A drawing of my wheelchair for disability pride month!
(ID: on a medium grey background is a line art drawing of an ultra-lightweight wheelchair, specifically a Tilite Aero Z chair. The line art is colored in a gradient in stripes to mimic the disability pride flag. The colors from the lower left to the upper right are: a muted red, yellow, white, sky blue and a hunter green. End ID)
as a disabled person who uses a mobility aid, i am literally begging store owners, landlords, etc. to make sure their handicap doors are ACCESSIBLE AND ACTUALLY WORK
today, i got stuck not once, but TWICE. i went to cvs (i had not been to this particular one with my mobility aid before) and had difficulty entering, as the automatic door had been blocked by stairs. as a cane user, i was able to navigate them, but decided i would take a different route to exit (into a shopping mall). as i went out through the alternative entrance, i was met with two sets of doors with an accessible swing. i pressed the first button and got through just fine, but when i pressed the second on the inside… it did not work. i tried leaning against the door to see if my weight would be enough to budge it but it was not… i was left stuck between the two sets of doors (as the accessibility buttons only worked ONE WAY) until someone came to help me.
the second has been an on going problem. my apartment has a swinging door that has been working great for me…. except for the past week and a half. for some reason the door with the swing is broken and has yet to be repaired. this has left me STRUGGLING to get into my apartment. thankfully, when exiting, i’m able to move the door with my weight, but entering the building is so difficult, as i struggle to keep the door propped open while i move past it with my mobility aid. what makes things worse is when able-bodied people just STAND there and watch me struggle rather than help. it INFURIATES me to no end knowing they have the ability to hold the door and help me but actively choose not to.
i am actually begging. please, please, please advocate for more spaces to be accessible. and if the measures in places don’t work, fix them or advocate for fixing them. and finally, if you see a disabled person struggling DO NOT TURN A BLIND EYE! HELP THEM! if a door is falling on them or they cant find an accessible entrance/exit, use your able-bodied privilege to aid them.
(FOR CLARIFICATION, that does not mean coddle/baby us if we’re doing fine. we don’t need help if we’re moving down the street/existing. only when we’re actively struggling/working to navigate an able-bodied world)
ADA Accessible Signs: Your Guide to Accessibility - Signarama Grayslake
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Question: If a ticket says "ADA Accessible", does that mean it's in an area for ADA only, or does it just mean a regular seat meets the ADA requirements?
The “Dueling Grills” custom outdoor kitchen build was contracted by an apartment complex near FGCU in Estero. The name says it all, it’s a double grill installation in a single BBQ island cabinet, making its configuration super accessible and optimal for multiple users. While it’s in a residential apartment complex, it’s considered a commercial build. We used the popular California Gold Stacked Stone as the siding facade and used Uba Tuba Granite as the counter-top material. This combination of materials complimented the overall aesthetics of the custom outdoor kitchen build. The “Dueling Grills” build is ADA compliant which makes it accessible to handicapped and special needs individuals.
While it may not be the fanciest configuration in Estero, it’s designed to be straightforward and simple to use. In these commercial style apartment builds, the clientele usually has one goal in mind, and that’s grilling. The BBQ Island is equipped with two Blaze 25” 3-Burner Grills, which output a whopping 42,000 BTU’s per grill. It’s the perfect commercial grill setup. Designed for long-term, frequent-use, and legendary grilling performance. The most innovative aspect of the project is the built-in, wall-mounted timer that control propane access for the grills. Below each of the Blaze Grills is a 25” double access door that allows easy access to the grills and their functional components.
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Promoting play for kids in every county, of every ability
Play is important for kids in all communities, which is why the Coalition’s work to promote grants from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) is so important.
These grants help empower communities across the state to meet their needs.
In Chehalis, a recent WWRP grant will help fund the renovation of the Chehalis pool, the only public outdoor pool in a 25 mile radius, serving thousands of kids each summer. The community is also waiting to hear about a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. For more than 50 years, kids have learned to swim in this fun and safe environment.
Every child deserves a playground, but for some communities, providing access is not as simple as putting up a swing set. Evergreen Rotary Park Playground in Bremerton is on track to be the first accessible playground for children of all abilities in Kitsap County.
April’s son Teddy was born with spina bifida. Teddy and the other children in their community group with this condition require play equipment that is wheelchair accessible. Community members said the WWRP grant they received cut their timeline for this project in half. The City of Bremerton plans to have this project completed by next year.
“There’s nothing for these kids unless there’s this,” April said.
Getting kids outside for play time reduces risk for childhood obesity and diabetes, helps kids develop strong immune systems, promotes imagination, and has been proven to help them concentrate in the classroom.
Making friends on sports fields and playgrounds is a pivotal experience for kids everywhere. In Washington, our kids have access to more than 400 Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program-funded parks in addition to the hundreds of other parks established by cities and counties.
But some neighborhoods are still without adequate play space, and as the next grant application cycle approaches, work by Coalition members and supporters will be even more important.
This is all part of leaving Washington a better place for the next generation.
Photo courtesy of Bremerton Beyond Accessible Play.
