For What It's Worth



By Elizabeth Mayhew

There are many things in our society that puzzle all of us fror time to time.  One thing that puzzles me is why in the 21st century do people with disabilities still have to contend with so many obstacles to do ordinary things.

When we go to the local grocery store or department store, the doors open for us automatically, welcoming us with open arms to come spend our hard earned money.

Why is it when we go to the doctor's office or the dentist, the doors are so heavy a healthy person even struggles to open them sometimes. 

My nearly 82 year old mother suffers with Parkinson's disease.  Something I've noticed about her is the older she gets and the more she needs my help, the more independent she tries to become.  It is impossible for her to open these doors for herself, and when she is in a wheelchair, I have to figure out how to go ahead of her, open the door, hold it open while getting behind her to push her through the door, only  to be faced with a second set of doors before entering the lobby. 

How does a disabled person manage?

We pride ourselves on caring for those less fortunate than ourselves, but sometimes we overlook the most obvious things.

While most public places now have wheelchair ramps, many times the ramps are at the far end of the parking lot.  While that is fine for a person in a motorized wheelchair, someone with a walker that is unable to step up over the curb has to walk the length of the parking lot in order to use the access ramp.

Restaurants are so concerned with cramming in as many people as they possibly can, that people with wheelchairs and walkers have to fight the maze of chairs, tables, and people to reach a place to sit.

I don't think these obstacles are intentional, but they are serious. A feeble person can easily lose their balance or get their walker caught on a chair leg. 

While we have come a long way toward making the world more accessible for people with disabilities, let's not get complacent and pat ourselves on the back too soon. While we don't want to embarrass someone, let's not look the other way.

I challenge all of us to look around.  Be considerate.  Even if  a person appears perfectly capable of opening the door for themselves, they may not be.  Make it a habit to help the stranger whether they need it or not.