A Friday Stroll

Anavel Chavez

Human Socialization HS 3300/02 

I had the evening planned with my friend I invited her to Atlantic Station she had never been so I figured it was the perfect Friday date. I let her know of my plans dinner, a movie outside, and afterwards dessert.  This was the perfect place because it was all in one location so we could easily access everything and she wouldn’t have many problems in her wheelchair.

Accessibility

There were elevators that helped us from the parking deck to the restaurant.  We parked further than the expected there were no ramps so we needed help lifting up the wheelchair from one sidewalk to the next.  When we finally arrived at Strip there was no open button for her to open the door so she had to wait until I opened it. 

Activity

It was a Friday evening and the place was a packed.  There were servers everywhere and the hostess was nowhere to be found we must have waited at least five minutes. Suzy was beginning to feel uncomfortable because she felt she was in everyone’s way.  The hostess finally came and we specifically asked for a table outside.  It had to be outside because our movie would be starting in about an hour I figured it gave us enough time to settle and order in time to watch the Wizard of Oz.  Meanwhile there was music and people were dancing in the courtyard.

Crowding

As we headed outside we kept bumping into a lot of people.  Luckily the patio was more spacious.  There were a lot of people on the courtyard but that didn’t affect us because we had our own table and we were high enough to be able to enjoy the movie.

Control

In this particular place and considering the time she had no control.  Suzy always needed the help of someone whether it was moving a chair, opening the door, or moving from one sidewalk to the next.

Adaptability

The restaurant had the standard tables and chairs if she wanted a cocktail drink the bar was too high to order one.  At Kilwins the only options she had were the ones she could see through the glass and the candies in the jar on top of the shelves were too high to reach unless she asked someone to bring down the whole jar.

Sociality

Being at the restaurant and around a crowded area when the movie began people had to communicate whether it was to pass each other by or simply ask for the time but many seemed to avoid Suzy.

Comfort

There wasn’t much comfort because it was too busy and rushed that people kept brushing up on each other and us,  she always felt she was in someone’s way.

Privacy

At Kilwins we decided to have Ice Creams for our night cap and sat at a nearby bench having girl talk and about our date.

Even though this was an imaginary date it made me realize of how the smallest things can affect someone and that many times we take a lot of things for granted.