As my recovery continues I have become acutely aware of the challenges that I have in being less abled. I am beginning to do more each day and with that comes more time ventured out in the "community." For starters many "able bodied people" are not even aware of those of us who are "less abled" and they breeze right by without thinking about a heavy door slamming in my face or that I may not have enough balance to side step you and your busy little children who are running around. I am slow, yup, much slower at everything than I was before and that does not seem to fit in our go, go and do more society of people who are wired in and always moving. I hate that I am slow and not the same as I was before, but I have tons of empathy now with everyone else who may be slow and less abled for what ever reason.
Being out in the community presents many challenges. Because I have a disabled parking permit the parking issue has for the most part not been so bad. However, I did not know there were so many people who have these parking permits and many times all of the spots are taken. What issues this presents is I then have to park in a spot that makes it terribly hard to get out of and into may car. I am not suppose to twist and with the compact parking spots that I may be left to navigate try using good techniques to get into or out of one car. Virtually impossible. OK, negative shout out to all public establishments who are not meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) code for parking or access - You are rude and should not be in business if you cannot have the decency to have the legally required number of accessible parking spots, not to mention an accessible restroom. Yup, there is one "Mexican" restaurant in Monroe, WA that is going to get turned in by yours truly on Monday for their lack of access. Don't mess with a disabled lady who knows as much as most attorneys on this subject. Not smart.
Being out in the community gives me a chance to drop things in public and not just at home. I cannot bend over and pick up anything right now so boy do I have to be careful. I dropped some mail when getting it out of the mail box and I had to get real creative with the cane to get it up and into my car or I was going to have to go back to the house and get my grabber device. I have dropped items at stores and find that there is usually someone who will help if you explain the situation. Not great, but it works. For a very independent person like me none of this feels good, but I am sure I am learning tons from this experience or why would I be living through it right? I do live in fear of dropping my car keys and being unable to get to them. I am very, very careful with this as I have that thought running around in my head now that I get to drive again.
The good news is that there are many people like me out in the world, some have had accidents or may have a chronic medical condition, many can recall a different time when life was not so hard. No, we do not all feel sorry for ourselves, yes we do find the best way to get through each day and yes, sometimes we drop things that we can't pick up.
Lesson Number 8 - At least once each week take the time to help someone without being asked to do so. You will be paying it forward with your thoughtful and generous spirit.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Horses Continued.....
"No ride is ever the last one. No horse is ever the last one you will have. Somehow there will always be other horses, other places to ride them."
Boy does that say it. If you have it in your blood you won't little an accident, spinal cord injury, or a foot that does not seem to cooperate get in the way of your dreams. The prospect of not riding again was never a consideration for me.
The Dream Horse Continued - Wizard was amazing for me. He developed my confidence and took total care of me. We trail road all over Piece County, WA and then took off to other great spots. We camped, we did it all. To think when I got him I was not sure how to even secure the saddle?? I was a very novice horse person and that is good and bad. I didn't know what I didn't know and boy did I take some risks. I was lucky in some ways, but I definitely learned from every experience.
Along with Wizard came several other horses. Yes, I had to do the "baby thing" and along came "Enchante," a beautiful, well bred Quarter Horse filly (Appendix) who had enough Thoroughbred in her blood line to trace back to Bold Ruler, yup Secretariat's sire. I got her as a baby, 4 months old and so began my journey with a young horse. She was sweet and feisty and I was determined to do all the work with her and I did.
She became a project for me during a very tough time in my life and she was my therapy as I worked with her to get her under saddle. I did everything from the ground with her and was the first person to get on her back. I taught her to move off my legs and then got some help from a trainer "T" to get her started.
When she was 3 years old we took her to a Quarter Horse show to show her at halter, which meant that I just had to go in and set her feet up so she stood correct and then have her judged on conformation. She was perfect in many ways, not a big horse, but striking and very correct. She won it all in her halter class - Grand Champion! I still proudly display the trophy they sent me. I was thrilled and I had the bug. Not only did she do well in halter, but she won ribbons in riding classes also. She was talented.
It was through this experience that I met "K&S" who has a stallion that I bred Enchante to shortly after she started her show career. So began my journey to find the perfect "Paint Horse." http://www.apha.com/breed/index.html Yes, they may look like a Quarter Horse with different color patterns, but Paints are their own breed with very specific criteria that allows a horse to be registered as a Paint. I was totally hooked and so began the beginning of what has brought me to where I am today, but that story deserves it's own post.
