Stairs or no stairs!

[karbon14]

we have these awesome sledge things to wheel the bloke in a wheelchair down the stairs during a fire drill, it's honestly the most dignified thing EVER.

[slicer]

Originally Posted by halliwell 5

As a disabled person I have noticed Glasgow and many big cities dont really cater for people such as myself. Many of the places i go to appear to be on one level but when you get inside you find that things such a toilets are on a different level to the body of the building.

Another place is supermarkets for small people shelves are too high but thats only one point for tall people it can be just a bad having to bend down all the time Would it be helpful for "normal" people to spend a day in the life of someone like myself to help understand the difficuties of everyday life?

Does anyone have any ideas of how a balance can be found which meets the needs of everyone concerned?

I think to be honest that now, more than ever, people are more socially aware of those with disabilities, and that's a great thing.

I think however, as said, it'd be unrealistic to make huge changes to certain buildings etc, but where reasonable changes can be made, fair enough.

I think that with things like problems at the supermarkets, you have my sympathy, as I could see how it'd be a pain on the arse, but, they've got to fit a lot of stuff into a certain space and run a business and they probably go about the best way of doing it. It seems to be practical anough for the majority of people, and callous as it may sounds, you can't please everyone.

I don't think that it would be necessarily of any advantage to spend a day in the shoes of someone with disabilities. I think what would be of help would be for people to generally be a bit more decent and to have some fucking manners. If someone (regardless of whether or not they're classed as having disabilities or not) was to ask me if I could grab a hold of something from a shelf for them because they couldn't, it wouldn't be a problem. I can also understand though why some people might find it embarrassing to ask. I've happily helped folks up and down stairsin wheelchairs on a number of occasions in the pub for gigs, where it's been feasible and have no problem with that (long as I don't put my back out ).


I think that there are too many people with disabilities (not necessarily saying yourself) that think the world owes them something. I am all for being more aware of peoples' problems and helping people where I can but some folk aren't happy until you're bending over backwards for them and really shove their problems in your face. And I think that that can be truely counter-productive because people just get annoyed with things.

I also think that the social work, some parents with disabled children and the like are doing more harm than good with a kind of pushy attitude to things.

Just some thoughts lol......

[djtoast]

With older buildings it's often not just that improving access would be difficult or expensive, it can be very complicated indeed with listed buildings where the owner actually isn't allowed to change it

Things are improving I guess - for example, in the 70s Glasgow University refused to contribute to the cost of the QM building a disabled ramp at the front of the building; I can't imagine that now, it'd be the exact opposite now I think, insisting we got one...

[halliwell 5]

you are right some disabled people do expect everything to be done but most people who know me know i can be the most annoyingly indepenent person lol just a wee bit help goes a long way. To be pushy can be good thing sometimes as well as long as you dont take it too far ...but whos to say what is too much.

[Ghostsuit]

Oh and see when you see a wee old woman with a trolly at Queen street low level offer to give her a hand with it, people shouldn't always have to ask for help. I did this recently and you know what it made me feel a little better about my day as I'd helped someone.

By the way it doesn't have to be queen street or an old woman that was just an example .

[fallen_nemesis]

that being said you need to remember that not every old person or disabled person wants help and it can be construed as a bit insulting really

[halliwell 5]

That is true for some but not all ... there is a fine line as i know but i think most disabled or old people would welcome just being asked. It just shows that there is people out there who recognise it can be a struggle sometimes

[Ghostsuit]

Originally Posted by fallen_nemesis

that being said you need to remember that not every old person or disabled person wants help and it can be construed as a bit insulting really

This is true but you just have to make a judgement call and it's probably better to offer and get rebuked than not to offer at all in most cases.

I still think in most cases people will be happy you atleast offered rather than be offended.

[fallen_nemesis]

no, i know, from going out anytime with my mum who's disabled and people asking her for help, you can ask and be just generally nice/caring, and you can be patronising about it though too

In general though, ask people.

