#handicap access aisles

[plantanarchy]

I think what drives me the most batshit at my workplace is the inability to ever once consider accessibility. our tables aren't safe. our hanging baskets aren't reachable. our aisles are not navigable. our bathrooms have too much furniture. Our parking lot has one handicapped space but the upper houses aren't accessible

[mesosas]

disabled toilet grab rails heights

disabled toilet grab rails heights

Handicapped toilet panels are an important part of any bathroom designed to accommodate people with mobility or balance issues. The grab bar provides the necessary support and stability when using the bathroom, enabling everyone to use the toilet with confidence and respect. Whether you are a homeowner looking to make the bathroom more accessible or a business owner looking to meet accessibility standards, a disabled toilet is important. In this article, we will examine the various instructions and give advice on proper installation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides guidelines for installing barriers in public restrooms, including handicap restrooms. The height of the toilet aisle is an important factor to consider when installing a barrier in a disabled toilet. The ADA recommends a height of between 33 inches and 36 inches off the floor for bar grips because this allows people with limited mobility to easily reach and grab the bar for support. It is important to follow these guidelines when installing restraints to ensure they are accessible and safe for people with disabilities. In addition to the recommended alcohol grip sizes for people with disabilities, the ADA also provides guidelines for the length and strength of alcohol grips. According to the ADA, grab bars must be at least 12 inches long and able to support at least 250 pounds of force. These guidelines are in place to ensure that the grab bars are strong enough to provide support for those who rely on them. It's important to follow these guidelines when installing a retaining bar to ensure that it is safe and effective to use.

[atomicdeerruins]

Parking Lot Striping Layout Dimensions: A Guide to Efficient Design

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on parking lot striping layout dimensions! As an expert in facilities management, I'm look at here here to share valuable insights and tips to help you design an efficient parking lot. Whether you're a property owner, a facilities manager, or just someone interested in the world of parking lot striping, this article is tailored specifically for you.

The Importance of Parking Lot Striping Layout Dimensions

When it comes to parking lots, proper striping is crucial. Not only does it ensure safety and functionality, but it also enhances the overall aesthetics of your property. But before we dive into the specifics of layout dimensions, let's explore why this topic is so important.

Enhancing Safety and Organization

Efficient striping layout dimensions are designed to enhance safety by clearly delineating parking spaces, pedestrian walkways, and traffic flow patterns. This helps prevent accidents and ensures smooth navigation for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Maximizing Space Utilization

By carefully planning the dimensions of your parking lot striping layout, you can maximize the number of available parking spaces. Efficient design allows for optimal space utilization, which is particularly valuable in high-traffic areas where every inch counts.

Enhancing User Experience

A well-designed parking lot not only provides ample space but also considers the needs of different users. For example, motorcycle parking striping should be incorporated to accommodate two-wheeled vehicles effectively. By catering to diverse needs, you create a positive experience for all users.

Key Considerations for Parking Lot Striping Layout Dimensions

Now that we understand the importance of efficient design let's delve into some key considerations when determining parking lot striping layout dimensions.

1. Local Regulations and Guidelines

Before embarking on any striping project, it's essential to familiarize yourself with local regulations and guidelines. Each area may have specific requirements regarding aisle widths, parking space dimensions, accessibility ramps, and more. Ensure compliance with these regulations to avoid any legal issues down the road.

2. Standard Parking Space Dimensions

Standard parking space dimensions typically range from 8.5 to 9 feet in width and 18 to 20 feet in length. These dimensions provide enough space parking for most vehicles to park comfortably. However, it's advisable to consider local norms and the type of vehicles typically found in your area when determining the ideal dimensions.

3. Aisle Widths

Aisle widths play a crucial role in facilitating smooth traffic flow within your parking lot. Generally, aisle widths range from 22 to 24 feet for two-way traffic and 12 to 14 feet for one-way traffic. These dimensions allow vehicles to maneuver safely while ensuring pedestrian parking safety as well.