Boy does that say it. If you have it in your blood you won't little an accident, spinal cord injury, or a foot that does not seem to cooperate get in the way of your dreams. The prospect of not riding again was never a consideration for me.
The Dream Horse Continued - Wizard was amazing for me. He developed my confidence and took total care of me. We trail road all over Piece County, WA and then took off to other great spots. We camped, we did it all. To think when I got him I was not sure how to even secure the saddle?? I was a very novice horse person and that is good and bad. I didn't know what I didn't know and boy did I take some risks. I was lucky in some ways, but I definitely learned from every experience.
Along with Wizard came several other horses. Yes, I had to do the "baby thing" and along came "Enchante," a beautiful, well bred Quarter Horse filly (Appendix) who had enough Thoroughbred in her blood line to trace back to Bold Ruler, yup Secretariat's sire. I got her as a baby, 4 months old and so began my journey with a young horse. She was sweet and feisty and I was determined to do all the work with her and I did.
She became a project for me during a very tough time in my life and she was my therapy as I worked with her to get her under saddle. I did everything from the ground with her and was the first person to get on her back. I taught her to move off my legs and then got some help from a trainer "T" to get her started.
When she was 3 years old we took her to a Quarter Horse show to show her at halter, which meant that I just had to go in and set her feet up so she stood correct and then have her judged on conformation. She was perfect in many ways, not a big horse, but striking and very correct. She won it all in her halter class - Grand Champion! I still proudly display the trophy they sent me. I was thrilled and I had the bug. Not only did she do well in halter, but she won ribbons in riding classes also. She was talented.
It was through this experience that I met "K&S" who has a stallion that I bred Enchante to shortly after she started her show career. So began my journey to find the perfect "Paint Horse." http://www.apha.com/breed/index.html Yes, they may look like a Quarter Horse with different color patterns, but Paints are their own breed with very specific criteria that allows a horse to be registered as a Paint. I was totally hooked and so began the beginning of what has brought me to where I am today, but that story deserves it's own post.
 |
One of My First Rides on Enchante |
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Goals and Dreams
Having goals and dreams in my opinion are a good thing. I have always had goals - personal, work, hobby. It keeps me focused on where I am going. It suits my need to have something that I am working towards for completion. I have used various means and methods over the years to track my goals and found just writing them down and keeping a list seems to work best for me. It is always amazing to look back on it and see how I can just check them off, completed, achieved, done. It feels so good.
In talking to a friend recently about goals I realized that not everyone is goal oriented. Some people would just rather let life come at them and bounce with it. I guess that is OK, but at times those same people may be the ones that wonder why things happen the way the do, instead of having a life guide by which to live and make certain decisions that can be life impacting. I guess I don't understand this. If you don't want to call them goals then call them dreams - things that you dream of doing one day. Get some clarity around your dreams, get specific and commit to them.
There are great tools available for first timers to goal setting. "Mind Tools" has a life evaluation guide which can be a great first step in the goal setting process. http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html Visit their web site for tons of incredible resources. Additionally, I am a huge fan of creating a "Picture Book or Treasure Map" what ever you want to call it. Essentially for those visual people you are creating a goal collage of pictures that represent the goals you have set and are working towards. Cut out pictures from magazines, take pictures, what ever works so that you create that visual picture to focus on. In using this in the past I found it to be very effective in helping me keep the goals I had set right in front of me and helped me focus and achieve them.
Also, I have found, through trial and error that being very specific about the details of one's goals can be critical. You can say "I want to go to Hawaii," but if you don't nail down when, which Islands and then with whom, and outline what you want to do when you get there all you have is a wish. The specifics of goals can make or break achieving them in a successful manner. Remember the adage "The Devil is in the Details" well it is true and can make or break the success of your goal setting. It is the one thing that you did not think was important enough to consider that can cause the most grief. Be specific.
Today, right now, all my goals have changed. It is amazing how one life event can have you reevaluate everything. I am in the process of doing just that. It is going to take some time since life is very much focused on the goal of rehabilitation as of today. Sure there are a few other things revolving around, but my everyday is focused on getting stronger, having more balance and healing. I cannot have another focus since my life going forward depends on my current outcome. Goals - well I want the big toe and the one next to it on my right foot to bend better and be able to support and balance me so I can walk without the use of a cane. Will it be perfect? Maybe not, but both my PT "J" and I believe that it will be better than the doctors say it will. We are focused, goal oriented women who want more for me than just accepting that "it is what it is and that maybe I won't need to use a cane." Really Doc? I guess you don't know me.