..unless it's a woman and you're not sure if she's fat or pregnant. You're liable to get walloped

[cupotea]

I quite like it when people who are unable to reach high shelves in shops ask me to get something down for them, makes me feel like I am being helpful. As such, I shall now ask those shorter than me to fetch me things from the bottom shelves. Its a give/take thing.

Seriously though, I can understand what you mean about finding it harder to get around in older buildings when on wheels, having tried to negotiate a double buggy around some of the shops and attractions (?) glasgow has to offer, its a pain in the backside. At least I can dump my children at the front door while I wander about unencumbered, safe in the knowledge the good folks of glasgow will mind my wee treasures.

I jest, of course.

[L@ur@]

my work is in a pretty new building and their disabled toilets are downstairs. Its a call centre, you walk into the main building and go down a few stairs to enter the ground floor area. and there u are greeted by disabled toilets. god knows how anyone in a wheelchair would use them tho.

my uni is pretty well planned out tho, and that building is pretty old i'd say.

my old work mind you, had to change its shape and overall design to cater for a ramp, they pissed and moaned about it. but did it anyway. and i think it actually looks better and parents with prams loved the change

xxx

[slicer]

I'd had a thought.

If I was to for some reason become disabled, I don't know how much help I'd want. I'm a pretty fiercely independent person (I don't even let folk help when I'm cooking lol) and I reeeeeeally hate the idea of people trying to do things that I am perfectly able to do. I think that I would really HATE people offering to do things for me....as ungrateful as that sounds.

I'm the kind of person that is generally willing to help folks, but that just likes to be able to get on and do things by himself, if that makes sense.

[halliwell 5]

i understand your point but there are just some things that disabled people cant do. I am so independent also my partner can tell you that lol

I hate asking for help and sometimes pride gets in the way but at some point disabled or not everyone needs a helping hand

[Kenny Everett]

At the end of the day, it's nice to offer to help. Be that someone in a wheelchair or the Fedex guy struggling through a door with a parcel.

[Captain Cripplepants]

Originally Posted by halliwell 5

As a disabled person I have noticed Glasgow and many big cities dont really cater for people such as myself. Many of the places i go to appear to be on one level but when you get inside you find that things such a toilets are on a different level to the body of the building.

I'd actually have to disagree and say that on the whole Glasgow is generally one of the most accessible places I've been (in Britain anyway). If you want to see a place with bad accessibility go to Edinburgh.

Originally Posted by Bunnylingus

What about having a system in place to help disabled people (And just people who might struggle in general) in supermarkets with shopping? Do some supermarkets do it already or is it just a case of you have to ask?

They generally will give assistance, if you ask.

Originally Posted by fallen_nemesis

on the note of buildings not offering disabled access. I was under the impression that by law all public building had to offer disabled access to the best of their ability and had a date by which they had to do it. As already pointed out above though this isn't always possible in older buildings. Take the Cathouse for example- there's no way in god's earth they could make the main entrance completely disabled friendly. Hopefully though with new buildings being built and disabled access in mind when they're being designed, things should improve.

On the toilets front though it's not a disabled thing. If anything be greatful there's less people using your toilet and you at least have bog roll left on a friday night

On the law point, this is true, but it is not specific at all, only saying "reasonable changes must be made".

Originally Posted by Elmo

The other thing is, it's not just a case of sticking in a lift somewhere to make it accessible, there's also the issue of getting the disabled person(s) out of the building safely in the event of a fire, when a lift is not usable. We have this problem in a couple of our buildings where disabled people are upinarms about the fact we just can't let them come in, for their own safety, just now. We're devising evacuation plans etc for them, but when there's a 200yr old building, with 60 steps to the front door, and no emergancy exit directly from the mezanine level, and all the staff are mainly women in their 60s, it's difficult.

This is one of the biggest problems, in general where stairs are concerned the fire evac plan for disabled people is "leave them for the firemen".