tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post6752406999194857781..comments2024-03-29T03:43:45.977-04:00Comments on Of Battered Aspect: Go On GuessDave Hingsburgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11918601687946534172noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-27651296805483222712009-09-10T09:24:33.719-04:002009-09-10T09:24:33.719-04:00It sounds like the hotel complied with the letter ...It sounds like the hotel complied with the letter of the law.. and not a bit more. <br /><br />I'm in a wheelchair too, and pretty outspoken about problems with accessibility. But you run into the same problems over and over, and sometimes it is just not worth spoiling my day with someone that doesn't care.<br /><br />SharonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-11451371960463990352009-09-04T17:10:43.235-04:002009-09-04T17:10:43.235-04:00I see from your bio that you live in Toronto, and ...I see from your bio that you live in Toronto, and I'm guessing that the hotel in question is also located in Canada. I am in the US, and I am not familiar with Canadian law, but if that were a US hotel, I would not have hesitated to tell them that they were in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.<br /><br />As to "the big freaking inconvenience" attitude, depending on my mood, I'd have been sorely tempted to point out the colossal number of big freaking inconveniences you face every day because of the wheelchair and crappy accessibility in that hotel and, I'm sure, a lot of other establishments.<br /><br />None of this, of course, is to say that it's your responsibility to educate the ignorant about the rights of people with disabilities. I'm just talking about what I'd have done in a similar situation, and I'm an outspoken pain in the neck about these sorts of things.<br /><br />Bright blessing attend you.DesertRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13851069471469743156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-51032249382888908422009-09-03T10:34:01.132-04:002009-09-03T10:34:01.132-04:00Bleah - makes me wanna spew!!!Bleah - makes me wanna spew!!!Gleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17671758996746410949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-13107958463555207342009-09-02T13:44:44.986-04:002009-09-02T13:44:44.986-04:00Like Liz said, because of reading your blog, I not...Like Liz said, because of reading your blog, I notice things I didn't use to notice. I promise I will always try to be aware.<br /><br />I am so sorry you had to deal with that attitude from the clerk.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10791317184998122691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-16227909360271567182009-09-02T13:20:22.334-04:002009-09-02T13:20:22.334-04:00"Jinx!" to Liz. Took the words right out..."Jinx!" to Liz. Took the words right out of my mouth.Shanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10704810407872873565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-63697787380838314172009-09-02T11:13:03.262-04:002009-09-02T11:13:03.262-04:00Because of you, I see steps everywhere where I use...Because of you, I see steps everywhere where I used to not notice. I have walker's privilege and I'll try to stay aware of it.Liz Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09469435277058701080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35743239.post-39399603545710101692009-09-02T06:50:20.483-04:002009-09-02T06:50:20.483-04:00That negative attitude of "And it's a big...That negative attitude of "And it's a big freaking inconvenience," asides from itself being an accessibility issue, is probably what leads to all the other inconveniences you experienced. That attitude on the part of all the people who designed this building, and all the people who have been in a position to fix it since then (or at least fix parts of it), would have prevented them from seeing the problem (because they wouldn't care enough to look for it) and from doing anything about it (because, it would have been a "freaking inconvenience").<br /><br />As a deaf person who has encountered my own set of attitude-related barriers, I agree attitude is a big one. I depend on the on-going cooperation of others for my communication access. If others think it is a "freaking inconvenience" to have to accommodate my communication needs and make no effort to disguise their sentiment, then that's what leads to things like "forgetting" to pass on certain pieces of critical information, or only repeating part of the information I need but not bothering to pass along the rest, or failing to simply TELL me when they don't understand me (and instead just nod vaguely while hoping I'll take my question and go away).<br /><br />If it's clear that a hearing person finds it a "freaking inconvenience" to accommodate my communication needs then it becomes that much harder to make myself be assertive about asking other people to assist me. I often end up with a "spill over problem" -- not only do I become increasingly reticent about asking the person with the attitude problem for help but I also find it harder to approach other people because I get so accustomed to holding myself back and just sitting on my seething frustration. It gets so it can take a huge amount of psychic effort and emotional energy to make myself assert my rights in even the simplest ways.<br /><br />Yet attitude, for some reason, seems to be the hardest barrier for most non-disabled people to really grasp as BEING a barrier. It's not as tangible or as readily understood as a doorway that is too narrow, or the absence of a sign language interpreter. Many people don't understand that, for non-disabled people, a poor attitude is merely an annoyance, a minor bump in the sidewalk. But for people with disabilities, a poor attitude can be a brick wall.Andrea S.http://wecando.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com