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. 

Environments that affect Disability by Kali G

For my outing I went to the Fox Theatre for entertainment and to Pappasitos Mexican Restaurant for a meal afterwards. I decided to make my observations from the point of view of what life is like for those who are in a wheelchair. The accessibility at the Fox Theatre as well as the restaurant was not where it would need to be for someone who is in a wheelchair. The theatre is very busy and crowded, people are filing in and going all sorts of different directions. There are not a whole lot of visible signs pointing you to where you may need to go. If this is your first time at the Fox Theatre it could be very confusing. You would definitely need to plan ahead of time and figure out what accommodations they make for people who are in wheelchairs. At Pappasitos for the meal portion of the date, there was not an adequate amount of accessibility either. There is space between some of the main aisles, but being a busy restaurant this would pose a problem in terms of getting around easily and effectively.

The Fox is an old theatre so there are not many options in terms of adaptability. It has been around for a long time and I don’t imagine the space being able to change or reorganize in order to accommodate the needs of those in wheelchairs. They could make some changes, such as designated employees to help with getting around the theater. However, changing the environment to where it would need to be is most likely not an option. At Pappasito's, you could move a chair away from the table in order to fit the wheelchair. However it would need to be in the front and back corner of the restaurant. The tables are incredibly close together and there is no way you could make it anywhere else.

The Fox Theatre definitely has a crowding problem because there are a lot of people in this building at one time. Especially when it is close to the time of the show being started. It was an unpleasant experience for me when it came to getting around and going to the bathroom. Which makes the crowding an even bigger issue for someone who is bound to a wheelchair.  At the restaurant, the tables are close together in most of the building. If it is not too busy they could rearrange the space to accommodate a wheelchair.

The theatre is not a place where someone could be very social. It needs to be quiet during show time and especially depending on seating it is hard to hear everything that the actors are saying. However, the restaurant could make for a better option at social interaction. You could interact with the server who brings the chips and salsa, the waiter for your table, and the other people that are around you, considering how close you are together.

Since the tables at the restaurant are fairly close together, I would say that you can’t have a great deal of privacy. It is easy to hear what people at the other tables are saying. The theatre could be a place for some privacy because it is quiet and quaint during show time. The seats are extremely close together so your privacy is a little infringed upon at first until the show starts.

Finding the restrooms at the Fox was a particularly difficult activity. There were not a whole lot of signs leading us anywhere. Unless you knew where to look it made it difficult to find your way, especially because it was so busy. The restrooms that we found were all the way down at the bottom of the theatre after you follow a long set of stairs. I also found a handicapped bathroom stall that was out of order. Although there were other handicapped stalls, this still poses a problem and makes maneuvering in a wheelchair even more difficult. There would also be a hard time getting to the bathroom at Pappasito's. There is one big heavy door that needs to be opened in order to get to the tiny space that is in between the men and women's bathroom. You would definitely need someones help opening this door once you got in the first door. Unless people hold the door for you and help you, this set up makes it incredibly difficult to even use the restroom in the first place.

I would not say that the Fox is a comfortable place for someone who is in a wheelchair to be. I was uncomfortable at times trying to get around and find my way. I felt rushed because of the time and pace of all the other people. If you are in a wheelchair, unless there are special accommodations, it is going to be difficult to be comfortable getting around in such a busy and crowded space. I believe the restaurant space is a little more inviting and comfortable. It is easier to make accommodations in terms of space because you can rearrange tables and chairs.

The way the Fox is set up makes it difficult to have control over your environment. This space does not allow for someone who is bound to a wheelchair to make a claim to personal space. I didn’t see any employees there that were guiding the crowd in an effective and timely manner. It seems like a space that is not focused on the individuals needs but the group as a whole. If you are someone with a disability you need the space to accommodate your personal needs. At Pappasitos there could be some control in this environment because you can rearrange the tables and find an area that works, however this needs to be at a time that it is not very busy.