Lesson Number 7- Create Goals in your life to help focus, guide, and give you clarity about what is really important.
In talking to a friend recently about goals I realized that not everyone is goal oriented. Some people would just rather let life come at them and bounce with it. I guess that is OK, but at times those same people may be the ones that wonder why things happen the way the do, instead of having a life guide by which to live and make certain decisions that can be life impacting. I guess I don't understand this. If you don't want to call them goals then call them dreams - things that you dream of doing one day. Get some clarity around your dreams, get specific and commit to them.
There are great tools available for first timers to goal setting. "Mind Tools" has a life evaluation guide which can be a great first step in the goal setting process. http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html Visit their web site for tons of incredible resources. Additionally, I am a huge fan of creating a "Picture Book or Treasure Map" what ever you want to call it. Essentially for those visual people you are creating a goal collage of pictures that represent the goals you have set and are working towards. Cut out pictures from magazines, take pictures, what ever works so that you create that visual picture to focus on. In using this in the past I found it to be very effective in helping me keep the goals I had set right in front of me and helped me focus and achieve them.
Also, I have found, through trial and error that being very specific about the details of one's goals can be critical. You can say "I want to go to Hawaii," but if you don't nail down when, which Islands and then with whom, and outline what you want to do when you get there all you have is a wish. The specifics of goals can make or break achieving them in a successful manner. Remember the adage "The Devil is in the Details" well it is true and can make or break the success of your goal setting. It is the one thing that you did not think was important enough to consider that can cause the most grief. Be specific.
Today, right now, all my goals have changed. It is amazing how one life event can have you reevaluate everything. I am in the process of doing just that. It is going to take some time since life is very much focused on the goal of rehabilitation as of today. Sure there are a few other things revolving around, but my everyday is focused on getting stronger, having more balance and healing. I cannot have another focus since my life going forward depends on my current outcome. Goals - well I want the big toe and the one next to it on my right foot to bend better and be able to support and balance me so I can walk without the use of a cane. Will it be perfect? Maybe not, but both my PT "J" and I believe that it will be better than the doctors say it will. We are focused, goal oriented women who want more for me than just accepting that "it is what it is and that maybe I won't need to use a cane." Really Doc? I guess you don't know me.
Lesson Number 7- Create Goals in your life to help focus, guide, and give you clarity about what is really important.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Horses - Continued.....
It is like a chronic disease or condition. It is always there and I guess I would call it horseitis. It has to be in your blood or you wouldn't do it. You wouldn't spend hours in a cold barn getting ready for a show or practicing for an event where you will likely spend hours waiting for a class or for it to start, only to have to hurry up to get you and your horse ready into the class or event. You wouldn't be around all the dust, dirt, hay, "poop" and subject your self to all that goes into it if it wasn't in your blood.
Beyond all of the above there is the fun of it which includes spending time with great people who "get it and get your disease," primping and cleaning both horse and tack until both shine and glimmer. Spending hours fine tuning you and your horse in preparation for the show or event. Picking out an amazing outfit that compliments both the horse and rider and then swallowing the knot in your throat, sitting up straight, and tall and riding into an arena that seems way bigger than when you were practing in it to show in your class or participate in your event.
It gets into your blood when you begin to show your horse or do any type of competition and you can't wait for the next one. To fine tune, fix the errors, strive for perfection, and do it all over again. In spite of the extreme exhaustion of being on your feet for days on end, and doing more physical work than anyone would every believe you crave the next show or event and can't wait for it to get here. Yes, ask any horse person who is into showing or doing anything with their horses and your will see the light in their eyes and the passion of hope for the next planned event. It has to be a disease because ordinary people wouldn't do it. Just talk to them a little about it and they don't seem to understand why we would do it either?
So, in dedication to all my "Horsey Friends" have a safe and amazing show season this year! Enjoy the journey and I will continue to work hard so that I too can be back "hopefully" next season with the light in my eyes and craving the next show just like I know you are. Giddy Up!
