Last week, I took my good friend, Hunter, out on a “date” to O’Charley’s, the Atlanta Zoo, and to my house for some video games. Hunter sustained an injury in a football accident in high school that put him in a wheelchair for life. Because of this, it has taken him a while to adjust to his new way of living. I thought this assignment would be a great time to observe all the obstacles he faces, since it is something I had not really taken time to think about before.
O’Charley’s
Accessibility
When we arrived at the O’Charley’s off of highway 41 for lunch, we easily found a handicap parking spot right in front of the entrance. There was also a concrete slab jutting out to the left of the handicap spots that had a wheelchair-accessible ramp. Opening the doors would be a difficult task for Hunter if I was not there; the push bar was above eye-level and they were moderately heavy. The tables they had were at the right height for a wheel chair after a chair had been removed. Some of the booths were up on a ledge, which would make it impossible for a wheelchair to be put on the end.
Crowding
The area were we sat was very cramped. I felt like both of our seats were jutting out in the aisles in the way of our waitress. The other tables around us were very close, and they even had to move one further away to accommodate us, crowding the other tables even further.
Privacy
We were sat right in the middle of the restaurant, so there was no privacy there. There were some booths along the walls that would offer more privacy, but none were accessible to wheelchairs, which I thought was not very fair to those who would like a more romantic setting.
Atlanta Zoo
Activity
Since we went in the fall, there were not as many people there as in the summer, but there were still a good number of people. There were children running around everywhere, which became an obstacle when they would run right in front of Hunter’s wheelchair. The groups of people gathered around the exhibits made it difficult for Hunter to see the animals, and we often had to wait a while for a gap to open up.
Adaptability
There were not many options for adaptability at the zoo. Some of the exhibits had railings or walls that came up to Hunter’s eye level in the wheelchair. These were things that could not be adapted to accommodate him.
Sociality
The zoo allowed for a high degree of sociality. Hunter and I were able to talk while we walked from exhibit to exhibit, and watching the animals started many conversations with the other visitors. Without a doubt, our favorite animals were the zebras.
My house
Comfort
Hunter seemed very comfortable in my house. It is very spacious so he could easily maneuver around to get whatever he needed. Our table is low, so we were able to eat some snacks before we played video games. Our television is slightly above Hunter’s eye level, but I was able to tilt it so he wouldn't have to lean his head back.
Meaning
My house has a lot of meaning for Hunter. We have been friends for several years, and so he comes over often. My family is always welcoming to him, and we have made adaptations to make him more comfortable. I think he feels like this is a safe place where he can just be himself. He came here even before his accident, and so I think this place is a second home to him.
This assignment really helped me to empathize with the daily struggles that people with disabilities have to face, and it made me more conscious of what improvements could be done to make their life easier.
Haley Von Stein
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