Today, I took my wheelchair out to go to the library. I usually use crutches when out, but today I decided to bring my wheelchair. It was…an experience. A very upsetting one.
It started off good. The bus drivers were nice and secured me correctly. Everything was great. That was until we had to take a short walk to the library. The sidewalks were uneven, businesses had tables and chairs in the middle of the sidewalk. The cross walks were to steep and had bumps at the bottom of them, so when I’d go down them, I would almost tip forward, and once even did tip forward. Luckily my partner caught me before I fell out, but my stuff went flying. It was very upsetting, but I laughed it off.
Before I went to the library, I did look up if they had an accessible entrance, and according to them, they did. So I went, and I learned quickly that it wasn’t accessible at all. The ramp into the library was too steep. I couldn’t get up it myself and needed my partners help. The library itself inside, was great! Except the fact there were stepping stools in the isles that I couldn’t get around so my partner had to move them. Besides that, the inside of the library was great.
All in all, the library itself was great and accessible to me. But the walk to the library? Not at all. The entrance to the library? Not accessible. Accessibility is more than a ramp. It needs to be something that people can actually use. It was very very frustrating and upsetting. I deserve to be in places with my wheelchair. I deserve to use my wheelchair. I deserve to walk around the town. I deserve all of that.
Luckily my partner was willing to help, and was more then happy to help me out all along the way, although we did both agree that I will probably not be taking my wheelchair back into town anytime soon. I hate it. Made me very upset. Made me want to cry and meltdown. Made me want to scream.
Society itself needs to do better. Towns need to do better.