The Concert Date
October 18, 2012
Rosanne Hill
The physical environment very much affects the human behavior. This is a dream date. I once knew someone however who taught me a lot about physical disabilities and life. Below is a picture of a family and guy similar to my date.
There was a lot of sensory stimulation with our date. It involved taste, touch, feeling, hearing and sight. It was a great experience for him but definitely for me. I had never experienced the fact that one’s physical ability had nothing to do with how one reacts. He was very intelligent, was humorous and funny, had good manners, presented with no behavior problems, and wore pressed clothes. He is very conscious of his health and was thankful that his only disability was from the waist down. My date talked about this venture months afterward.
We researched Atlanta restaurants and events because we had been interested in city life activity. My date had a handicap accessible van and always a fully charged power chair. So we were ready in that department. He many times expresses that he wished he could drive and often. He, however, always had someone to drive it for him. We found out that Coldplay was going to have a concert at the Philips Arena. That we thought would be pretty cool to attend. We checked into the accessibility factors and they were right there just waiting for us. The Arena we found had Guest Services Representatives at all of their events. They would help us to our seats, which were lower level row seats. Right Up Front! They get refreshments for you too. They have assistive devices free of charge, and sign interpreters for those with hearing disabilities. Our reservations needed to be 30 days in advance and guess what? We had exactly that much time left to get tickets! Totally awesome he said. Available accessible parking spaces were on site as well. See below what we found on parking spaces. We ordered our tickets Right Then online. The chart showing our seats are pictured below. There also were Arena Food & Beverage restaurants. The one we picked out was the RED which is a new restaurant. We tried out the centrality located show kitchen and enjoyed the excitement of the chefs preparing meals. The restaurant is pictured below along with their menu. We had interaction this evening!
Privacy we had prior to leaving his apartment which he had always had prior to any activity into the community. He goes out in the community to volunteer which he calls his job and also to take college courses with the help of his tutor. We also had private time to talk in the van on the way to the restaurant about his job and how college went this week which we went to prior to the concert. He generally has not much privacy since he needs assistance with daily living activities. We found not a lot of privacy at the restaurant and particularly at the concert there wasn’t much of it. There was also restricted mobility in the restaurant. Crowding was experienced at the concert. He expressed no stress with the environmental crowding and therefore no behaviors. When we were in the crowd we mostly just watched them and he noted things to me that were funny to him.
Parking spaces we used are below.
The van below is his accessible van.
His quality of life experience was established when he was young. He was always human and his sociality inhibited his efforts to try to care for others even though he himself required assistance. Any time someone else speaks to him it gives him confidence and acceptance in society so that is when he readjusts himself in his power chair and sits up straight. Yes, he is part of society.
His family is always in touch with him and even though he made most of his decisions on his own they are there if he needed their help. He is very polite and always says “thank you” also. He has disabilities but it doesn’t stop him from taking control and being independent and social as he would be and the person he was before he became unable to do everything a guy normally does. He loves life period!
We finished eating, visited the restrooms and went to the concert. He was able to help himself in the restroom. We got there early to avoid the crowd and to watch the Arena fill up. It also gave us some privacy for talking about our experience at the RED. We had our Xylonbands ready!
With his accessible van he pushes the control buttons and lift platform himself as he did when we started out when we arrived at the van. He adjusted the chair into the van. I safely snapped him in as well as locked his wheelchair wheels into place. We are on our way back to his apartment.
Adaptability we saw in many areas for those with physical disabilities. The handicap parking areas, restrooms adapted for those with handicaps, the RED and the Arena. At all locations if we needed anything staff were able to assist with adapting for our comfort.
He was tired on the way back napping in his power chair and slept late the next morning.
We had such a wonderful date that we have made another date. We are going to hear Dr. David Jeremiah later in the month. He presents with Turning Point ministers “An evening with Dr. David Jeremiah” also at the Arena.
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