Steaks and Weights.

As I did not know anyone in the immediate area that I could ask out for the accessible date assignment I opted to go out with a good friend of mine and survey the multiple dimensions of a few different environments in the context of how someone with a disability might interact with them. We went out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse and then hit up the gym.

This is the  friend I decided to go out with (left).  This is probably about as close as we get to a "nice" picture. Unfortunately we did not think to take any of ourselves while we were out and about on our friend date.

Accessibility:

A few of the parking places

   The parking lot at the restaurant was very accessible to anyone that might have mobility issues. There were multiple handicapped parking places and entrance ramps at either end of the walkways which lead to the restaurant entrance. However, we did note that the double french doors which are typical to most Outback Steakhouse locations might not be the most accessible. The individual doors were a bit too narrow to be easily accessible to anyone that might be in a wheel chair or on crutches, so both doors would likely need to be held open to accommodate someone. If the individual were out on a date or with friends that likely would not be an issue. However, if someone were to go out to dinner by themselves at that location they might have a little difficulty as the doors are kind of heavy, and the hosts did not really pay attention to anything going on outside of their immediate duties. That aside, the interior of the restaurant seemed quite accessible mobility wise. The aisles in between booths were very spacious allowing for easy navigation, and the handicapped stall in the restroom provided ample room and comfort.                                                   

The wide walkways

The restroom in the restaurant

I tried to think about this assignment from multiple perspectives, and I concluded that someone with difficulties of vision might have a hard time accessing this environment because even in the middle of the afternoon they kept it almost uncomfortably dim on the inside.

     The gym was also pretty accessible. It is a 24 hour gym and during unstaffed hours you have to use a key to get in but the lock on the door seems to be fairly reachable, and there was a ramp leading to the entrance. Inside the gym the equipment seemed well enough spaced out to provide enough room for easy navigation (however people did tend to leave equipment strewn about the aisles which could potentially be troublesome).                                                       

Shower and guard rails at the gym

Adaptability:

  The restaurant was fairly adaptable. I inquired the hosts there if they had any special seating arrangements for anyone that might need room for a walker or a wheel chair and they said that they had half booths with chairs that could be removed to accommodate  anyone in need. Additionally, I am sure that the lights could be turned up or the blinds opened to aid anyone with vision problems. However, when asked whether or not they had a Braille menu, the servers were unsure and had to ask a manager. The manager was also unsure. He stated that they had one in the past but were unsure where to locate it and that they would be happy to read the menu out to us. I suppose that is adaptable in a way, but it could be a bit inconvenient for someone that wished to do things independently or that wanted some privacy or personal space without a random waiter chiming off the menu in their ears. I also inquired as to whether or not the various TV’s in the restaurant could be turned up or down to benefit someone that had difficulties hearing and they said that it was possible upon request. 

The weight rack at the gym which could potentially be rearranged if needed

     The gym was also fairly adaptable. It looked as if some of the machines could be adjusted to benefit people with differing disabilities. The heights of some of the equipment could be adjusted as well as most of the weight levels on most of the machines. I am sure if someone had difficulty reaching the racked weights that other arrangements could be made ahead of time.

    

Additionally, the gym was equipped with panic buttons and AED machines in case of an emergency which could be beneficial to everyone including someone with a disability or poor health problems. Every week the gym also offers a SilverSneakers course which is specifically targeted towards older adults or people who need to take things a little slower at the gym. I thought that was pretty neat because people could have their own time at the gym, and workout at their own pace without worrying about a bunch of meat heads roiding out around them. However, there was no Braille on any of the equipment or anywhere else in the gym that I observed.

Comfort:

            The restaurant seemed pretty comfortable in our opinion as well. As I said, the quarters were spacious enough to provide ease of mobility. The accessible booths were off to the side (though not hidden away) so as to provide plenty of room to anyone using it without the worry of being in the walkways. The restrooms were also spacious and comfortable with all of the sinks and soaps being within reach. However, as I mentioned earlier the restaurant was not as accessible as to someone with vision difficulties, and likely would not be as comfortable without some adaptations made. However, with some lifted blinds, and the addition of the missing Braille menu, I think the environment could be fairly comfortable to the blind or vision impaired.  

