|
|
Post by Sean on Aug 17, 2005 1:25:28 GMT -5
I've just posted a wee bit of an "interlude" in the "Passing in the night" story. No diaper involved this time <grin> transabled.org/content/view/119/34/It's just a short little bit that may interest those of you that want to get a better idea of what "real life as a wheeler" can be... |
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Aug 20, 2005 16:20:31 GMT -5
Your story is really sparking quite the controversy. Just to ask about it in a nonconfrontational environment, how common IS it to bump up and down stairs?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sean on Aug 20, 2005 17:55:23 GMT -5
 Yeah, there is quite a bit of controversy, and I'm actually quite angry at some of the posts on that list. Tom's response I thought was right on the button, but kpendrgn just missed the point. In my experience, it is less than common for people to bump stairs. If it's a question of life or death, yeah. If it's an emergency, yeah. It is, in my experience, a solution of last resort. Now, I ought to qualify that by saying that my interaction with the disability community has been in an area where most PWD were really staunch advocates. I have worked in the disability rights and services field for many years. Heck, I've been arrested for civil disobedience more than once, getting arrested when protesting in State buildings, along with 200-300 other PWD's... So perhaps my perception is skewed by the fact that my friends with disabilities tend to be really assertive about their rights. <shrug> I'm certainly not continuing that debate on that other list. Pointless. <shrug> |
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Aug 20, 2005 18:26:16 GMT -5
The emails got so long, I was just skimming them. Was that first person who replied really saying that a disabled person should throw themself on the dirty ground and drag themself up the stairs if there's no ramp? And that this is an acceptable alternative?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sean on Aug 20, 2005 18:46:14 GMT -5
That was my understanding. I also think that person *is* disabled, but dunno for sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Aug 20, 2005 19:57:28 GMT -5
Have you ever done that? Is this something people do?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sean on Aug 20, 2005 22:25:58 GMT -5
Some people do it, yes. I have had to do it once, to get off a train. I found it a rather uncomfortable experience, physically and emotionally.
Physically, the steps were metalic, cold, and wet from rain. Soaked my pants through and through, hands were cold (and cold damp hands give me pain due to arthritis).
Emotionally, I was stared at by many people. While one gets used to being looked at when one wheels, there are different types of stares, and these were really in the Not Nice category.
<shrug>
|
|
|
|
Post by Triassic on Aug 21, 2005 10:47:36 GMT -5
You do what you have to do. I've had to do that to get into a privvate home, but not a public building since the access is good where I live.
|
|
|
|
Post by wheelie37 on Aug 22, 2005 3:40:57 GMT -5
I have travelled to london a few times on the train. Arranging a ramp to get me off there is not a problem. It is the return journey that is the worry! My local station sometimes forgets to bring out the ramp for me. I can "wheelie" off the train if it is on one side of the platform, but the other side is too high  Fortunately i had a friend with me so they helped me off. It was a worry if i wanted to go by myself so i asked a member of the station what i should do? He suggested using a bag of some sort to jam open the doors. The train won`t move until all the doors are secure so some one will turn up and help me off |
|
Yeah, there is quite a bit of controversy, and I'm actually quite angry at some of the posts on that list. Tom's response I thought was right on the button, but kpendrgn just missed the point.
Fortunately i had a friend with me so they helped me off. It was a worry if i wanted to go by myself so i asked a member of the station what i should do? He suggested using a bag of some sort to jam open the doors. The train won`t move until all the doors are secure so some one will turn up and help me off