physical spaces, we’ll do our part. We’ll make sure that we respect people who need a little bit more time and space and be ready to help those who may need it.
Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.
