It is not the Disability that is the problem, it is the accessibility the problem. I love this saying! As someone who uses a wheelchair all of time disabled access is a big part of my life and I guess it always will be.
I love swimming and few years ago I went to the new Tollcross swimming pool. I had been there a few weeks before I was planning to visit and everything was fine. The first time they lifted the swimming pool floor up and I got on it in a pool chair and then they put floor down so I can get in the swimming pool. I went back knowing that I will get in OK but I was wrong. The 2nd time that I went they said that they couldn't lift the pool floor that day so I couldn't get into swimming pool!
I felt so upset knowing I got into swimming pool before without any problems but I couldn't that day.
Sometimes I go around thinking Really? How can they expect a wheelchair user to move around? Some shops which I go in to are too narrow and tight that I can't get moving around. Even some lifts which I go in to are too small and I think what if my wheelchair was really big it wouldn't get in here. Stairs are big barriers it isn't first time when I want to go somewhere but it has stairs getting into it so I couldn't go there. Don't start me with toilets. Before I discovered changing places toilets, when I used to go in to a standard disabled toilet, some of these toilets are too small for a disabled person in a wheelchair and there isn't all right equipment that a disabled person requires to use the toilet or get change. I really don't know why these toilets called A DISABLED TOILET!
As I grew up in 90s, I can see how disabled access has got better over the years. These days there a lot of more changing places toilets,
shops are better now I feel like I can get into more shops now than I did when I was younger.
Like I liked said before, I love swimming and for years I was trying to find a swimming pool that had good access. Clydebank leisure centre is very good example of very good disabled access. There is good access everywhere within the centre from their swimming pool to their gym. I was so pleased to find a swimming pool like this that I can get changed in their changing places and then get in to water no problem!
Building should have good disabled access such as ramps, lifts, wide spaces, light doors or doors which open themselves and changing places toilets. When planning to build a public building there should be disabled people included in the planning to make sure it is for everybody.
written by Jill
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