My DD is doing her Senior Project on problems people with mobility disabilites have.

[D L and K's Mom]

In our school in order to graduate you have to do a senior project. Many children learn a new skill. Cake decorating and photography are favorites. My DD has chosen to do hers on the daily problems people with mobility disabilities encounter. We have a special needs son and she sees how hard it is for us to make plans for a trip etc. We first have to check on rooms, transportation etc. She had decided to do her project on this type of thing but has expanded on it. So far she has decided she will spend a day in a manual wheelchair, and electric wheelchair, and an electric scooter. She will spend the day at school and then the afternoon taking public transportation to the mall and out for dinner. She is going to contact a local company to see if they will lend her the equipment she needs. She has already found that her school only has one real handicapped access bathroom and it is closed quite often because of people smoking in it. She has noticed little things like when we bought produce today at the grocery store all the plastic bags were up very very high. Same thing with the meat counter so that even with a "Grabber" you can't reach them. She wondered how they get their licence and if they can take drivers ed at school?I am proud of her but I don't know where to tell her to go for information. She would like to contact teens her own age to talk to them about the problems they encounter on a daily basis as well as the things that they can accomplish. She wants to find out about employment etc. She is very worried that she will offend someone. I just don't want her to offend anyone. She really wants to have information for her paper. I am so proud that she has chosen to do her project on something that I think will give her and maybe other teens insight. She does not want people to think she pitys them she just would like information. Any ideas? Anyone willing to answer some questions for her? Any place I should direct her??? Anything else she should include in her paper? Any great ideas???? Thank you in advance.

 

[mechurchlady]

Countertops in my kitchen are too low so my back hurts. I use the spare wheelchair sometimes to do cooking. Standing up I can jump back, suck my midriff in, or lean forward when I drop hot stuff. Laps are not meant for hot things like sausage grease. I do not have footrests on the chair so I can get close to counters but not to do dishes. I have to open the doors so I can get close to the sink. Mom cannot use our bathroom because of the narrow old doors.

Why do cats like to sleep on bookcases? Because warm air rises and cold air sinks which means a slightly colder environment when you are shorter. I have a back problem and it is very hard at times to get to the bottom shelf. In an ECV you drop something the have to get out or maneuver so you can reach the item. People will take up the whole aisle in the store. This dude was at the entrance to cereals for 15 minutes and all that tme nobody could get past him.

Education is very important in making life easier for people. I love what your daughter is doing. Too many people do not realize what impediments there are for people with any disability. At my post office is a railing with a shelf so clients can park their packages instead of holding them. That is a blessing to the disabled like me. Hugs your daughter for me. Great kid you have.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I doubt your daughter will offend anybody. I think most people will be happy that instead of relying on stereotypes she is trying to experience it for herself, even if it is just a couple of days.

Many cities have a disability advocacy agency of some type. You might want to ask the special ed department at your school, they normally have that stuff on file to help parents (or they will if they are any good). From there they could probably put you in contact with members who would be willing to talk to your daughter. Good luck!

 

[imabrat]

Hi there! I'm a teen with temporary mobility issues and I would be glad to relay any info to her.

Just PM me if she needs anything, but I might not reply immeadiatly, I'm actually on my Make a Wish trip now.

 

[SueM in MN]

I haven't had a lot of time for this part of the disABILITIES Board lately, but wanted to send you a hug for your DD for choosing the subject she did.

I don't think she will offend anyone. Someone who really wants to learn and is trying to find out how things really are should not offend anyone. Also, if they are teens in your same district, they will be familiar with the concept of senior projects.
I would suggest that she come up with a little outline explaining her project and what she hopes to find out. Then, a set of questions. That should help her to be comfortable with asking the questions. It sounds like she might be very broad on her questions right now and it may help her to focus on some specific things to investigate rather than try to cover everything.

Another thing that might be helpful would be contacting some places that serve people with disabilities - like a children's hospital, United Cerebral Palsy, the Special Ed, Therapy and Guidance Counselors of her school/district. If she has a little write up of what she's doing she can ask for volunteers to answer a number of questions for her. That way, the people who contact her/answer her questions will be already knowledgeable about what she wants.

This website may be helpful for some ideas. It is a new ad campaign called Cure Pity for a local children's hospital. The videos in it are very good.
I can't think of anything offhand right now.

One thing she plans - taking a power wheelchair for a day - I don't know if anyone would allow her to take one out of the showroom. They are rather expensive, not as easy to drive as they look and may be in short supply. Each time DD was getting a new power wheelchair, we had to wait a while for one to be available for loan. She may have more luck borrowing one for a few hours to use within the facility of a hospital that deals with disabilities or from OT/PT at her school.

I'd also suggest taking some pictures and/or video, even if she can't use them for her project presentation. Pictures or videos might jog her memory or help her see something she had not noticed at the time.

 

[ireland_nicole]

I don't think people will be offended, either. I appreciate any genuine desire to learn, and I think most people would agree that raising awareness is a really great thing! Kudos to your daughter- she sounds like a special young lady.

 

[rastika]

What a great project idea. I think your daughter will find a lot of problems come in the form of access. As she has already noticed, most handicapped stalls aren't adequate. Doors that open by pulling out toward the person who wants to enter are also quite a challenge if the disabled person is traveling alone. Good luck to her on her research!

 

[ktwheelz]

I'm getting ready to go into my senior year of college and I would be honored to help in this project. I have had a mobility disability since birth and love any opportunity to educate others and advocate for the rights of people affected by disability.
Please feel free to PM me about this or anything else I might be able to help anyone with!

I don't post here much, but I just wanted to say that you guys are amazing!
-ktwheelz