Adapting Goes Both Ways

Stay with me for just a moment... Pretend you're at the bottom of a rock wall and need to get to the top. What do you do?

Wait for it to shrink?

Scream at it?

Grab a hammer and chip away at it?

Start climbing?

If you answered one of the first two options, you're not going to like this... but if you answered one of the last two, I might get a high five by the time I'm done. I'm not going to guarantee it though..

I seem to be in this limbo area when it comes to handicap access. I lived 31 years in a world where I could get into any building or area without wondering how, and for almost 2 years now I question almost everywhere I go. I have to ask if I can get into a friend's house, I have to wonder where the ramp is, I have to look for those little blue signs, I have to find someone to reach things on high shelves in stores.

However.

I do these things; I look, I ask, I search, I find. For those places that aren't quite up to ADA Standards or are doing the bare minimum, I ask for help and/or accommodations. I will admit, I do get upset when I don't see a ramp, or the aisles are not wide enough, or the tables are too close together, or any other situation that just doesn't work with wheelchairs. I just don't pop off at the person who ends up trying to help me.. unless they own the place, it's not their fault. I thank them for helping, and later I contact the company to address my concerns.. in the midst of that, I may also leave a compliment for the person who helped.

My point is, we do need to raise awareness for making the world more adaptable.. and I have found that is done more easily if we all work together. For those people that are just calling for every inch of every town, city, and village be accessible right now (not literally, but that's what it's starting to sound like from some directions), try moving forward a bit yourself. Don't wait for a ramp to appear in front of you, move as far forward as you can, then ask for help; people are more responsive when meeting in the middle somewhere. The human condition is a give and take engine, when it's too one-sided one side is sure to tire out.

Going back to my original metaphor; walls don't shrink (at least not quickly or without some kind of outside help), and screaming at them isn't going to change them... but if you chip away at it, it'll finally crumble. And if you find a way to climb, you conquer the wall.

Disclaimer: When I say meet in the middle somewhere, I want to point out that everyone's point in the middle is in a different spot, depending on their abilities. I am lucky enough to be pretty mobile.. I'll jump a curb or small step in my chair, and given the right help, I can stand and walk a short distance. Some say I just haven't been in the chair long enough to be so up in arms, but I sincerely hope I never get to a point where I don't want to do my part or I believe that my part isn't being active...