4. Handicap Accessibility

To ensure inclusivity, it's essential to incorporate handicap-accessible spaces in your parking lot design. These spaces should adhere to specific dimensions outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA recommends a minimum width of 8 feet for handicap-accessible parking spaces, along with an adjacent access aisle.

FAQs

Q1: How do I determine the number of parking spaces my lot can accommodate? A1: The number of parking spaces you

[fulltimebard]

Hey Cynthia. I am willing to work at the store as John Jr as manager if he puts an handicapped accessible aisle in the store.

[whiskeydickclaws]

This is doubly true if you are near ramps, automatic doors, or handicapped seats. If I am using a cane, my crutches, or my walker, i am focused on my own feet and looking for uneven ground. If I even clip them someone who I don't see in a crowd, I will end up on the ground, and likely very injured.

Please be aware of when you can sit on the ground. I won't say never sit on the ground in public, I'm saying be careful and do it safely. Stay near the walls of a subways station, near the benches, where people know there will be things to look for tripping over. Make sure if you're on public transit, you're not sitting in the middle of a standing crowd, but again, near the seats, or a wall.

Do not sit in doors, do not sit in the aisle of a bus where people will have to maneuver around you, etc. Do not sit or take up the accessibility spaces, ramps, etc. if you can help it.

whenever I take a train (whether that be a tube or long distance) I tend to sit on the floor if most seats are taken, I also sit down at the platforms if I have to wait for more than like 10 minutes

now I was wondering whether that is socially acceptable (in theory, not because I care) and since all of my friends are autistic and thus largely don't care about social rules I can't get straight answers

so, dear tumblr, please tell me

please reblog for larger sample size, thank you <3

you can also add your nationality in the tags if you like in case there are cultural differences :)

[petpooja]

Tips To Make Your Restaurant a Disability-Friendly Space

Many people with disabilities enjoy going out to restaurants that serve tasty food. The hospitality industry, however, has not yet achieved full diversity and inclusion. Sadly, disabled customers are often left out of the dining experience because most eateries are not equipped to accommodate them. Adapting your eatery to accommodate those with disabilities requires little effort. The first step in creating a parking lot that is accessible is to designate a specific area with wider aisles. Having handicapped-accessible restrooms is also a definite advantage.

To know more, click here : http://bit.ly/3H5P4vq

[letsbefeminist]

“Remember! Never park in the Access Aisle. Not even for a minute! Even if you have a parking tag or placard. To learn more about how BraunAbility is working to prevent Accessible Parking misuse through the Drive for Inclusion and join the conversation, visit BraunAbility.com/DriveForInclusion”

[nevereacheaven]

here are some cinema tips:

-matinee prices are your cheapest times to go, this is usually before 5pm on weekdays

-many theaters have less expensive tickets on Tuesdays however Disney EXCLUDES their films from any discount pricing

-huge distributors like Disney require their new films to be played in the largest theater for at least 2 weeks, which is why a new film may be selling only a half full of tickets while other films are selling out smaller theaters

-summer classics usually cost very little to license a screening which is why they play the same ones over and over

-new films tend to officially release fridays but if you keep an eye on your local cinema almost all films have a showing thursday evening, though some large films do even earlier shows

-the busiest time at a theater is the 7pm showings

-most theaters have 10 minutes of trailers that play at the listed showtime but you can always call and ask how long the pre show is

-CC and AD are often listed next to films, these are for closed captions and audio description, usually the technology is quite old and finicky but is available

-one-off showings are RARELY provided with accessibility built in, this means there is not an option for a closed caption device or any auditory aids

-most big box theaters have t-coils built in for hearing aids to connect to and have more advanced (clunkier) audio devices. both of these connect DIRECTLY to the film’s audio rather than amplifying ambient sound

-seats marked as handicapped accessible are always empty spaces for wheelchairs, usually the actual seat areas are marked as companion seats

-many accessible seats are located in the center aisle of the theater, though some may be at the very top of stadium seating or at the front of sloped theaters

