azurelunatic: A metallic blue and black horizontal-handled cane with an elastic loop at the bottom of the webbing wrist strap. (cane)
[personal profile] azurelunatic
I went to the doctor for a semi-routine physical yesterday. There are three entrances to the family practice wing: the main entrance, shared with the hospital, the north entrance at ground level (with a pair of immediately adjacent accessible parking spots), and the third floor entrance on the north end, connected from the parking garage (with a pair of accessible parking spots on each floor next to the elevator).

I usually park on the third floor near the elevator and entrance. I don't have a disabled plate or hang tag, so I park as near as I can get otherwise. When I approached the third floor entrance, there was a sign on the door saying it was closed. The same sign was on the ground level entrance. I had to walk all the way around to the front entrance. I saw some people with worse mobility than mine struggling their way across the parking lot.

There was no signage anywhere except on the doors, and that seemed to not have any Braille attached, and was in small enough font that I had to get within about ten feet of the door to read the sign.

Reception in my GP's office have been asking for better signage from day one, but have not yet got it.

There should be:
* Parking lot signs saying the only entrance is the main one
* A laminated informational sign at each accessible parking spot which is not adjacent to the main door
* A large, very distant-readable sign on each closed door in addition to the detailed signs
* Changes to pre-appointment check-in email saying that the only open entrance is the main one
* Signs at each parking garage elevator
* Information accessible in other languages besides English, and for blind people
roserodent: Avatar (Default)
[personal profile] roserodent
The following lovely images come from my local healthcare centre. I was referred there because the hospital has no parking, and I have been unable to get there to have treatment. They send me to the community healthcare centre, which has parking, nay even has disabled parking! Wow! And here it is.

Picture described in text below

And from a slightly different angle:

Picture described in text below


You will perceive, because you are not totally devoid of thought like the person who painted a wheelchair symbol on this parking bay, that it is impossible to open the door to the left (UK passenger) side. On the right side is a nice pillar against your driving door (there is another of those white collar things as seen in the rear pillar), with another pillar against the rear door, and to prevent you from using the "wide" area to the right of the bay to actually get OUT of the bay and into the healthcare facility, being unable to teleport thorugh the car parked to your right.

Luckily I am able to stagger interestingly to the rear of my car, but have to operate the hoist and hold myself vertical with one hand, because the boot hits the roof if you let go after you open it. Good job I have good clearance and don't need to drop a ramp out the back of a van, then, as it would not go past.

I am also standing as far back as it is possible to stand in order to take this picture, which might give some indication of the ease (or otherwise) of actually pulling into said bay in the first place. Last time I think it took 9 separate maneouvres. (Spelling, spelling, why do I have to use the word "manoeuvre" about 5 times a day?)

Marks for providing parking at all - 3/10 as it's a legal duty. Marks for thought process on disabled bay - 0/10.
jesse_the_k: text: Be kinder than need be: everyone is fighting some kind of battle (Default)
[personal profile] jesse_the_k
On Thursday I had my annual mammogram (yes I am that old).

For the last decade, I've done this breast x-ray using my power wheelchair. The firm pressure on my breasts and the pushing & pulling of my limbs is pain enough; I want somewhere comfy to sit during the procedure.

But my brand-new wheelchair decided to suddenly sacrifice one of its motors to the Gods of Uncertainty ... so [personal profile] sasha_feather kindly chauffeured me & my rolling walker to the clinic.

As I entered the x-ray room, I noticed a chair just out of reach. I asked the x-ray tech, "Can you grab that chair for me. I prefer to sit down."

x-ray tech Oh, no you can't do that. We have to do the mammogram standing up.
J the K I think it will work fine with me sitting. Anyway, I'm not able to stand that long.
x-ray tech I'm sure you can do it this time. We can't get good results if you're sitting down.
J the K Wait a minute, are you saying that, for the last ten years when I've come here in my wheelchair, those films are no good?
x-ray tech Umm, let me get that chair.

Yeah, no.

I'm also going to complain to the clinic.

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accessibility_fail: Universal "person in wheelchair" symbol, with wheelchair user holding a cutlass (Default)
You Fail At Accessibility

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