Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
I am trying really hard to stay active and independent. I use a scooter right now, but i am being fitted for a power chair next week. I have a modified van with a ramp and hand controls so that i can drive. I am able to work full time because my company installed automatic door openers and a raised toilet seat in the bathroom for me. The problem is everywhere else that I try go! "They" want us to believe that everything is handicap accessible because they proudly display a big blue H and they have blue lines in their parking lots....but am I the only one who thinks that this isn't enough? The automatic doors rarely work and the extra space in the handicap parking spot is barely enough room for me to put the ramp down and drive my scooter up it - especially when (and it happens a lot) someone parks over their blue line into my allotted space! Ugh! But, you know what? I can deal with all that stuff, but the one thing that is really preventing me from doing things that i want to do is the public bathrooms. The ADA standard for toilet seat height is 17"-19"! 19" would be pretty good, but i have yet to find a public handicap bathroom who's toilet seat was 19" from the ground. They are all 17" just like the toilets in the non-handicap stalls! Anybody else experience the same thing? So, my question is two-fold; how do I start to try to change the ADA standard and any ideas for what i could do in the meantime? Is there a portable solution that is easy to carry and secure? I appreciate your responses. Happy 4th of July!
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Usually I get a daily influx of emails on health topics. An article from Dr. Mercola really stood out recently though because it mentioned that fat cells have their own mitochondria. Not only was this the first I'd heard of this, he also mentioned that fat serves a purpose in our metabolism. Another new factoid for me. The bottom line for me was to appreciate that even our fat cells play a...
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I just do not feel well and I really think that it's because I cried yesterday on my way to work about my Aunt who is in the hospital. I don't think that we will have her much longer. She is very frail. Now she needs help eating. So, this is the third time in a year that I felt this way after crying. I think crying releases toxins into my body. I also worked up a sweat at the gym...
I will be using my scooter to get around very shortly and can only imagine what I'm going to find. Already when parking in handicap, I notice there are inadequate ramps and someone who doesn't need a ramp, or even use a cane, parks right next to that ramp. I plan on advocating for those of us who need better compliance with standards. My school seems to be lacking in several areas although I am glad the automatic doors seem to work well.
I don't think that NY state requires that in a single stall bathroom. I am still on my feet knock on wood, so I can understand your frustration but can't imagine what it's like. We had a public cafe so if anyone should have had it, we should. I think you need to go to the state level here, and I can tell you for sure if I had a customer ask me to address that, I would have immediately ordered a seat to accommodate . In the short term, ask your regular shops that you frequent to please consider doing this for you and that there are likely many more that need it and they don't ask for it.
Thank you for the education. I don't have my business any longer, because I can't work, but if I did, this would be important for me to be a good business owner.