-any branded cups like coke or popcorn usually can’t be given out for free, your best bet is to ask for a water cup at the bar if they have it as they tend to have much larger cups available for free than the concessions stand

-all modern popcorn poppers have a cornditioner that blows hot air through vents at the bottom of the popper to keep popcorn crisp and fresh, asking for fresh popcorn usually doesn’t mean it’s fresher than the pre-scooped bags, it’s just under a different warmer

-any mystery screenings at your local theaters is a loop-hole to show a classic film or even recent dvds without paying for the distribution, if the theater can feign ignorance over what’s playing they don’t have to pay as much

-big box movie theaters don’t allow children into r rated movies after 6-8pm and almost never allow infants in, if they do they need a ticket if they aren’t sitting in a lap

-most theaters do have cameras in them, some are only being used to make sure you’re in the right seat, seriously

-if you care about the projection of movies you should seek out a local cinema or art house, they have unionized projectionists that load and test the films, especially the masking

-big box theaters usually have an automated system that hits play 30 minutes before and shows the pre-show and film, sometimes there are issues that cause the audio to not play or the screen to cut out. this can take a really long time to fix on a pre-programmed film

-the new screenX panoramic stuff being put in is bs, the only film shot on a wide enough screen for that is the newest top gun, the rest will just be reformatted (possibly with generative ai)

-big box theater chains tend to have contracts with different distributors to show international films, usually pretty niche ones

-movies are almost always programmed to be as loud as possible, bring earplugs if you’re sensitive to it

-most films warn the cinema about flashing lights, though it is up to the cinema itself to display signage. very rarely does anyone screen the film beforehand so always look into possible photosensitivity triggers rather than trusting the cinema itself

-the theater itself is actually thoroughly cleaned throughout the day, high traffic means the floor just stays sticky. marvel movies in particular make it difficult to clean the theaters themselves between films as the after credits scene prevents people from clearing out

-always assume no one else is telling the staff if something is wrong, especially if they’re understaffed and no one is checking on a lot of stuff

a lot of people are against cinemas because “concessions are so expensive” but did you know that’s where almost ALL income for the cinema is generated?

opening weekends (especially of blockbusters) take nearly ALL of the ticket sales, with the percentage decreasing as the movie continues its run. a movie in its third week may be bringing in about half of the ticket price to the theater itself, but the cost of keeping the film running usually outweighs the number of tickets being sold at this more favorable ratio.

many non-profit theaters are running almost ENTIRELY on donations, which is why many “memberships” are very expensive, all of that money is going directly back into the organization.

even private rentals usually make very very little profit, if any at all. cinemas still have to pay to show whatever movie the rental wants, even if the client is providing a dvd or otherwise. the cost of a projectionist to set up and run the film is quite high as they are almost all unionized and have a base hourly rate.

this leaves ONLY concessions. many suppliers have a minimum order of upwards of $2k, which is fine for big box theaters but often result in a massive back stock of perishables for art house theaters.

coca-cola in particular considers most cinemas to be quite “low” on their priority list, meaning theaters can order once a month and receive the “leftovers” despite being contractually obligated to sell coke products. this often leads to a shortage in popular drinks like cherry coke or diet, as well as a fluctuation between the actual drink sizes. if coke is out of their regular 24oz medium cups they will deliver 21oz or other sizes.

all this is to say that you’re paying more for tickets opening weekend at big box theaters that are trying to scale their profit. at smaller local theaters they are often making no money on actual films, which is why they still have pretty high prices on concessions.