Beyond all of the above there is the fun of it which includes spending time with great people who "get it and get your disease," primping and cleaning both horse and tack until both shine and glimmer. Spending hours fine tuning you and your horse in preparation for the show or event. Picking out an amazing outfit that compliments both the horse and rider and then swallowing the knot in your throat, sitting up straight, and tall and riding into an arena that seems way bigger than when you were practing in it to show in your class or participate in your event.
It gets into your blood when you begin to show your horse or do any type of competition and you can't wait for the next one. To fine tune, fix the errors, strive for perfection, and do it all over again. In spite of the extreme exhaustion of being on your feet for days on end, and doing more physical work than anyone would every believe you crave the next show or event and can't wait for it to get here. Yes, ask any horse person who is into showing or doing anything with their horses and your will see the light in their eyes and the passion of hope for the next planned event. It has to be a disease because ordinary people wouldn't do it. Just talk to them a little about it and they don't seem to understand why we would do it either?
So, in dedication to all my "Horsey Friends" have a safe and amazing show season this year! Enjoy the journey and I will continue to work hard so that I too can be back "hopefully" next season with the light in my eyes and craving the next show just like I know you are. Giddy Up!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
So Now I Know What is Going On
Going to the doctor is rarely fun, but I was looking forward to the Friday appointment at the Spine Clinic. Yup, this would be my first post operative follow-up with a doctor where I may have more than breeze "How you doing" and check my reflexes and strength and off they go. We left early cause I wanted to make sure when found the place. It turns out when I give Bob the address he say, "that's my parking garage building!" He knows the building well since this is where he parked every day for nearly two weeks while visiting me. He and K slept in that garage the night of my surgery. He proudly shows me which parking spot the car was in when it substituted for their bed while they waited for me to get out of surgery.
We get to the clinic and it is the offices for all the "Ortho, Sports Medicine, Neuro and Spine Docs affiliated with Harborview and UW. OK, I am feeling pretty good that these are good docs. I get to have more xrays which I assumed, but hey next time I will dress appropriately. Note to self, no metal in the clothing and then guess what you don't have to disrobe which is always too much fun with this lovely brace. Glad the hubby was there to help.
The doctor comes in soon after the x-rays are taken and I finally get to talk to someone face to face and find out how things are going. He is a doc that essentially works for my surgeon Dr. B, a very nice and kind person. He asks all the right questions and I finally get to ask mine. He says I am doing "exceptional" which makes me feel like all the work is paying off. He shows us the x-rays and how everything is still in place. Yeah, I have not pulled a screw loose cause that would be very bad and yes, they would have to go back in and fix it. I had to ask. He begins to pull up all the MRI and other films from the records and explains what happened with my injury. This is when I feel like I what to throw up.
I essentially pulled most of the ligaments and muscles in my lower back - hence the pain, bruising and residual issues I have been having. He said that will take 3 months to heal, lovely. My spine was damaged, yup I knew that, but once it is damaged that is how it is going forward, those damaged nerves don't get better Wow, OK so what does that mean? Well, the damage at the level of my spine could have affected my entire right leg, my bladder function, bowel function and all leg strength. It didn't, but my right foot is the continuing problem and I guess it always will be to some degree. OK, here is the part that I guess I was somewhat unaware of in relationship to my injury, you mean with rehab and PT and work on my part I won't get healed and back to normal? So, what can I do? He says I need to strengthen the leg and foot and work on the foot and it's flexibility, but some of the functionality will not return. I may never regain my balance to walk without a cane. What ???!!! This is the part where I cannot think about it anymore.
I am damaged and part of me will never be the same........... I guess I was hoping and this is where not being a medical professional I just didn't know. So, my excitement for the doctor appointment has waned and this became one of those "bad" days one has during any recovery process. I am trying to not focus on it and I know I will walk without a cane. It may not be fast, it may not be pretty, but I will not be defined by this. Right now my right foot hurts more than the left every night. It does not feel like it is really part of my body. It feels a little wooden. The two toes on my right foot - the big one and the one next to it are doing better, but they are weak and do not grip as they should to provide balance automatically and stabilize that side. My foot does not flex they way the left one does, it is more stiff and it is weak. OK, so now I know what I have going on, what do I do with it?
We get to the clinic and it is the offices for all the "Ortho, Sports Medicine, Neuro and Spine Docs affiliated with Harborview and UW. OK, I am feeling pretty good that these are good docs. I get to have more xrays which I assumed, but hey next time I will dress appropriately. Note to self, no metal in the clothing and then guess what you don't have to disrobe which is always too much fun with this lovely brace. Glad the hubby was there to help.
