I thought this assignment would be a breeze. I live in a fairly small town where sidewalks are plentiful. People walk everywhere when the weather is nice. I picked a morning when I could go from my house, walk a block to the town hall to drop off my water bill, go another block to the post office to check the mail and then cross the street to the bank. After that it was home again. The notes that I have taken make me realize how thankful I am that I have 2 very able legs and arms and it makes me more aware of these “difficulties” that are everywhere!
My home is a two story historical home that has been gutted and remodeled with a very large addition added to the second story over a new garage. My new doorways are wide enough to accomodate a wheelchair, but my stairs are so narrow that there would be no room for a chair lift. When my parents remodeled they put in an elevator just in case they ever need it!
Once I was on the main level, I realized that no matter what door I would go ou through, I had the quandry of 3 steps. If I pretended that there was a ramp, this would get me to the street level. It was pretty smooth sailing all the way up the sidewalk, a little bumpy though. Once to the town hall, it was accomodated by a ramp. There is a drop slot for the water bill, but if I wanted to go inside, I would have to pull a very heavy door that opens to the outside. This would be very hard from a wheelchair. I decided to use the slot for argument’s sake.
I leave using the ramp and continue to the post office. The sidewalk is newer and very accomodating. The post office is fitted with a ramp also, bu another swinging door. This one swings both ways! Once inside, I realize that my box would be to high to reach from a wheelchair. If I were handicapped, I am sure they would allow me to move my box to a lower level. I leave and go back down the ramp.
As I cross the street to the bank, I have a hard time seeing the coming traffic because of the parked cars. The cross walk ends at a driveway of a local house. I wonder who would win if they were backing out as I was crossing in a wheel chair? There is a small step up to get back on the sidewalk and it is flat to get into the bank. The bank has swinging doors that are heavy and glass, and they swing outward. I suppose that if I couldn’t get in, the tellers would see me and help, but that would not allow for much independance. I also notice that the back entrance to the bank has a set of three steps that would not allow wheel chair access.
As I leave the bank to return home, I realize that it would be very difficult for any handicapped person to live in an older town that did not update to regulation codes. I am fortunate that my hometown is fairly flat and somewhat progressive in their thinking. I am very thankful that I am able to walk back to my home and climb my three steps to my old house. I am also thankful that my eyes have been opened to the many obstacles that any not so able bodied person might encounter. I hope that in the future, civil engineers will realize this need.
