Living with Cerebral Palsy

Do you have a handicapped accessible home? Do you even know what the government considers accessible?

To qualify as handicapped accessible, housing needs to have at least 3 things:

While this is a great step in the right direction, compared to just a few years ago – is that all? It is great to be able to get around your home and be able to use the bathroom, but what about the rest of the house? If you want to be as independent as possible, what about the kitchen?

The Most Used Room in the House

Other than the living room, the kitchen is the most popular room in most homes. In some families, it’s the place to cook, eat, play games, craft, be on the computer and so much more.

Although I love my home, and dread the thought of having to leave it, when I can no longer take care of it, I can think of several changes I would definitely like to make.

Originally, my house was meant for another Habitat for Humanity family. But, when they moved, I was next in line. I was giving the option of accepting the current home or waiting for a house built specifically for me. I decided to take this house, because we were in immediate need of more room. I also considered the fact that my children are not disabled, so I decided a compromise would be a good idea.

At the time my home was built, my step-father made a living overseeing the building of homes and drawing up plans. So, he helped design my kitchen area, with the options we had available. My kitchen is U-shaped, which makes it easy to navigate. Instead of a bigger area for a dinette set, I have a wheelchair-height bar with an open space underneath for wheelchair access. It is great for cutting up ingredients, playing games, or sitting down to a meal.

But, that is where the accessibility ends. The stove is normal height, which means I cannot actually see into the pots while I am cooking. I have to lift myself up with my arms or take the pot off the stove, so I can see inside, which isn’t the safest idea.

When I use the sink, I have to pull the wheelchair up sideways or pull up as far as possible and REALLY lean forward. It wouldn’t be too bad, except for dish duty. Last year my dishwasher bit the dust, so I am doing them by hand. Since I have to reach up into the sink. While I am washing dishes, the water is dripping down to my elbows and onto my lap. Not so bad, if there are only a few. But, if all of us are home, and we cook a full course meal, I can be pretty soggy by the time the dishes are done.

But, I think the worse part is the cupboards. The only cupboards I can reach are the lower ones. The lazy susan is my favorite and holds a lot of stuff. But the dishes are in the upper cupboards and so was the food, until I bought a pie safe to store most of the staples.

With suction cup reach extenders, I can usually reach dishes out of the upper cupboards. But, I never feel safe until the item is actually in my hand. Since I wash the dishes, it’s my son’s job to put them back up on the shelves. I don’t feel bad about asking him to do that, because he makes most of the dirty dishes. (He is a growing teenage boy.)

But, what do I do, when he goes off to college? I can’t afford to move, and this house will be almost paid for. I can’t gut the kitchen and make it totally accessible. For one thing, it would be VERY expensive. For two, it might be harder to sell, when the time comes. So, I will probably purchase another pie safe to use for the few dishes and pots I would need on a regular basis. If company comes, I can always offer to cook, if they get down what I need first.

What would you Change?

If you could, what would you change, to make your home more handicapped accessible? Would it be the bathroom, the kitchen, or some other living space in your house?

Although I truly believe that the United States is one of the most, if not the most, handicapped accessible nation in the world, I have dealt with a few instances, in the last weeks, that remind me of the fact that I cannot always go where I want to, even in America.

About 2 weeks ago, my daughter moved to the college campus. She got a good deal on the rent, if she came a couple of months early. Unfortunately, I haven’t even seen the campus yet; a friend helped her move down and check the place out.

Why? Of course! Her apartment is on the 3rd floor, with no elevator! I would have been useless.

Today, I went to the doctor. Of all the places that should be handicapped accessible, it should be the doctor’s office. I love my doctor, but her office-not so much!

The first 3 parking spaces are designated for the disabled. Unfortunately, the first and part of the second space are next to a steep decline in the parking lot. For people not in wheelchairs, it might be okay. But, I always feel like one small miscalculation and the doctor will be fixing more than whatever’s ailing me at the moment-like broken bones!

If I survive the parking lot, there are two doors to get through, using manpower only. Fortunately, they watch for me and usually come help.

However, I would have to say that the first place winner in the contest for handicapped accessibility and living with cerebral palsy-NOT- is the porta-potty at one of my son’s favorite parks.

It looks something like the picture, only blue. From the outside, I thought it looked pretty cramped for a wheelchair. Fortunately, my friend had to use the facility and could report on the true nature of this accommodating commode. Yes, my wheelchair would fit in there, but for 2 problems:

1. The ground slants steeply up to the building. Okay, I can understand that, because places to put potty’s might be limited for cleaning purposes. But . . .

2. There was a step up into the facilities. Even if a friend is able to give me a shove up the hill, how is it possible to navigate a step up, before being able to get in the door. Even if someone could muscle me up, there was no place to set the chair, navigate the door, get turned around, use the potty, and get back down.

Now, I understand that not every place can be handicapped accessible. I am truly grateful for the many places I am able to navigate. But, if it’s advertised as accessible, make sure it really is!

Who are these people? If they don’t really know someone with the challenges of a disability, they need to “walk in his/her shoes” for half a day. I don’t think it would take any longer than that to figure out that steps and wheelchairs, or other such challenges, don’t go together.

So, what handicapped accessibility issues do you face on a day-in/day-out basis?