The doctor comes in soon after the x-rays are taken and I finally get to talk to someone face to face and find out how things are going. He is a doc that essentially works for my surgeon Dr. B, a very nice and kind person. He asks all the right questions and I finally get to ask mine. He says I am doing "exceptional" which makes me feel like all the work is paying off. He shows us the x-rays and how everything is still in place. Yeah, I have not pulled a screw loose cause that would be very bad and yes, they would have to go back in and fix it. I had to ask. He begins to pull up all the MRI and other films from the records and explains what happened with my injury. This is when I feel like I what to throw up.
I essentially pulled most of the ligaments and muscles in my lower back - hence the pain, bruising and residual issues I have been having. He said that will take 3 months to heal, lovely. My spine was damaged, yup I knew that, but once it is damaged that is how it is going forward, those damaged nerves don't get better Wow, OK so what does that mean? Well, the damage at the level of my spine could have affected my entire right leg, my bladder function, bowel function and all leg strength. It didn't, but my right foot is the continuing problem and I guess it always will be to some degree. OK, here is the part that I guess I was somewhat unaware of in relationship to my injury, you mean with rehab and PT and work on my part I won't get healed and back to normal? So, what can I do? He says I need to strengthen the leg and foot and work on the foot and it's flexibility, but some of the functionality will not return. I may never regain my balance to walk without a cane. What ???!!! This is the part where I cannot think about it anymore.
I am damaged and part of me will never be the same........... I guess I was hoping and this is where not being a medical professional I just didn't know. So, my excitement for the doctor appointment has waned and this became one of those "bad" days one has during any recovery process. I am trying to not focus on it and I know I will walk without a cane. It may not be fast, it may not be pretty, but I will not be defined by this. Right now my right foot hurts more than the left every night. It does not feel like it is really part of my body. It feels a little wooden. The two toes on my right foot - the big one and the one next to it are doing better, but they are weak and do not grip as they should to provide balance automatically and stabilize that side. My foot does not flex they way the left one does, it is more stiff and it is weak. OK, so now I know what I have going on, what do I do with it?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Recovery Process Continued
When you have something happen in your life that requires you to take a pause and evaluate the next steps many time you may not be fully aware of where the path is going to go. With an accident such as mine or any other the recovery process will have different stages. Going from living life at full speed to turtle pace for me has been a definite eye opener. Was I living life in too crazed a manner? Had I taken time to smell the roses? All good questions that I have now had time to ponder.
Rehab has progressed since I got out of the hospital 3 weeks ago. I have been doing outpatient physical therapy at the Providence Everett's campus and my therapist "J" is top notch. She makes it fun, interesting, challenging and is a horse person which just adds to the full package. She understands what happened to me fully and the deep desire I have to ride again. She has added to my home exercise program and continues to evaluate what we need to do to address my continuing progress.
Every day at home I ride my recumbent exercise bike and have steadily increased the number of miles I am riding and am currently I am doing over 5 miles in 40 minutes. I get stronger every day and am increasing my stamina. I also do about 30 to 40 minutes of different exercises to build strength, balance and flexibility. My right leg and foot remain my nemesis and I keep working hard to improve both including my big toe which is still not bending like the left toe. I am doing exercises where I roll my foot on a tennis ball and attempt to pick up a towel with my toes on the right foot all in an effort to help the foot and toes regain their memory. You don't realize how important having the correct use of your toes are – they grip to help provide balance and stability which happens while we stand, walk and lean forward, backward and side to side. On a good note I am very strong thanks to boot camp classes and Pilates. Starting out by being in decent shape has really helped me progress quicker than most according to “J”. So note to self stay fit and always make time to take care of your body. You never know when it will pay off.
I have gotten very adept at managing my brace by myself and can take it off and put it on without any assistance. This has allowed the hubby to return to work and I am able to be self-sufficient at night and during the day. Getting well has it challenges and for me it is the waiting it out part. Anyone who thinks that hanging out at home all day on medical leave would be fun has to be crazy. It is not, it is boring, and for those of us who are used to daily interaction and lead a full active life it is near torturous. I get to have my first post hospital MD apt this Friday with the Spine doctor and can hardly wait to find out what is next. I hope that all is healing well and I am on track to progress as planned. Plus I have tons of questions regarding long term prognosis that I was not fully coherent to ask while in the hospital. More to come for sure……….