The handicap restroom stall at the Fox Theatre

A Day In The Life- by Meredith Orr

For my assignment, I decided to do a “day in the life of” account of a person in a wheelchair. In class a couple of weeks ago, I told everyone about my own experiences in a wheelchair for four months after a horrendous car wreck I had and some of the struggles to everyday life I faced. Since I already have a first-hand account of this lifestyle and have moved since I was in that situation, I decided to test the accessibility (the ease of movement through and use of an environment) of my own home and my university. This assignment has turned out to be a personal one to me, as it has reminded me of the hardships I faced, and the ones that people in wheelchairs face overall have to live with each day.

I began at the entrance of my condominiums. There are two buildings here, each with three handicapped spaces in the front of the building and six in the back of them! There is a large parking lot but not much outdoor space for activity and it is rather hilly, which would be a struggle to wheel on or push someone up or down. The ramp from the parking space to the sidewalk is also rather steep, which I remember being quite a pain trying to wheel myself up (I am not very strong!) and seems a little poorly designed in my opinion (see picture below). One nice asset to my building is that we have automatic doors that would save the awkward door-opening procedure that I hated so much. It always closed on me! Once through the entryway to the building, we have a wide hallway that has marble tiles, perfect for rolling on and with plenty of space! On the left we also have an elevator, which is VITAL in any building that is more than one story. I live on the first floor of my building and when I was in my wheelchair, living on the first floor offered me the most comfort because I did not have to sit and wait for an elevator every single time I wanted to come or go home. My condo proved to be rather comforting and accommodating as I walked through it and analyzed the space. I have hardwood and marble floors, which are easy to roll around on. I also have an open floor plan, which prevents some of the feelings of crowding, which is very important in my experiences because going from “my size” to being in a big, square chair, really makes you take up a lot more room and things appear smaller and cramped to you. Adaptability to this concept of taking up more space was very difficult for me, because I had to literally readjust to every little detail in my life- from going through doorways to bathing. It all takes so much longer when you have to think about how to maneuver yourself to do the simplest of tasks. I felt as if I had no control over anything in my life anymore because of the struggles I faced with these tasks and I had to ask for help with things that I did not even have to think about the day before my wreck. It's hard. Overall, I am proud that I have realized that my condo is accessible and would be comfortable to someone who is in a wheelchair!

The next morning, I drove to Kennesaw State (I couldn't do this when I was in my wheelchair, I had to be driven anywhere I went). I parked in the Central Parking Deck and noticed that there are many handicapped spaces on each level, and also an elevator on each side, which I definitely appreciate (I still have hip problems from my accident). I parked on the seventh floor and took the spacious elevator to the street level. The doors to outside were not automatic and seemed rather narrow, which is a disappointment for a university (or any establishment), in my opinion. Once outside, I did notice that the walkway was very wide and flat on the way to Prillaman Hall, which is a big plus for maneuvering. The doors to the building did not have a button to open automatically that I could find, and the doors are very tall and hard to open. Inside, the floors are marble, though, and the wide hallways are great for accessibility. I noticed a lounge area that encourages sociality among students. This is also very important because, as I mentioned in class, I felt very lonely and depressed because I was “different” during my time in a wheelchair, and the friends that visited me truly helped the situation for me mentally and had so much meaning to me as a person. I took the elevator to the second level to work on homework and saw that the tables in the study area were tall enough to wheel under, which I loved. In my classrooms, there were also tables that were high enough for this. Overall, I think that Kennesaw State has a lot of accessibility for people in wheelchairs, but there is definitely some room for improvement with the entryways to and from buildings.

This assignment was quite an eye opener to the things that I have become accustomed to again since my time in a wheelchair, and I have appreciated the experience that has reminded me of what all I have to be thankful for in my life. Those four months were the hardest of my entire life, and there were many times that I felt both worthless and like I was a burden to those around me. As time passed, I did learn to be more independent in my wheelchair, and comfort and accessibility in public places and in my home really are the reasons that I could become more confident, along with the support from my friends and family. I hope that others also are reminded to be thankful of what they have after this assignment as well.

Special Needs Prom!

