Rachaels Comment: A different perspective

I recently have had to use a wheelchair because of my M.E. and it has brought with it a whole different outlook on everyday things. There are so many things that this experience has brought that I had never even thought about. I have used crutches on a long term basis so I thought I already understood many of the accessibility issues that come with day to day life but how wrong was I!!
One of the main things I have noticed is how much of my day to day life is dictated by how other people provide access to buildings. So many places have car parks with only one or two dropped curbs and those all seem to be positioned at the entrance where all the cars are driving in and out not near the place that they are serving. Supermarkets have always put everything well above my head height (I‘m only 5 foot 1!) but now anything above the first three shelves and I need to get help. The height of door handles and post boxes are also so variable. I have found that I now have to pick shops and hairdressers etc not on their services or stock but on whether I can actually get into them. Looking for a day trip or holiday also takes on a whole new focus; only places with suitable paths, lifts, facilities are doable. The last time we went out for a walk and a picnic the table was at shoulder height, the list is endless!

It’s not only out of the house that there are new challenges I had strange shaped biscuits the other day as I couldn’t see far enough back onto the work surface to see if there was dough under my cutter, my beautiful circles turned out more like I’d bitten each and every one of them.. I’d only tested one or two! Sinks are also not just the thing of purpose they once were, now they are something to be battled with I have lost count of the times I have only been able to reach one tap or I’ve not been able to retrieve what I’d dropped into the bowl, or worse still been unable to switch the tap off again so emerged covered in spray from trying! My cooker also no longer has four gas rings but two as only the front two are reachable now.. Cooking for a family is interesting with only two pans!

One of the really unexpected things that I found was that my tastes SHOULD have completely changed the minute I got in a wheelchair... If Supermarkets are to be believed since I can only reach the first three shelves I’m no longer able to enjoy spicy curry, Thai, or chilli that’s on at least shelf four, instead I must love Korma, casseroles or sweet and sour instead! Dark Chocolate is out only white or milk is in reach; mild cheddar and double Gloucester are ok but no Haloumi, goat’s cheese or brie!
It’s not just supermarkets either, no matter how much I trawl the internet looking for an attractive solution to getting soaking in the rain there really is nothing out there unless I want a poncho, now surely just because someone is in a wheelchair they don’t lose all sense of fashion? Holidays are the same if I look for accessible holidays everyone seems to make assumptions that I would like a nice quiet cottage somewhere, what about all those wheelchair users out there that want an active, exciting break?

Although this sounds like me letting off lots of steam and frustration what I really wanted to do was just to get people to think about how easy it is to take for granted that you can just choose what you do and when. Please please don’t assume that just because someone is in a wheelchair that they have particular tastes and desires. Everyone is different whether they are in a wheelchair or able bodied, please try to see beyond the metal to the person sat in the chair. Maybe you could take some time to look around you and see if you too can see things from another perspective?
Keep steady,
Rachael