[brandonimhotep]

{ARTICLE} #Dailymail A #SouthCarolina mother was awarded $10 million from Walmart after she stepped on a rusty nail while shopping and had to undergo three separate amputations that ultimately resulted in her losing her right leg above the knee. April Jones was walking through the main aisle of a #Walmart on Beltline Drive in South Carolina on June 26, 2015, when she felt a sharp pain and saw that a rusty nail had gone through her shoe and foot. After suffering an infection and subsequent surgery, Jones had to endure three separate amputation that eventually left her without most of her right leg. Surgeons initially removed her toes, but that failed to stop the infection spreading, and Jones ultimately lost much of her right leg, leaving her wheelchair-bound. For the past six years, she has been bound to a wheelchair and her daily life was ‘significantly interrupted’ because she lived alone and independently before the incident, according to a statement from Anastopoulo Law Firm, which represented Jones. A #FlorenceCounty jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning with the $10 #million to cover Jones’s past and future medical expenses, including a prosthetic limb and handicap-accessible upgrades to her home. According to lawyers at Anastopoulo Law Firm, Walmart’s policy mandates employees perform regular sweeps inside the store and failed to show evidence that staff cleaned before Jones’s injury. ‘The weakness of Walmart’s case, among other things, was their failure to produce a video that they claim showed their conforming behavior to a company policy calling for employees to perform regular safety sweeps. No such evidence was presented for the duration of the five-day-long trial,’ the law firm wrote in a statement. The verdict comes two weeks after a federal jury in #Florida awarded a woman $2 million over injuries she sustained at a Walmart in #Orlando after slipping and falling on milk leaking from a malfunctioning dairy cooler. ✨👉🏾 KindLY FOLLOW Our New Page @wonderwombman2 ✨🧡 ✨👉🏾 (DM FOR Promo Prices) 📬�� https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9WbrZF3iJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[isgrow]

What To Do When Someone Parks in the Access Aisle

being published on http://mybecause.com/what-to-do-when-someone-parks-in-the-access-aisle/

[sendsalt]

You know who drives me crazy? People who see a disability sign at a register or on seating or something and joke with you about how they need the accommodation. Most of the time it’s “My wife would say I’m mentally disabled! Haha!” or “I hate walking, is that a handicap? I need those seats! Haha!” For some reason it’s pretty much always middle-age or elderly men who do this, and it pissed me off before I became disabled myself and it pisses me off even more now.

I used to work at a movie theater with reserved seating and it was really bad there with people constantly making jokes about why they should get the handicap seats (which were in a prime location) and expecting me to laugh along. At the grocery store where I work now I’m usually at one of the registers that is marked as having a wheelchair-accessible aisle and I still get some people who joke about that. I don’t understand why they think it’s so hilarious, especially because they’re not actually trying to get me to give them accommodations--they’re just expecting me to laugh at their lame joke about needing them.

Like, I’m glad that the fact that some people, including myself, require accommodations to live our everyday lives is a source of comedic material to you. I’m glad that to you these accommodations, which disabled people have had to fight tooth and nail for, are so meaningless that you can joke about them, when for some people they mean the difference between whether we can get our grocery shopping done or not, when they’re things that we have to constantly be thinking and worrying about. And I’m glad that you feel so sure that everyone you see, if they’re not overtly handicapped, is as able-bodied as you are and that you think we all find jokes about disability as hilarious as you do. 

Those kind of jokes weren't even funny or appropriate in elementary school. Grow the fuck up, people. 

[crinkly-spinkly]

Mind if I take an aisle seat for handicap access? So excited!!!

I mean you could do one of those "draw yourself/ sona" things, just get people to know a wedding theme such as a black suit or dress, with pink attire. Then people could draw it then selfs and know the theme.

I'm definitely not the best at exactly explaining it tho 😅

That's a good idea! The grooms will be wearing white and light pink, guests are encouraged to wear yellow, blue, pink/red, and purple. Really it's just about making the wedding bright and colorful (but tasteful!) Classic black suits are still allowed though if preferred

You can either just draw yourself in your wedding getup or draw yourself doing something at the wedding like dancing or tending to the buffet (there will be a chocolate fountain if that interests anyone). If you did want to draw yourself in the crowd during the ceremony you can draw yourself sitting in/next to one of these chairs

Have fun

[my-autistic-things]

Using an disability parking placard

I've been thinking about this a lot lately because my mobility has gotten better. I've had anxiety about using my disability parking placard since I got it/started using my dad's. Last week I was in a major rush to get to my next class (I drive from one parking lot to the next bc it's all the way across campus) so I was walking fast to my car, dumped my bag in one side, and half jogged around to the drivers side. This older guy, not disabled/needing the stall (the second stall was open) come walking by and yells "Doesn't look like you're handicapped!" And glares at me and walks away.

