[Ansteorra] mobility issues

[Susan Hill]

I will admit to using the handicapped stalls, but try to do so if there is 
no one that needs it more than I at the time. I am not what anyone would 
call 'handicapped' but I do find that some facilities have seats that are 
much lower than my knees want to bend, especially if I have been on my feet 
a lot during the day. I am also not as petite as I was in high school and as 
I hit the mid century mark, find that maneuvering in some of these stalls is 
dang near impossible, especially in a long gown. There are many places where 
I have had to straddle the toilet in order to open or close the door to the 
stall. As far as using it to change clothes...Yeah, I've done that too, but 
rarely and I try to do it quickly and only to a point where I am reasonably 
'decent' so that I am not exposing something everytime the door to the 
restroom is opened.

Most of us don't mean to be inconsiderate, but there are facility design 
issues that are problems for us, too, and as has been mentioned 
before...just because we don't look 'handicapped' doesn't mean that we don't 
have mobility issues. Handicapped facillities are not 'just' for handicapped 
people. A place must have X number of stalls in total and y percent of them 
must be handicapped accessible. They are still included in the total number 
which includes facilities for ALL people. Anyone can use them, but it is 
expected that non-handicapped people will give handicapped persons priority. 
I think that most of us do just that, IF we know that someone has a 
disabilty. If we don't, then it is possible that a handicapped person will 
end up waiting...possibly for a non handicapped person who is having a bit 
of trouble moving about after a long day. Heaven knows we all have taken our 
turn at waiting in most places.

Most events have web pages or advertisements in the Blackstar or other 
publications. I don't know of anyone who would get upset at getting a call 
or email from someone asking about parking, camping, or anything else and I 
truly believe that most stewards would go over backwards to make 
accomodations available if possible. To drive a long distance and find that 
an event is not prepared for people with disabilities is frustrating, I am 
sure, but a simple phone call or email would make such a trip either 
unnecessary or at least have things taken care of before you got there.

Communication seems to be key to a lot of the things that have been 
discussed here. I see a lot of comments about problems, but little about 
things that have gone well as seems to be the norm. Again we appear to do a 
lot of complaining, but little acknowledging of the positive aspects of 
things. Things don't change if we don't make positive efforts at them, but 
we need positive reinforcement, too. Negativity just makes everyone find 
something to complain about and starts making all of us and everything we do 
look bad.

I would encourage all event stewards to consider the mobility issues and try 
to make some positive changes. Perhaps one of the front tables at feasts 
would be set a bit farther apart to accomodate our wheelchair bound guests 
and they and their families get priority seating at that table. The table 
should be marked 'reserved' for that purpose. It will be important that 
pre-reserved feast participants let the steward know how many seats they 
will need at that table and how many wheelchair spaces will be needed. The 
table can be opened up to non handicapped participants if the table isn't 
filled.

It is likewise important for those with disabilities to start calling the 
stewards of events ahead of time to make sure that parking and camping needs 
are accomodated as much as possible. As the stewards are made more aware by 
these calls, the calls should become less needed and the accomodations made 
automatically as much as can be. The earlier these things can be taken care 
of, the less chance there is that a disabled guest will find a frazzled 
steward scrambling for parking in an already full lot, or a campsite where 
there are already campers and telling them...'I'm sorry, but we just can't 
do it.'

As far as anyone telling somebody that their wheelchair spoils things for 
them...Just give me a holler. I don't have any problems dealing with people 
like that. I've heard of folks that complain about people wearing glasses 
and having it spoil the ambience, but no one has ever said it to me. I'd 
love to take mine off and give both of their blurry faces a good talking to.


In Service,

Lyneya de Grey

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Vicki Marsh" <xaraxene at comcast.net>
Reply-To: "Kingdom of Ansteorra - SCA, Inc." <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
To: "Monica Riney" <monicariney at earthlink.net>,        "Kingdom of Ansteorra 
- SCA,Inc." <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>
Subject: RE: [Ansteorra] mobility issues
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:57:04 -0500

Rosalia wrote:


  Please, please, please put in site announcements if it is
wheelchair accessible, if electricity is available for the disabled, and/or
any feature that could be handicap friendly.

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>............

Excellent point, Mistress Rosalia!

I know that I missed an event that was very near my home because I did have
a friend scope out the site and there was no way to get a wheelchair into
the bathroom!

My "other" pet peeve is when people who are not handicapped use that
restroom stall or porta-privy when the others are open and available! Or
using it to change their clothes. Almost as much as people who aren't
handicapped parking in a reserved spot.

How about when a peerage circle is called and the only way to it is up a
flight of stairs? I accepted the challenge and adapted to it, with the help
of my friends and loved ones. But it's still daunting and can be a
humiliating experience, if you let it be.

<Shameless Plug Inserted here>

Steppes Artisan will be held at the new Midlothian Conference Center and it
should be completely accessible as it is a new city owned building and
conforms to ADA requirements. If anyone needs help loading, unloading, etc,
just contact me in advance and I'll arrange help.

We didn't put it in the event announcement, but will next time. That would
make a good selling point for events.>>>
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..(Shameless plug over)

Being in a wheelchair changes your whole perspective on life and on the SCA.
Long skirts don't work well with wheels. Just because a ramp is legally ADA
accessible doesn't mean that I can go up it by myself. Especially if it's
wet or has gravel on it. Mud and wheelchairs don't work well together.

Don't drink and drive your scooters:) (I spilled one drop down the steering
shaft of my scooter at Gulf War and shorted it out.  I ended up spending
most of the next rainy day stripping it down and cleaning all the contacts
with alcohol. I finally got it to work, but I learned my lesson).

I also didn't like it when I'd be driving along, just fine, and some
well-meaning person would try to start driving me. I'd rather them ask
first. You can mess up someone's hands when they get caught in the spokes of
the wheels!

One of the nicest things that people would do for me, was to sit down next
to me and talk at events. You get a real crick in your neck looking up all
the time from the chair!

Xene




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