           

For my Physical Environment Assignment, I went home last weekend and took my 17-year old younger brother, Bryan, to his special needs prom at their local high school. As well as already having a blast just being around the variety of children, I also learned a lot about kids with disabilities other than my little brother’s. My little brother can walk, however, a girl in his class named Jenda, was in a wheelchair and I saw just how difficult it was to be at a dance while not being able to really dance. Although Jenda could not stand up and dance around, she showed great adaptability to her situation by using her hands to show her expressions.  The multipurpose room that prom was held in had great accessibility, or ease in movement throughout an environment, to all types of disabilities. There was hardwood flooring throughout, seats around the room for resting, and no crowding at all. We were able to push Jenda around the room to see the senior walkout and other activities going on. One of my favorite parts about the night was when they played the recently popular song “Happy.” It gave true meaning to the environment to me because the song is just an overall happy song and to see everyone around the room with smiles on their faces was just so contagious. Jacob, Bryan’s best friend, is a red-headed boy with down syndrome. He made a good example of the activity, or perceived intensity of ongoing behavior within an environment, part of a physical environment when he proceeded to sing and dance on the stage for about 30 minutes of the night. I think that the environment the prom was held in was full of comfort, or sensory and mobility fit that facilitates task performance, and every child was able to express themselves by dancing, interacting with the partner’s club, or just sitting and eating the food that was offered. I feel like a dance is the one thing that children of all disabilities are able to participate in. Regardless of being able to speak, like Bryan, or walk, like Jenda, they were all able to express themselves through dance and music. The sociality, or degree to which an environment facilitates or inhibits social interaction among people, was phenomenal. Bryan cannot talk to tell me how much fun he was having, but the look on his face said it all. And not once did Jenda get upset because she couldn’t do the “wobble” like the rest of us. She had a smile on her face the entire night. At one point, we all stood in a circle with Jenda and held hands and showed her that we could have fun dancing that way also.

            After the dance, I took Bryan to his favorite place to eat, Sonny’s. We got to have dinner together in a privacy setting, where I could converse with him, through sign language, about his night. I could tell that at the beginning of the night, he was nervous/unenthused about going to the prom, but once we actually got him there around his classmates and friends he had a blast. Taking Bryan to his special needs prom was such a fulfilling experience. It is great to still be a huge part of his life even though I am away in college.  

Hoops and Wheels

Hoops and Wheels

For this assignment, I chose to spend the day with a longtime girlfriend of mine, who is currently wheelchair bound as a result of Rheumatoid arthritis. I first met her several years ago when I began playing on a women’s recreational basketball league. She was our coach. Prior to her disease, she had been a great basketball player in her own right and parlayed her knowledge, skill and love of the game, into being an amazing coach. Our 10-2 record was proof positive of her outstanding coaching ability. Regardless of her disability an inability to physically partake in the games, she remained court side, encouraging and inspiring our team, in more ways than just “how to play” the game of basketball. She taught us that when life throws you an “air ball” pick it up and slam dunk it next time! Although many of my teammates were in our thirties and forties, coach pushed us as hard as if we were teenagers. Knowing she did not allow her disability to greatly impede her own life, drove many of us to try a little harder than what I think we normally would have done otherwise. 

On the day of our get-together, we planned to have a picnic lunch at a local park, enjoy what was to be a pleasant Saturday afternoon, then attend the children’s basketball game at our local church. Although she and I, along with our families, had several meals together in the past, I never really paid that close of attention to difficulties she might experienced as a result of her disability. Honestly, I never really viewed her any differently than myself. It was this particular assignment however, that forced me to look at and consider how she might be effected by different environments and difficult situations, which many of us take for granted.

On a daily basis, one of the many concerns someone in a wheelchair faces, is without a doubt, that of accessibility. In each location we attended, I noticed they made generous accommodations for anyone with any type of disability. The park had very wide, paved walking paths and the picnic areas, in particular the tables, were adequately adapted for wheelchair use. Next, the church where the basketball game was held, also provided adequate accessibility. The building was equipped with ramps, handicapped parking, electronic hand pressed doors, handicapped stalls in the restrooms and many of the handles and drinking fountains throughout the building were user friendly, as their are many members of the church with different disabilities. 