I think I've talked about this before on here but I'm upset so I'll talk about it again. The reasons for needing a placard are as diverse as disability itself. My personal need for a placard as someone who can walk is very different from a wheelchair user. My dad, who uses an electric wheelchair, needs the accessible stall because he needs to get out of the car. The ramp needs to go down in the access aisle for him to get out. He doesn't necessarily need to be close to the building he's going into, but that helps when he'd have to go all the way around the lot to get onto the sidewalk otherwise.

The reason why I need have a placard is because of my joint pain and bad back. I can walk, I go for long walks now too, but some days walking is extremely painful. I can't reliably walk long distances. Also, some days like today I can walk "fine" but I can tell if I walk too much my hips are going to be hell to deal with tonight.

And lastly, it's not even that I need to be as close as possible to the building, it's that I can't park in the other off campus lot. If other stalls are open, I'll take those over the accessible stall so people who need those stalls specifically (and not just in that close area) can use them. If I couldn't park on campus, I would have to park in a lot that's a 15-2 min walk from campus, then maybe another 5-10-15 min walk to my class. I could take the school bus from that lot, but it's not too reliable and it still drops me off 5-10 min walk from my class (and it's often full so I'd have to stand). And on top of that, all but the accessible stalls (and reserved for teachers stalls) are on the bottom level. The rest of the student stalls are 1-7 flights up to both walk down and up. I can't do that.

My point of all this is that it's most realistic for me to just park on campus. The only way for me to do that is to have a student disability permit, with a disability placard. I have to either park in the accessible stalls or the closest open stall to my class. Even though I don't necessarily need the accessible stall, the alternative is unrealistic for me to do every day. If I was forced to walk, in the heat, every day to my class for at least 5-10 min, up to 20-30 min if the bus doesn't come, I wouldn't be able to.

If you see someone that looks able bodied parking in the accessible stall WITH A PLACARD, don't he an asshole. They have a reason for parking there. Fuck off

[historyofshipping]

Please... don’t ever say “handi-capable” or “differently abled”

I’m disabled. I have a chronic, degenerative disease and often have to use a wheelchair because pain is too intense for me to walk. 

I’m also proudly disabled. I am proud of my identity and proud of the label. 

There’s a lot of arguments about “person first” language but honestly, it is usually just a way for ableds to erase disability identity. But disabled isn’t a dirty word and trying to erase it makes it seem like it is. 

With that said, for the first time in years, I’ve heard the terms handicapable and differently abled this week. Just no... please no. Don’t use these. They’re not only ridiculous words but they’re just not accurate. 

I’m not differently abled. I’m disabled. I’m disabled because I live in a disabling world. I’m disabled because a lack of ramps and aisles too narrow for my chair are inaccessible to me. I’m disabled because schools and workplaces are not designed to accommodate someone with chronic fatigue. 

Differently abled and handicapable imply that I can do things just as well, but different, because of my disability. That’s just factually incorrect and it erases the need for ableds to do something to make the world accessible for the disabled. 

It’s a way for ableds to feel better about themselves and relieve themselves of the responsibility of changing their habits. 

thank you for coming to my tedtalk.

[jedimaster941]

A Declaration of Lost Independence

A Declaration of Lost Independence

As we get older, as we live life, like stone eroding under the power of crashing waves, our bodies break down. And as our bodies break down, we become more and more unable to do things. Sometimes not to the standard we once did, and sometimes we lose the ability completely. We lose things that bring us joy, and we lose things that bring us to life. Whether it be slowly or quickly, we all lose our independence. Aging is something, like it or not, we have all signed up for. We will get older, our bodies will break down, and we will lose our overall independence. It’s not ideal, but we understand it to be true.