Rehab has progressed since I got out of the hospital 3 weeks ago. I have been doing outpatient physical therapy at the Providence Everett's campus and my therapist "J" is top notch. She makes it fun, interesting, challenging and is a horse person which just adds to the full package. She understands what happened to me fully and the deep desire I have to ride again. She has added to my home exercise program and continues to evaluate what we need to do to address my continuing progress.
Every day at home I ride my recumbent exercise bike and have steadily increased the number of miles I am riding and am currently I am doing over 5 miles in 40 minutes. I get stronger every day and am increasing my stamina. I also do about 30 to 40 minutes of different exercises to build strength, balance and flexibility. My right leg and foot remain my nemesis and I keep working hard to improve both including my big toe which is still not bending like the left toe. I am doing exercises where I roll my foot on a tennis ball and attempt to pick up a towel with my toes on the right foot all in an effort to help the foot and toes regain their memory. You don't realize how important having the correct use of your toes are – they grip to help provide balance and stability which happens while we stand, walk and lean forward, backward and side to side. On a good note I am very strong thanks to boot camp classes and Pilates. Starting out by being in decent shape has really helped me progress quicker than most according to “J”. So note to self stay fit and always make time to take care of your body. You never know when it will pay off.
I have gotten very adept at managing my brace by myself and can take it off and put it on without any assistance. This has allowed the hubby to return to work and I am able to be self-sufficient at night and during the day. Getting well has it challenges and for me it is the waiting it out part. Anyone who thinks that hanging out at home all day on medical leave would be fun has to be crazy. It is not, it is boring, and for those of us who are used to daily interaction and lead a full active life it is near torturous. I get to have my first post hospital MD apt this Friday with the Spine doctor and can hardly wait to find out what is next. I hope that all is healing well and I am on track to progress as planned. Plus I have tons of questions regarding long term prognosis that I was not fully coherent to ask while in the hospital. More to come for sure……….
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Being Less Abled....
I have always hated the word "Disabled" so I am not using it. Yes, I cannot do the things I did before, and yes some of that may be temporary, but I don't feel "Dis" anything. I am "Less abled " than I was before. I can still do a ton of things for myself, but this world is not set up for me or other like me who are not fully functioning.
I was shocked at the hospital when I began to discover small things that were making my life more difficult as I tried to get around. Sometimes it was as simple as the toilet paper dispenser was set so far down on the wall in the restroom that you had to lean way over to even reach it. OMG, I have a back injury here people? Yes, the nurses said many times people fall trying to take care of one of life's little needs. Totally Crazy. The hospital showers were another story. Nicely tiled, yes you could get a shower chair or wheel chair in there, but guess what when used the water goes everywhere. It essentially floods the bathroom. Why? Well as I could see it the floors are not adequately slanted so the water would go towards the drain. Duh? So every time I showered I had to have a towel barricade and then assistance so I didn't fall.
Yes, all the nice hospital staff were aware, but what could they do? Hospital many times were built before the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act - Signed into law by Bush Sr in 1990) and then remodeled over and over again. They worked with what they had, but my thought would be to make sure "Less Abled" people are involved in the design of say the Rehab unit when you decide to make any upgrades. Seems so simple, yet mostly organizations and businesses just follow the written government standards under the ADA for accessibility. Has anyone even asked if they got it right?
One of the true good things that I got for being less abled was a special parking permit. I have never been one of those people who had to park up front in any case. However, when you are not able to get around as well as you use to it is very necessary to have the ability to park in spot that allows you to have a bigger parking spot to get out a walker, a wheel chair or to just get out of the car. Being closer to the destination is relative as many of the stores, offices, etc... apparently followed the letter of the ADA law on accessibility verses looking at what would make most sense for the customers coming to the establishments. Try looking at it from their perspective folks and maybe you might just rethink what you have going on.
Another observation is that apparently here in Washington it is relatively easy to get one of these parking permits. All you have to do is have a doctor sign off on one and it seems pretty much everyone has one. Yup, I know my Dad has one, but he is going to be 77 years old and has a bad back, etc.... Some of the others getting out of their cars do not appear as less abled as I would think?? Just like a prescription for anything these types of necessary accommodations can and do get misused I am thinking. My permit is only for 6 months as I view my need as totally temporary. Do others see it that way or as a way to park up close? By the looks of it at many locations when all of the parking spots are filled I would say pretty much many, many people are less abled?
