Physical Enviroment Assignment

KSU-HS-HS

3/13/14

I am a manager at a movie theater and one of my friends and employees is handicapped. He was born with spinal and issues and this has affected his ability to walk over the years. He went from walking with crutches to a wheel chair in the last two years. He now is unable to walk. I asked him on our “date”, because I am used to seeing him at work but not on a personal. At work his job is to rip tickets at the door stand, and I have become accustomed to the routine of clocking him in and getting the items he will need like 3D glasses. His wheelchair does not fit in the back room, so others clock him in and out during his shift. With all of this in mind, I still did not really understand the challenge of day to day life because he has made it seem effortless, dealing with these issues from childhood have helped him adapt and he puts others at ease. He is very active, he works out at the gym to build his upper body strength and has become a turner field attendant when games are in season. He never seems to allow his inability to walk stop him from doing things he enjoys, like going to the movies on his off day!

We started the date at the movies. I met him there. I drove myself, he was dropped off by a family member since he cannot drive.  I chose the movies because we can both get in for free and also because it provided comfort to him and myself. He is used to the space and can maneuver around without issue. The theater has a ramp in front for handicapped or disabled patrons, but it is not directly in front of the box office and this can cause some issues if there are many people waiting in line for tickets.  Legibility is  an issue and one I had not considered before; what I did notice was that the doors are not automated and the height of the box office was little too tall for him so he had to reach up to speak and interact with the box office attendant. As we made our way in we had a wide birth so he could roll into the theater easily, the doors are kept open until the movie starts. We were able to find a place to sit in the front, which there is a small row in the middle section before leading to the lower section down a ramp. I sat in the end chair and he maneuvered his wheel chair next to me.  The theater is abundant with lights, sounds, pictures, games, posters and of course food. Sensory stimulation can occur at any time especially in such an overactive environment like a movie theater. There are so many things to see and hear at a theater that those prone to mental disabilities can easily be overwhelmed by the stimuli. The overstimulation can occur because of the large screen and format of the movie itself. My friend and I watched a 3D movie and I noticed on occasion he would take his glasses off. He said it was because he need to give his eyes a break.

After the movie we went out to eat at Cracker Barrel. I pulled my car up next to the ramp and opened the passenger door for him so he could move from his wheel chair into my car. I then had to remove the wheels to his chair in order to fit it in my trunk. When we arrived at the restaurant I did not have a handicapped plate or license for my car so I dropped him off by pulling up and removing his wheel chair and putting it back together for him, then I parked. The restaurant was busy for a weeknight and we ran into crowding. The restaurant is set up with a store in front, with the host stand in back. The accessibility was an issue because the store became a labyrinth trying to get around objects on display and other customers. We got seated and they had removed the chair for him so he could roll up to the table. This environment offered very little privacy. While the store front was packed with displays the restaurant area was packed with tables and it was not easy for him to move. We had little privacy because it was so busy and our table was very close to other patrons eating. Conversations could be overheard from many of the tables. It was a very social atmosphere. The sociality was prominent because of all the families and groups there. It seemed like it was a ritual week night meeting place for dinner. The servers seemed to know people by name and it felt like large family reunion.

 As the night came to an end I drove my friend home. I realized that while I had lived in a world familiar with seeing buildings and streets built to accommodate those with handicaps or disabilities, I truly did not understand the strength and adaptability my friend possessed. He showed me that even though he may be in a wheelchair he continues to carry on his life the only way he knows how and he overcomes and deals with mobility, social, and environmental problems as they arise.