For Chronically ill people, however, we can lose our independence rather suddenly, and it has absolutely nothing to do with natural aging. If someone aged 78 years has trouble walking, getting dressed, or going to the bathroom, very few would question it. But imagine you are 28 years old and you have the same difficulties. Think of how you would feel. In this article I will discuss the ways in which people with chronic illness lose their independence in the areas of physical, mental, social, and dietary, and the toll it takes on us when the things that we should be able to do becomes out of reach.

*This post features responses from chronically ill patients whom I asked…*

------------------------------

Physical

Loss of physical independence is the area that most people think about when illness takes over. It is at least the most public. People see wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, and handicapped placards. They are also readily aware when someone takes a little longer to stand up, when they have trouble buttoning a shirt, or their handwriting becomes illegible. If someone gets to know a disabled person well enough they may also become aware of PIK lines, feeding tubes, and colostomy bags among others.

When someone is chronically ill/disabled their bodies are the primary victim of their disease. In one way or another, our bodies are malfunctioning. As my primary care physician said to me once, “We are all getting older, you're a just doing it a lot faster”. (If anyone is curious, I did not take offense, I appreciated that he acknowledged my illness and my lack of certain abilities)

Our independence is very much directly lost in these examples. We lose the ability of climb stairs, walk short distances, wash ourselves, cook food, and one I’d like to discuss a little more, exercise.

Doctors and online experts tell us we need to exercise. I can’t disagree with that. Exercise is important to keeping what we have left tip top. However, when we can’t climb stairs, walk short distances, or wash ourselves, how do you expect us to get the the gym to do some Cross Fit? I know for me, exercise of any kind hurts and has lasting effects. Some of my readers may remember how not long ago I walked a peppy poodle for half a mile and my legs hurt for three days after. This wasn't from being out of shape, this was due of my condition. Yes, exercise, but understand sometimes it's more harm than help.

I used to be a distance runner, a golfer, and could give the best piggy back rides. Now, due to Ankylosing Spondylitis, I can’t do any of that. And believe me when I tell you, that hurts me mentally as well.

Mental

With chronic illness and disability there comes a mental toll as well. Both in the areas of cognitive ability, and depression.

First, let's touch on cognitive ability which will then (as all of these sections do) we will move on to depression.

I imagine many of my readers are already well versed in the words and terminology used in the discussion of chronic illness. However, if you are new to this world, let me share a term that I, and all of us use probably on a daily basis: “Brain Fog”.

Brain Fog is exactly what it sounds like, a thick layer of fog on your brain. You know how hard it is to see through a covering of fog? Now, imagine that fog is in your head and your brain is trying to see thoughts, feelings, and ideas through it. It’s not easy and often things are lost.

Brain fog is caused by pain and the inability to actually shut down and rest. When people go to sleep their bodies and minds go into power saver mode to recharge, refresh, and do diagnostics checks. However, what happens when you drink caffeine, or you eat a big meal before bed? Well, if you can sleep, your body has now been given other things to work on. The caffeine makes your heart work harder, and your body needs to work to digest that big meal. So what happens? You don’t wake up rested because your body never actually got any rest. The same thing happens every night for people with chronic illness, but without the caffeine and steak dinner. In my case, with Ankylosing Spondylitis, my body is always working to fight off a foreign invader known as the lining between my joints. (I guess it’s actually a domestic invader) For most of us, because of constant pain, we can never get comfortable and even when we do sleep, we aren't actually resting. This lack of true sleep causes our brains to process at a diminished rate limiting our abilities to remember, problem solve, and function.

