So, with ALL of this snow, it’s been kinda difficult to get around. Wheels and snow don’t really mix very well. I had to get gas this morning before going to work and with all the melt-y snow, things are much harder for me. I had to wait for a pump to get clear because the pumps that were not in use (there were 3 of them) had big pools of water right in front of them. My wheels and water don’t mix very well either. I have to push myself through the water and then my hands get wet. Add the freezing cold outside to wet hands and that is REALLY NOT COOL! But I was jammin’ to Sara (Bareilles) as I waited and I had already called work and told them what I needed to do before coming in so it was okay.
Luckily foir me, the gas station was free of any snow on the ground by the pumps. What I have run into at numerous places is that the spaces (disabled spaces especially) are not cleared very well. I can’t get out of the driver’s seat and get secure footing on snow, slush, or ice. It’s just the nature of my disease I suppose. Otherwise, I can’t get out of my car and transfer into my wheelchair safely. I am not always at Barwis so Connor doesn’t come out and shovel for me or Phil doesn’t lift me out of my car and put me in my wheelchair so I have a spade in my trunk so Sean will clear out the ground where I need to step for me (sometimes he has had to break up ice). Sean was at Winter conditioning for track and I went to the store in the time between dropping him off and picking him up. I couldn’t get out of the car safely. Thanks to Tommy, I was able to because he helped me out and shoveled the snow and slush away (with my spade) so I could stand.
Also, piling the snow in the spaces beside the disabled parking spaces is not GREAT because disabled spots are that big for a reason. We NEED the room. Piling snow in front of the one ramp to get into your establishment is also NOT COOL! Disabled people matter too! No matter what the weather is!