tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post4929574473298049208..comments2024-03-19T07:36:33.915-04:00Comments on Of Battered Aspect: Coming Out ... Going Out: An International Day of Disabled Persons PostDave Hingsburgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-40598052602270527362017-12-05T11:55:34.169-05:002017-12-05T11:55:34.169-05:00The high table thing is very trendy, that's wh...The high table thing is very trendy, that's why there is so much of it. When people think of disability, they most often think of wheelchair users, and may think, well not many people use them, we don't have to worry about a lot of wheelchair users coming in our place of business. Other disabilities may not be given much thought at all. Those high tables are not only a problem for wheelchair users, they are not great for very short people, or anyone who some mobility problem that makes it hard to climb up to a higher seat. I once went in a place where that was the only type of seating to be had on the first floor and the 2nd was not accessible. The waitress was embarrassed and she asked the manager to talk to me but he never did. It's kind of a pet peeve of mine. When I go in a place I don't want to go sit at some table in the corner, and I want to sit at the bar if I'm just having a drink. I'm checking out different places to see what happens when I just go over and attempt to sit there. One place highly discouraged me from doing so. I read a New York Times article recently where a wheelchair user was talking about this issue and a lot of comments were telling her well you just can't expect the same experience in a bar as other people. Another thing is gyms - sometimes there is equipment I can use but often not, or very limited. Got a gym in my apartment building, but no hand bike. They do have a wheelchair lift for the pool though. Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064897477140634544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-51360450434744375382017-12-04T14:00:56.027-05:002017-12-04T14:00:56.027-05:00Sorry this is off track from Dave's post, but ...Sorry this is off track from Dave's post, but in reaction to the second part of Shannon's comment: I have never understood why so many bars have only high seating and not regular seating. Even some of us who can get up that high without disability-related difficulties do not like those seats! There must be people who like them because sometimes if I am dining alone, I am asked which kind of seating I prefer as if they anticipate that I could indicate either way. But I am certainly not one of them.<br /><br />I and the organization I work at have sometimes needed to plan social outings for ourselves, or for us plus colleagues at like-minded organizations, etc., and it is such an ongoing challenge to find a place that will be truly accessible for everyone. We often have to ask if they can seat us in the dining area, as this is more likely to be inclusive of wheelchair users in a way that enables everyone to be literally sitting at the same level. But then when we ask if they can please serve the bar menu even though we are moved to the dining area, some of them balk and want to serve only the dinner menu, which may not be suitable for a "happy hour" social event when people may be coming and going as their work schedules permit. Then there are places that are too dark for sighted deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate with anyone--because regardless of whether they sign or lip read, they still need to SEE people to communicate with them. Some places are too noisy for people with sensory integration issues and so on. So a location that may work perfectly for, say, wheelchair users may be terrible for deaf and hard of hearing people or vice versa.<br /><br />It is so rare for people to stop and think about how people with disabilities can be accommodated at their place of business, or whatever they're responsible for. And when they think of us at all, they often think only of one or two specific disabilities, which may still exclude people with other types of disabilities. No wonder people think we need to be courageous just to leave the house--we have to be, if not courageous, then at least patient, persistent, and resourceful advocates in persuading business owners and others in accommodating our needs whether individually or as a group.Andrea Shettle, MSWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16984732076766787818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-47914867855580354402017-12-04T10:51:33.570-05:002017-12-04T10:51:33.570-05:00I like to go places where I am unexpected. An exe...I like to go places where I am unexpected. An exercise place would be one of those. I l also like to sit at a bar (even if it's too high and there is no lowered section, which there usually is not). They usually try to sit me at a table but that makes it hard to get into conversations with people. Maybe one day people won't think we're courageous for leaving the house. Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064897477140634544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-18023837645609034312017-12-04T09:58:26.139-05:002017-12-04T09:58:26.139-05:00Disability pride - way to go, Dave!!Disability pride - way to go, Dave!!clairesmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12235828110880302069noreply@blogger.com