So far for Dwarfism Awareness Month I have mainly focused on how our family has been affected by it while trying to share some facts about the most common condition, achondroplasia. I want to touch on a subject that hasn't begun to play a part in our life yet, but unfortunately it's the reality for so many people with different forms of dwarfism. Something we average height people take for granted, getting about independently.
Imagine you're going out to get groceries, to start you can't reach most of the things you need (I'm 165cm/5'5" and I have a hard enough time getting to higher shelves; to put that into perspective those with dwarfism tend to be shorter than 147cm/4'10", averaging at about 122cm/4' in height), then you need to struggle to pay for your items because you're not tall enough. Next you need to pop into the bank, mind how high up their windows sit? Again, I usually struggle to hear them properly through the barrier despite being a decent height. Imagine not even being seen, you might decide to brave the errand another day because you go unnoticed, it would cross my mind for sure.
Now you need the toilet, but the only place in the vicinity doesn't have a disabled toilet. For many just getting onto the seat is difficult or impossible without steps or handles, imagine not being able to go to the toilet when you desperately need it. I have a weak bladder (not helped by 3 pregnancies & fibromyalgia), to me holding in pee is pure torture, and public toilets are often dirty so hardly something you want to try to clamber onto! If you have managed to navigate the actual toilet you now need to wash your hands but it's unlikely you'll be able to reach the taps. In some places you might be lucky enough to find a step (highly unlikely) but that does not guarantee you'll reach to turn on the taps if your arms are shorter than average. Getting lifted up, is after a certain age, quite undignified and from accounts can be very uncomfortable for those concerned.
Our family is lucky that we live somewhere where there generally are disabled toilets available, but it's far from perfect and as my readers come from all over the world I am aware that it's not the norm everywhere. There's been a movement in the UK to encourage more establishments to keep a step ladder/stool readily available so those of shorter stature can go to the bank (for example) without worrying about not being seen, but again it's got a long way to go and I don't know how implemented this practice is yet. And a lot of these access related issues are not only problems for those with restricted growth but lots of other disabilities too.
I've cried over the fact that our son won't be able to enjoy his independence as readily as his older sisters. I don't have to imagine, I know that there are many other mothers out there who feel the same. While I hate dwelling on these negative aspects and I know he'll figure out how to get by in most instances, I wish it wasn't an extra concern in the first place. It is important to face these realities so we can try to improve social spaces all over the world.
I'd like to end on a positive note and share some of the adaptations a family I've been in touch with made to their kitchen recently. While upgrading the room they wanted to make sure it also is accessible for their daughter who has achondroplasia. Not only did they make sure to build in a lower sitting sink for her to use but they also placed the tap near the front giving her complete access to it (there are sinks on the market that slide up and down as well for multi user purpose). Along with this, their builder made some ingenious steps that slide out from under the oven giving their daughter a step and platform from where she can use the stove by herself (I've seen others that have handy steps that can slide along the kitchen worktops). He even incorporated a chopping board/work top at her height which can be pulled out over one of the lower drawers. It's all super functional, easy to access and stylishly finished off from a design perspective. I know the family has already been treated to pancakes and I'm sure she loves the new freedom at home. The photos they've kindly let me share definitely show just how much joy a little independence can give.
At home it's easier to make these changes (although, as you can imagine, they don't always come cheap), however it's not impossible to try to make more of our world accessible to more of us. We all deserve a chance at feeling like we can be as independent as possible.
Comments
Post a Comment