I have found in my current state that people look at you differently when you are less abled. It is not overt, nor is it mean. I believe they are just curious. Since for the most part I don't look too bad off I think they are trying to assess "hey what is wrong with this lady?" I know it is just human nature so I don't let it bother me. When they see the brace then it usually clicks for them why an otherwise, normal looking woman would be using a cane, a walker or parking in special spot. Because she has to. The brace it turns out is a conversation starter as I have had several people quickly say "you broke your back, right?" Yup, and then the story is told. Let's face it my story is a little more glamorous than most. Not everyone rides horses and the usual culprit for these types of injuries is an auto accident I am finding.
Being "Less Abled"means that everyday when I go into the able bodied world I must chart my course. I have to plan access to and from locations, how to carry things like a purse, a brief case or purchases, do I have someone to assist? In rehab they have you spend time going all over the hospital and outside of it to ensure the basics, but let's face it there is way more out there in the scary able bodied world that is just not easily navigable. I for one realize why people become home bound when they are not as able bodied. So how can we change that? I have a new found interest in exploring just that............
I was shocked at the hospital when I began to discover small things that were making my life more difficult as I tried to get around. Sometimes it was as simple as the toilet paper dispenser was set so far down on the wall in the restroom that you had to lean way over to even reach it. OMG, I have a back injury here people? Yes, the nurses said many times people fall trying to take care of one of life's little needs. Totally Crazy. The hospital showers were another story. Nicely tiled, yes you could get a shower chair or wheel chair in there, but guess what when used the water goes everywhere. It essentially floods the bathroom. Why? Well as I could see it the floors are not adequately slanted so the water would go towards the drain. Duh? So every time I showered I had to have a towel barricade and then assistance so I didn't fall.
Yes, all the nice hospital staff were aware, but what could they do? Hospital many times were built before the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act - Signed into law by Bush Sr in 1990) and then remodeled over and over again. They worked with what they had, but my thought would be to make sure "Less Abled" people are involved in the design of say the Rehab unit when you decide to make any upgrades. Seems so simple, yet mostly organizations and businesses just follow the written government standards under the ADA for accessibility. Has anyone even asked if they got it right?
One of the true good things that I got for being less abled was a special parking permit. I have never been one of those people who had to park up front in any case. However, when you are not able to get around as well as you use to it is very necessary to have the ability to park in spot that allows you to have a bigger parking spot to get out a walker, a wheel chair or to just get out of the car. Being closer to the destination is relative as many of the stores, offices, etc... apparently followed the letter of the ADA law on accessibility verses looking at what would make most sense for the customers coming to the establishments. Try looking at it from their perspective folks and maybe you might just rethink what you have going on.
Another observation is that apparently here in Washington it is relatively easy to get one of these parking permits. All you have to do is have a doctor sign off on one and it seems pretty much everyone has one. Yup, I know my Dad has one, but he is going to be 77 years old and has a bad back, etc.... Some of the others getting out of their cars do not appear as less abled as I would think?? Just like a prescription for anything these types of necessary accommodations can and do get misused I am thinking. My permit is only for 6 months as I view my need as totally temporary. Do others see it that way or as a way to park up close? By the looks of it at many locations when all of the parking spots are filled I would say pretty much many, many people are less abled?
I have found in my current state that people look at you differently when you are less abled. It is not overt, nor is it mean. I believe they are just curious. Since for the most part I don't look too bad off I think they are trying to assess "hey what is wrong with this lady?" I know it is just human nature so I don't let it bother me. When they see the brace then it usually clicks for them why an otherwise, normal looking woman would be using a cane, a walker or parking in special spot. Because she has to. The brace it turns out is a conversation starter as I have had several people quickly say "you broke your back, right?" Yup, and then the story is told. Let's face it my story is a little more glamorous than most. Not everyone rides horses and the usual culprit for these types of injuries is an auto accident I am finding.
Being "Less Abled"means that everyday when I go into the able bodied world I must chart my course. I have to plan access to and from locations, how to carry things like a purse, a brief case or purchases, do I have someone to assist? In rehab they have you spend time going all over the hospital and outside of it to ensure the basics, but let's face it there is way more out there in the scary able bodied world that is just not easily navigable. I for one realize why people become home bound when they are not as able bodied. So how can we change that? I have a new found interest in exploring just that............
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