While at the park, the activity level was very high and was attended by a very diverse gathering of people. I noticed also, that my friend was not the only wheelchair bound person at the park that day. A young boy who appeared to be a paraplegic, graced us with his presence as well.  Regardless, the activity level was high and no one seemed to even notice my friend or the other wheelchair as “standing out”, except for maybe a few small children who starred with innocent curiosity. As would be expected, the activity level at the basketball game was also high, but little notice was given to my friends’ disability, at least not to my knowledge, anyway.

The actual physical environment of each venue, as I stated earlier, did not lack much with regards to issues of adaptability. Much praise should be given to those who planned the layout of both the park and the church, since apparently no expense had been sparred to ensure that each was adaptable to all citizens, members and its participants.

From the perspective of comfort, once again each location had been subtly, but effectively designed in such a way that comfort and ease of use was achieved. Nothing at the park seemed to take my friend out of a comfortable position in which not to enjoy our time. The church gymnasium, while having two sets of bleachers on either sides, also incorporated a elevated stage at one end, overlooking the court and providing a tremendous view of the game.

For our outing, neither location gave any measure of discomfort for either my friend or myself as a result of crowding. Crowding simply was not a problem as everyone was able to spread out either within the park or around the gymnasium.

Privacy within each location was relative to one’s position within that environment. Although we were at a wide open park, there was enough space that even though there were many people there, we did not feel like our privacy was being infringed upon.  Likewise, at the church, the openness and spaciousness of the gymnasium still afforded us with a relatively nice degree of privacy in that we could continue to carry on private conversation.

While both locations provided a high degree of sensory stimulation, I think the park may have provided more, simply due to the diversity of people and activities taking place. Certainly there was an intense level of sensory stimulation at the basketball game, but the park seemed to have had so much more in terms of sights, sounds and smells.

Regarding sociality, the park may have provided less opportunities for social interaction simply due to its spaciousness. The church however, was a considerably smaller, more intimate setting allowing for more opportunities for social interaction.

Overall, this was a great experience and one that definitely opened my eyes a little more to become less oblivious and more aware of the many different struggles someone with a disability faces, in the world around them.  

Dinner at pasta Bella with Ally

    I met Alisha Pierre when I was 15 years old in south Cobb High school, since the first day we became inseparable. I will never forget junior year of High school when she was diagnose with Crohn’s disease ally is big on privacy so even to tell me her best friend it took her a month to tell me about her diagnosis, Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease, It usually affects the intestines causing crowding after she eat, but may occur anywhere from the mouth to the end of the rectum. Ulcerative colitis is a related condition; Crohn's disease is caused by interactions between environmental, immunological and bacterial factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Because her condition got worst, sometimes it’s hard for her to be Sociality she has been on a wheel chair for 2 years. In the beginning she had problem with Adaptability especially when it was time for her to go to college, she attends Clark Atlanta University. So when I was told about this assignment I knew exactly who I was going to take on a date my ally.

     When I told ally about my assignment we decided to go to my favorite restaurant pasta Bella in Austell. When we got there we realize there was ramp in front of the restaurant, so we knew the restaurant doesn't have an Accessibility problem. When we finally got into the restaurant and adjusting everyone was looking at ally with that pity look in their eyes, she hates that look. Because ally is not fully paralyze she use the wheel chair to support her cause she get weak fast, when we got to our booth she got out of the chair to the table, it made me realize how strong of a person ally really is. Ally love pasta Bella because other than the pity looks she was getting she found great comfort in the restaurant. I ask ally about her medication and how they are helping her? She started telling me about a new medication she will start in 3 weeks that is supposed to help her get stronger so she might not have to use the wheelchair for too long. I could see the excitement on my best friend face she is already planning different activity she wasn't to get into in her school. We laugh, talk, and reminisce about high school, talk about guys and everything best friends talk about.

     Since it was a Wednesday night we decide to go to bible study instead of the mall. While we were driving I ask ally, what do you hate the most about your sickness? She look at me with a serious look and said “I hate that people think they have to treat me differently yes I have an illness but it’s not a card for people to pity me or treat me differently” I agree with her because I know the real ally she like to be in control, she is very spontaneous, outgoing and love to travel. We went to bible study then I drop her home, it was a great date with my best friend.  

