Category: Books and NOT COOL Stuff

Here are some books I am currently reading, books I WANT to read, books that I LOVE, or books that I refence in my posts, and some NOT COOL things about being a disabled person in a world that isn’t TRULY wheelchair accessible.

NOT COOL Stuff #5

So, I was faced with this scene and I had to snap a picture because it baffled me a bit.

DISABLED PEOPLE MATTER TOO!!!

What happens when a baby needs to be changed at the same time a disabled person has to use the bathroom?!

And a wheelchair DOESN’T fit through the door with the garbage can in the way!  I know because I tried.

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Book Reference #3

Referenced in: Barwis Methods: My Hands

My hands STILL felt NOT NORMAL this morning. I knew I would call Parker from work (I since have; my appoinment is on Monday (6.30) before Barwis) and this morning, before I got in the shower, I channeled Hazel from The Fault in Our Stars and told my wrists to, “Get your sh** together!” Man!, this journey “ain’t NO joke!” but it IS going to be worth it!!! I’m CERTAIN of it!!!

Hazel told her lungs to “Keep your sh** together.”

 

NOT COOL Stuff #6

I had to use the restroom when entering a restaurant and see this:

 

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I think it’s great that the highchairs are all put away nicely out of the way, but how is a wheelchair going to get into the restroom door?  (The door’s on the left)

DISABLED PEOPLE MATTER TOO!!!

 

 

NOT COOL Stuff #7

I had to stop off at a store this morning with my son and I come out of the store and am greeted by this:

I drive the white car and was unable to get into my car because:

Once the car moved, I NEED that room to open door, transfer, & stow my chair away. Disabled People Matter Too

This is how much room I need.  Once the person came out of the store and moved their car I could get into mine.  I don’t know what is worse.  Parking where I can’t get to my car or the condescending “sorry” that accompanies them moving their car.
NOT a great start to my day to say the least!!!
DISABLED PEOPLE MATTER TOO!!!

NOT COOL Stuff #8

I started this tab titled “Books and NOT COOL Stuff” back in late November for 2 reasons.  #1 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE books!!!  And #2, I wanted to shed light on some of the perils of being disabled.  It STINKS being in a wheelchair and for reasons that MOST able-bodied people don’t realize.  The step in my front door way (#1) Is NOT COOL and gloves in the winter (#2) can also be NOT COOL.

But then I realized that public places can ALSO be NOT COOL so I started taking pics of these NOT COOL things  to spread some awareness that DISABLED PEOPLE MATTER TOO!!!  I tweet these pics and write in #DPM2 because we DO and I wanted to share some people’s obtuseness and say that it TRULY is NOT COOL!!!

I tweeted this picture yesterday.

This particular movie theater NEVER has disabled parking spaces probably because of abuse/misuse of disabled parking passes (but that is another issue).  My son and I had to park far away and make our own spot (because I need the room (#7).  We saw The Fluffy Movie (HILARIOUS!!!) .  It was raining when the movie let out and we were parked far from the door so my son was pushing me quickly.  I think there used to be a ramp here but with the settlement of the asphalt, not anymore.

Stinks that there is no ramp but it stinks EVEN MORE in the rain so we had to double back like 30 yards, go down the ramp, and walk/roll in the street for about 30 yards at about 7:30 IN THE RAIN!!!  Not the safest thing (being pushed by a 12-year-old at dusk in the street, IN THE RAIN!!!)

If I had to rate these NOT COOL instances that I have encountered; I think this one would be PRETTY high!!!

NOT COOL Stuff #9

The ONLY reason this is NOT COOL is because this is the FIRST TIME that I have seen one of these windows.

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We ALL have been to these types of establishments.  It is the trendy design thing now to have high counters where you go to pick up the food and/or drink that you ordered.  What do you do when you are 4’1?!  I know.  You crane your neck and back up so maybe you can be seen by the food/drink preparers.  When that doesn’t get you noticed, a loud, “excuse me” is needed that embarrasses me an a lot of times the person I am addressing.

Yesterday, I felt included at seeing this pick up window.  I almost got teary-eyed.  Kudos that this place knew that disabled people matter too!  It’s NOT COOL that this is NOT the norm because #DPM2.

#DPM2 In The Rain

I am a prideful being to a fault and am working on accepting help because I NEED it.  People often see my chair topper  in motion and comment that it is cool.  I always reply, “Except in the rain.” (Chair topper = NOT COOL in the rain.) I qualify that answer by explaining that the chair topper operates at 1 speed.  There is no “ramming speed” for it in the rain so I am exposed to the elements for the duration of its operation and get soaked.

Additionally, people often offer to help move me physically (be it moving my limbs or pushing my chair).  They ask if they can give me a hand to which I reply with a smile, “Two legs would be nice!”  Although help would be appreciated and often NEEDED.  Pushing a wheelchair IS rocket science (I have been run into many people and things when I am at the mercy of novice drivers).  Moving the limbs of someone who has MS (for me) is near impossible at times, (Just ask Phil!) and is painful.

So, people have offered to help me which I very often decline but no one has ever done this for me.  I retweeted this pic and got a 10 favorites and 6 retweets.  I think that would be helpful because #DPM2. (Disabled People Matter Too)

NOT CCOOL Stuff #10

It’s been a while since I have had to post a pic out something NOT COOL but I was met by something NOT COOL when my son and I finished dinner.  Normally, I don’t like to say where I am but the parking situation in this case was a city lot.  I am approaching my car (my son pushes me when it is SO COLD and SNOWY like it still is) and as we get closer, I see this:

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Well, there are a few problems with this picture: 1. The other car is parked on the line for my parking space (isn’t that illegal?!) 2. I’ve given my self some space but I couldn’t give my self any more because to the right of my car was the walkway/ramp to get out of the parking lot and go to the various businesses/restaurants so I could not block that.  3. I think this is the main problem.  I see it ALL THE TIME and here is where people need to realize that Disabled People Matter Too (#DPM2 – I already tweeted this pic).  Not all disabled people are the passengers in a vehicle so therefore, diagonal lines need to be placed on either side of a disabled parking space.  I’ve said it before that disabled parking spaces need to be larger for a reason.  I love my 2012 Malibu because the doors open wider than normal.  I need to open the door all of the way to fit my wheelchair next to the driver’s seat door so I can transfer into the driver’s seat.  In this case, I relied heavily on my son to get me into the car because I was not able to open the driver’s side door completely.  It was a good thing that it was Boneless Wing Thursday and my son has to eat too because what would I do if I were alone?!