When I go to the doctor, I bring my wife. Not because I need a supportive hand, but because I need a partner and coach to help me tell the doctor what I need to say, and then remember what the doctor tells me. There have been times I have come home from an appointment solo and either forgot what treatment we discussed or, through my fogginess, made up something completely different because I could have sworn the doctor said she wanted to try bloodletting. (Or was it Methotrexate? I can’t remember) Although I love my wife, and I will always welcome her to join me at an appointment, I'm 37 years old, I shouldn't need someone to be my brain while the doctor checks out my body. While I am not depressed about this, this loss of mental and physical independence can also lead to depression.

I used to run, and I loved running. When my health got worse I took up walking long distance. However, only a few short years later, I couldn't even walk short distances without great pain and weakness. I was 34 the last time I walked with any kind of purpose. Far too young to lose so much ability. When I see people out running, or I drive past the local health club with overly large windows, I get sad longing for my glory days. When I watch American Ninja Warrior I’m sometimes heartbroken. Believe it or not, I used to be able to do stuff like that. It’s crushing to think that somebody actually has the freedom to wake up in the morning, pop up out of bed, and then think to themselves “Well, I think I will run 10 miles, shower, go to work, spend an hour at the gym, play with my kids, and then get 8 hours of restful sleep before doing it all over again.” Here I am thinking, “I hope I can get out of bed.”

Chronic illness can take a great toll on our mental state and subsequent independence.

-------------

Diet

With the chronic illness life, more often than not it seems, comes a list of dietary restrictions. 90% (not actual figures) of life comes from our gut. What we eat and drink. Other than breathing and IV treatments, it’s the only way anything gets into the factory known as our bodies. So, there is much stress put on us by our doctors, friends, family, TV, and the woman on the corner to eat right to better our condition. And not everyone is wrong. There are certain things that improve or worsen our condition. We will listen to the “experts” and try certain things. Excluding things like sugar, dairy, nightshades, and gluten. Or “fad diets” like Paleo, Keto, Vampire, or Atkins.* We might even try Kale! Many of us will try anything if it means we reduce our pain and get a little life back. But, the more foods we give up, the more independence we lose.

Personally this area has been my biggest struggle. Two years ago I went dairy free at the suggestion of a nutritionist, and one year ago I totally cut out sugar. And, I won’t lie, excluding both of those have been fantastic for me! I may not always notice the improvement, but if I happen to slip up on purpose of by accident, I certainly notice then. I am solid and confident in my sugar free/dairy free life, and for the most part I am happy.

However, this does not mean everything is butterflies and unicorns. I still struggle as I’m sure many many of my chronically ill brothers, sisters, and non-binary siblings do. Two examples: My birthday, and the ice cream aisle. On my birthday my co-workers wanted to know what to get me for my party. Typically the birthday treat is cupcakes and fudge. Hello sugar and milk! After much thought, I received the treat of peanuts and pickles. (And I didn't complain) However, it didn’t mean it didn't hurt. My co-workers needed to avoid yummy delicious treats because of my AS. They were supportive, but it didn’t mean I didn’t feel like a party pooper. As for the ice cream aisle, they have dairy free ice cream, and they have sugar free ice cream, but as a friendly store clerk told me, diary free & sugar free ice cream isn't ice cream. I'm out of luck there.

When it comes to dairy and sugar, I have lost my independence. People need to accommodate for me. Oftentimes meaning they might miss out on what they want. When my school does nacho day, frozen custard day, cookie day, etc for staff wellness days, I’m the only one not well. I could tell the people that sorry I can’t eat this, but that opens me up to feeling bad for making them feel bad.

Or when you need to find out if a restruant is accessible. Many would think that with all the handicapped parking spots all places would also be accessible. This is not always true. I have seen places where the "accessible" table is in a door way or up against a wall. The freedom to go to any restaurant one wants is never a guarantee.

When friends want to go out those of us with diet restrictions need to be “that guy/girl”. The one who has hard opinions on what we can eat. Ever stand behind the person at Starbucks who insists on soy milk and Stevia? Have you ever thought “Just take your coffee and drink it! You're holding up the line!” Yeah, that’s us, the ones holding up the line. Doesn't feel good.