Angie is a sweet girl.

Angie is a sweet thirteen year old girl that is in seventh grade. She has cerebral palsy. This is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by a dysfunction to the developing brain, usually at or before birth. This causes a disability to the physical movement and functions of a person’s body. Some children with cerebral palsy are in wheel chairs, some have difficulties with movement, vision, and/or eating as well as with the brain and thinking. Angie is capable of walking, but it is more like a limp. One of her arms also is affected and has a problem doing normal functions. She has a problem with speech and it is sometimes hard to understand what she is saying. Angie is in special needs classes at a private Christian school where she is taught with other children that may need special attention. This young and beautiful girl accompanied me on a date to explore the environment and how it affects people that have any sort of disability.

            Angie and I went to Venture Value Cinema 12 in Duluth, Georgia. As we got to the movies, I noticed things that I never see unless someone with a disability was with me or if I was a disabled person. The accessibility, or the ease in which a person can get about or use the environment around them, plays a big impact on people with disabilities. Before the entrance to the movies, there was a curb you had to step over, but to the side there was a paved way for either a car or people with wheel chairs can use. But when I got to the door, I saw that there was a problem. The door did not have an automatic button and did not open automatically. Because Angie was not strong enough I had to open the door for her. In the movies there were also steps but to the left was a ramp that could be used for people that weren’t capable of taking stairs. When we got to our movie setting, as we walked through the door, Angie took a hold of my purse and stated “Waoh, its dark and creepy in here.” I realized that when you walk into the theater, it may be too dark right away and there were no lights until we reached the seating area. People with sensitive eyes or poor vision could have a problem with this. The sensory stimulations were not very well considered.

When the movie was over, we went out to Taco Bell for a quick bit to eat. Again I noticed that the door had to be pushed open even though there was a handicap sticker on the window by the door. As we ordered our food and ate I noticed a few things with Angie. First when we were standing and ordering she bent down to tie her shoe, after struggling for a bit to tie them and to keep her balance, I asked if she needed help and tied her shoe for her. While we ate, I also helped her tear some food into pieces as well as open the plastic covering of the spoon. I thought that throughout her life there must have been many moments when she felt like she had no control and/or privacy. She always needed to depend on others to help her do simple tasks. The access to herself was limited. I even remember when she was just a few years younger, she always had someone accompany her to the restroom and down the stairs. Her territorial space was always with someone around her to help.

As we were finishing our hanging out, I had some personal time with Angie as we talked at my house for a bit and then on the 25 minute ride to her house where I dropped her off. Like a lot of the teenage girls, each wants to fit in and have a high self-esteem, like they should. But when you are a thirteen year old girl with a disability, it may be hard. As we were talking Angie stated that she was ugly. I turned to her and said “No you’re not Angie! Your pretty, each person is pretty in their own way.” I realized that the society has placed a meaning on what beauty needs to look like, and Angie did not feel like she had what was expected from her society to be “pretty.” The media places so many norms and expectations, and I feel that for many people with disabilities they cannot fit in to those “norms and expectations”. We drove home and talked about school and her family. At times I had to ask her to repeat what she said to understand her. The sociality aspect where the environment shows us how to interact among people was hard for Angie and the people she talks to. She has speech, but sometimes it takes more attention or effort to understand what she is saying.  Being such a friendly girl and loving to hang out with friends, this is a challenge for her.

Being a part of her life and seeing how Angie has grown up to be a beautiful, fun, smiley young lady is such a blessing and great experience for me. This date was an eye opener to see that life may not always be easy for those with disabilities. But looking at Angie I see how much she has grown and adapted to her way of living. She had cerebral palsy since her birth and has learned to do almost all things a normal 13 year old girl can do. I think it is safe to say that she feels comfort in the environment she is in. She can perform many tasks while others challenge her, but she always finds a reason to smile and that’s what makes her a beautiful girl.

 Venture Value Cinema 12 

Taco Bell Entrance







Blog and photos by: Yelena N