Why Do People Always Use the Only Accessible Option?
Why is it that people always insist on using the one accessible version of anything? In the Metro, the accessible turnstile is always the one backed up with people, very few of whom actually need to use it. In public bathrooms, the larger accessible stall is always the one that is full, again, very seldom with someone who actually needs it. The same thing goes for parking spaces and accessible tables at Starbucks. There can be 10 open tables or parking spaces and you can always count on the fact that the accessible one will be full, usually with somebody who doesn't need it
Why is that? Why do people with 10 options feel the need to take away my only one? Why is it that people don't seem to understand that the "extra space"in accessible bathrooms and accessible tables in restaurants isn't a luxury, but rather a necessity for many people like myself who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or scooters? Why is it that people don't seem to understand that accessible parking is there for a reason, and not just the closest parking to the mall?
I've gone into bathrooms and heard people talk about using the only accessible stall because it has more space! Nothing annoys me more. This is not okay. When there are nine open bathrooms stalls it is not okay for someone who doesn't need it to take the only one someone using a wheelchair can use. When you do this, you are effectively denying someone access, and making a space inaccessible. Parking in the accessible spot for "just a minute" is not a harmless activity, because when you do this somebody who really needs that spot for any range of accessibility issues may be denied access to that establishment. When you sit in the only wheelchair accessible table at Starbucks when you don't need it. It is not okay because when someone like me comes in they will have nowhere to stay, and they will either be forced to cram themselves into an inaccessible table if they have the ability to do that, or they will be forced to leave the establishment altogether.
We live in a world with very few accessible options, and so when you use them unnecessarily you unknowingly deny someone else the opportunity to participate and be a part of whatever activity you are doing. When you do it without thinking because you have 5000 choices you are taking away somebody else's only option. I understand that with things like parking it can be complicated because you can always tell if someone is disabled just by looking at them, but you know if you need to use it, and if you don't, don't. Simple as that. I promise you, you have other choices. They may not be the simplest of choices, but I promise you they do exist, and you do have them. I don't.
I'm not asking for pity, far from it. I'm only asking for the same basic courtesy everyone else expects. If you were a vegetarian and everyone else knew that there was only one option on the menu for vegetarians and everyone else who wasn't a vegetarian ate all the vegetarian food, leaving you without any options, you would be frustrated. You would be even more frustrated if people kept insisting it wasn't a big deal, and they didn't do anything wrong.
My roommate, who has a gluten allergy and a dairy allergy actually does get into situations like this involving food when we go to events. There will be very few gluten and dairy free options (usually only one) people without allergies will eat it, therefore meaning my roommate has to go without food.
I have missed Metro trains because people were using the only wheelchair accessible turnstiles and refused to move over, even when I pointed out that there were other open turnstiles that they could use. I have had to leave Starbucks or cram uncomfortably into an inaccessible table, which makes it almost impossible for me to eat, more times than I can count because people refuse to move. You're not just being rude and inconsiderate when you do these things, you are actually making the environment inaccessible.
I long for the day when people realize that the accessible versions of things aren't just cool bigger versions of things for them to try out on a whim, but my only option. I long for the day when people will realize that using the accessible options unnecessarily actually prevents somebody else from participating or doing what they need to do. I long for the day when people realize that the lack of accessibility caused by unnecessary use of accessible options isn't just annoying, It's actually limiting. The next time you're going to use an accessible parking spot, bathroom stall, or turnstile unnecessarily, think before you act, and remember that you may be taking away someone else's only option.
Why is that? Why do people with 10 options feel the need to take away my only one? Why is it that people don't seem to understand that the "extra space"in accessible bathrooms and accessible tables in restaurants isn't a luxury, but rather a necessity for many people like myself who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or scooters? Why is it that people don't seem to understand that accessible parking is there for a reason, and not just the closest parking to the mall?
I've gone into bathrooms and heard people talk about using the only accessible stall because it has more space! Nothing annoys me more. This is not okay. When there are nine open bathrooms stalls it is not okay for someone who doesn't need it to take the only one someone using a wheelchair can use. When you do this, you are effectively denying someone access, and making a space inaccessible. Parking in the accessible spot for "just a minute" is not a harmless activity, because when you do this somebody who really needs that spot for any range of accessibility issues may be denied access to that establishment. When you sit in the only wheelchair accessible table at Starbucks when you don't need it. It is not okay because when someone like me comes in they will have nowhere to stay, and they will either be forced to cram themselves into an inaccessible table if they have the ability to do that, or they will be forced to leave the establishment altogether.
We live in a world with very few accessible options, and so when you use them unnecessarily you unknowingly deny someone else the opportunity to participate and be a part of whatever activity you are doing. When you do it without thinking because you have 5000 choices you are taking away somebody else's only option. I understand that with things like parking it can be complicated because you can always tell if someone is disabled just by looking at them, but you know if you need to use it, and if you don't, don't. Simple as that. I promise you, you have other choices. They may not be the simplest of choices, but I promise you they do exist, and you do have them. I don't.
I'm not asking for pity, far from it. I'm only asking for the same basic courtesy everyone else expects. If you were a vegetarian and everyone else knew that there was only one option on the menu for vegetarians and everyone else who wasn't a vegetarian ate all the vegetarian food, leaving you without any options, you would be frustrated. You would be even more frustrated if people kept insisting it wasn't a big deal, and they didn't do anything wrong.
My roommate, who has a gluten allergy and a dairy allergy actually does get into situations like this involving food when we go to events. There will be very few gluten and dairy free options (usually only one) people without allergies will eat it, therefore meaning my roommate has to go without food.
I have missed Metro trains because people were using the only wheelchair accessible turnstiles and refused to move over, even when I pointed out that there were other open turnstiles that they could use. I have had to leave Starbucks or cram uncomfortably into an inaccessible table, which makes it almost impossible for me to eat, more times than I can count because people refuse to move. You're not just being rude and inconsiderate when you do these things, you are actually making the environment inaccessible.
I long for the day when people realize that the accessible versions of things aren't just cool bigger versions of things for them to try out on a whim, but my only option. I long for the day when people will realize that using the accessible options unnecessarily actually prevents somebody else from participating or doing what they need to do. I long for the day when people realize that the lack of accessibility caused by unnecessary use of accessible options isn't just annoying, It's actually limiting. The next time you're going to use an accessible parking spot, bathroom stall, or turnstile unnecessarily, think before you act, and remember that you may be taking away someone else's only option.