We are jealous of those people who can eat whatever they want. Go to any restaurant, order anything off the menu, and even have dessert. This isn't about gaining weight, it's about being able to get out of bed in the morning.

Social

The next topic of how we lose our social independence ties into the three topics above and any others I have not mentioned. Humans are meant to be social. We aren't bears where we can just crawl into our cave and sleep for a few months. If any human crawled into a cave, nobody would be friends with them. Why? Because interacting is one of the standards of human life. We need other people! Sure, there are the mountain folk who go out, kill a deer, make clothing from it, light a fire and live their life in seclusion. (And there is nothing wrong with that) But, most humans need other people to cook our food, make our clothes, work on projects, drive us, and socialize purely for fun. The problem is, for many chronically ill people, getting out of the house and socializing sounds equal to climbing up and living in a mountain.

We are exhausted! Chronic illness takes a lot out of us! Every day can be a struggle to move, breathe, think, and complete other daily activities. Showering can be one of the most difficult activities for some. Doing laundry is pure hell! When most people hate it for the fact they have to do it, for me, folding makes me want to die! Seriously, I don't fully know why, but it hurts so much and takes so much out of me. After doing everything we have to do, we don’t have energy left for what we want to do.

I come home from work, my shoes come off, and I’m done! Very little is going to convince me to put my shoes back on and go out with friends when all I want to do is sleep. Because of this, many chronically ill people are forgotten. We bail on friends two or three times, and they just stop inviting us. But, then we have a good day, we are ready to accept an invite. Do we take it? No. Why? Because, we feel good now, we don’t know if we will feel good later.

Chronic illness symptoms can come in waves. We can have good days (or at least the start of a day) but then we drop. We don’t always know why we drop, but our feelings and mood are in no way guaranteed. So, we don’t risk it. It’s far better to be at home near our bed than 30 minutes away with a group of people you will need to apologize to for leaving early. Declining the invite or simple ghosting is far easier and less harmful to our psyche.

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Chronically ill patients lose all sorts of independence. We can not truly live free with AS, Fibro, EDS, POTS, Lyme, MS, ME or one of the many other chronic illnesses that totally sap us of life. We are not free do do as we like.

While others wake up and get to choose between running, biking, partying, fixing cars, eating amazing food, and/or playing with their kids. We wake up and.. well.. that's it.

In closing. If you know a person with a disability/chronic illness try to be understanding of their limitations. Don’t give them a hard time when they can't do everything you want them to. Our lives are hard enough dealing with all the independence we may have lost.

*I might have made up one of these diets

[teamcamservices]

Are you ADA Compliant?

It is critical to keep streets and avenues up to ADA compliance. Ensuring that all citizens have access to roads, sidewalks, and facilities should be a priority for government departments, cities, and towns. There are many regulations to keep public spaces compliant with all guidelines and avoid any possible lawsuits.

Public Parking Compliance 

2% of all spaces must be van or handicap accessible

Accessible parking spaces are located on the shortest possible route of travel

For every seven accessible spaces, there is one van parking space

Accessible Routes

Routes are level under ADA standards, routes are clearly defined, and routes connect from spaces to curb

Accessible routes must be at least 36 inches wide.

Unobstructed pedestrian paths connecting parking to public spaces.

Signage

Signs with the symbol of accessibility are mounted in front of the space high enough to be seen while a vehicle is parked in the space

Curbs & ADA Ramps

Ramps are the correct degree of incline and do not extend into access aisles

Sloped curbs have truncated domes

Handrails

Handrails measure the correct height from the walking surface to the top of the grab rail

Handrail height remains consistent above walking surfaces, stair nosing, and ramps

At Team Cam, we make it a priority to stay up to date on ADA guidelines for asphalt and concrete public infrastructure. Each locality has its own set of additional or specific requirements to meet the standards of ADA compliance, and it is important to check and confirm you are meeting those requirements.

If your municipality requires updates, construction, or improvements to become ADA-compliant, call us today at 443-304-2237 for a free estimate.

Download PDF Checklist

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