Dim lighting at the restaurant

            In addition to the spacious floor areas and bathrooms I listed under the previous dimensions, there were also numerous fans placed around the gym that were easily reachable and adjustable. Overall the gym seemed fairly easily accessible, adaptable, and quite comfortable (you know for being a place that inherently makes you uncomfortable).

Control:

            Outback is an example of a public territory, so there is little about the environment which can be controlled or personalized and evokes no feelings of territoriality.

            The gym however, could potentially be considered a secondary territory, and therefore if someone staked a territorial claim to it it could be more personalized and controlled a bit more. People might choose a favorite machine or cubby to place their belongings in.  As people pay to use it they may feel like they can control the environment more that they actually can. They can control the gym in small ways such as adjusting the temperature, the level of difficulty of the machinery, or changing the station on one of the televisions.

Crowding:

            Crowding was not an issue in either environment though I could envision both being so during certain times and on certain days. There weren’t very many people at the restaurant or the gym when we went, and as I said things were spaced out well enough so as to not cause any claustrophobic feelings.

Privacy:

            Both environments offered us a substantial amount of privacy considering that they were public territories. The booths at the restaurant were fairly private and even if had been busier the day that we went I feel we still would have been able to hold a private conversation without too much interruption. Normally the gym is not the best place to go if you are seeking privacy. The day we opted to go there weren’t many people there at all and it was easy enough to avoid the few stragglers that were there if we wished. The gym is a 24 hour one as well, so if someone required more privacy when they worked out they could go at times when it was less crowded.

Sensory stimulation:

An example of the visual stimulation at the steakhouse

Television and bar area at the restaurant

            Both environments offered abundant sensory stimulation. The atmosphere at the restaurant was both stimulating and relaxing with interesting lighting, art on the walls, and televisions and music playing in the background. Of course there were also delicious smells and tastes surrounding us. The gym was stimulating as well, also offering televisions and music. However, the interior design of the gym was visually more neutral. But what the gym lacks in visual stimulation it makes up with the sense of touch.

Some of the various sources of stimulation that the gym has to offer

Sociality:

            While the restaurant and the gym can be fairly private, they can also be social environments if desired. Though the booths are semi private, they are still located near enough to others that one could converse with someone at a neighboring table. However, in my experience many people do not wish to be spoken to especially by strangers while they are eating. There was a bar in the restaurant which would be a better fit for someone wishing to socialize, however the bar was very high and therefore might not be accessible to someone disabled.

The gym can be a very social place as well. Though many people do not like to be disturbed at the gym there are many, if not more that are more than happy to give you suggestions, answer any questions you might have, and in some cases even help you with your workout if you so desire them to.

                                    Conclusion:

This was a very interesting assignment and it helped me to think about the role that the environment plays not only in the lives of the disabled but in everybody's in a different context. However, I did not feel like I got the full scope of the project as I was not actually able to go on a date with someone. Because of that I decided to contact a friend of mine that lives out of state and see what his thoughts were on the matter to gain a more personal understanding and a valued view point. I asked him what his dating experiences have been like as a man living with a disability and whether or not he felt that the environment somehow perpetuated some of the stereotypes and misconceptions of disability as solely a biological issue. His response touched me:

"It’s been interesting. I’m 27 and I've kissed one girl and have zero sexual experience. Half of that is due to people not looking at me as more than an asexual being, and the other half is environment and circumstance. Obviously things don’t happen in public bathrooms as often as the porn world would lead you to believe, but it’s physically very difficult to have any sort of relations. One time a friend told me that it’s a blessing in disguise that I can’t initiate things with girls because that means they’ll have to take the first step. And since the burden would be on them, it would always be wanted. That doesn't really fly though. I've learned that now. That being said, I went to university. Every week I go to a movie or a concert or something. I have the desire and the wherewithal to succeed in social settings. I was my class president. I handle things in stride."