This past weekend, I had a case of everyday adaptation when queuing in the drive-thru at Starbucks. I had to pull up to the window to the point where my (albeit oversensitive) car’s sensors were screeching at me to stop right there. I asked for my order and the clerk at the window said, “D’ya know, you’re the only person to pull right up to the window today. It makes it so much easier for us!” to which I responded, showing my hands and saying, ‘Well, me too! I kinda have to,” laughing as I showed my handy predicament.
It was a conversation well received, but it puts it into perspective for others. I’ve said it to a lot of my friends who haven’t realised it, but this world is not designed for us. The adaptations are made daily and as inconvenient as they may be, we move.
As it’s Limb-Difference Awareness Month all throughout April, I think this is the best particular time to touch on this. It isn’t a statement for pity or sorrow, but the world is simply not designed for disabled people. For instance in my own experience, with my club hand is on my right side, it creates a lot of issues for me – especially when driving. Not with driving itself, no.
I’ll you give an example: when buying a ticket to park, I physically cannot reach the machine on my right side nor do I have the stability in my digits to operate the machine if I did. This means I either have to A) twist my entire body like a contortionist over to reach with my left hand – most times having to take my seat belt off to do so – or B) get out of the car altogether.
The same is also the case when I am checking in to work. The ID scan and code is so much on the curb I have to leave my car daily in order to pass security and gain entry to the car park. I then have to repeat the routine once in the car park to gain entry to the building, all while carrying my work bag, flask and laptop. It’s a hindrance, a balancing act, it really is. And if I am to drop my coffee? Oh boy it’s not a good day! I tell people this and it gets a tut and an eye like, ‘what’re you gonna do, eh?’ as we move the conversation along, but it is real.
It’s a tough one – because we can’t ideally reshape the universe to fit the needs. The systematic structures are in place for the way roads are built and the way nations move and get about, but changes to need to be made to lessen the inconvenience limb-different people are faced with everyday. It continues a strain, but one we have to put up with. 15% - or approximately 1,176,900,000 - of the world are disabled in some form. I think that’s a worthy number to make some further adjustments for.
As technology improves, there should be easier and less herculean methods to go about completing everyday tasks. But, because they are defined as everyday tasks, they often go without consideration. We have readers that are able-bodied and enjoy these looks into the world of disability that haven’t previously been considered and I really appreciate the honesty and open-forum discussion the DIA upholds with its readers and supporters. I hope again this is an eye-opening column. Barcode scans? Camera or mobile-operated parking to come at an easier, more accessible way? The technology is making it easier, but it feels like we’re in the middle ground between the problem and the solution for all.