Quirky notices

[PatrickIRL]

At Dublin airport last week, mindlessly wandering waiting to pick someone up from a flight, I saw a sign on a fire hose (the things that get your attention, eh?), anyway the sign was:

Fire Hosereel

Shouldn't that be Firehose Reel??????

Am I missing something?

Patrick

 

[Ladyazh]

I would suggest "Wheelchair Models ## XXX, XX, X Accessible

 

[Welshbird]

Ha. Yeah...

In fact, powered chairs have very different accessibility requirements than those moved by muscle alone, and those moved my muscles of the person in the chair need different things all over again...

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[SilentAiche]

>>off topic, 30 degrees or so <<

I understand not parking a vehicle in a space reserved for the handicapped, which I never do.

But what are the laws/norms/etc regarding handicap stalls in restrooms? Off limits, even if they are never used? Are they off-limits on a floor where the public never visits and there are no handicapped employees?

Just curious.

tim



[blue]
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I love logging onto Tek-Tips. It's always so exciting to see what the hell I said yesterday. [/blue]

 

[RodKnowlton]

CC & Mufasa,

Just to tweak your noses, I'll point out that by analogy your reasoning would mean the Fire Lane is there for any fire that might need it.

My preference is the International Symbol for Accessibility (required in the U.S. by the Americans with Disabilities Act), plus, if the space is van accessible, a text to that effect.

The ISA:

takes language out of the picture, no pun intended. (okay, maybe a little bit intended ).

- Rod

 

[jrbarnett]

<slightly off topic, but Willif and others may be interested>

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in the UK defines a disability along the lines of:

"A mental or physical impairment of the individual that affects them to such an extent that their life is significantly different from what it was should this person not have this impairment."

Under UK disability access law, I'm classified as disabled. Those of you who have met me will be able to confirm that I'm not wheelchair bound, nor do I use crutches, but I do have very poor balance and hand:eye coordination. This makes it difficult for me to stand up on public transport without falling over when its moving (apart from when its sardine tin level packed, when there's no room to fall over, in which case I tend to squash those who are around me). I don't need specialist equipment, I'm just slower than most using some normal kit.
Its also the reason I try and avoid bringing large numbers of drinks from the bar to our table at TTUK beery meets in a single trip.

Even holding onto handles or straps, I still occasionally fall over with comments like "Oh Whooa there" from complete strangers followed by "Are you alright?"

I'm not obviously disabled enough for a kind soul to give up one of the priority seats reserved for the elderly, disabled, handicapped, pregnant women or people with small children because its not obvious to those who don't know of my problems, and rather than tell everybody in the area of the carriage of my problems, I'd rather be known for what I can do (manage and program databases and database applications) than what I can't (stand up straight on moving public transport).

</off topic>

John

 

[ESquared]

What equipment do handicapped persons use besides a wheelchair for which wheelchair-accessibility is not sufficient?

 

[Stella740pl]

What equipment do handicapped persons use besides a wheelchair for which wheelchair-accessibility is not sufficient?

Some people can walk with a walker.
While it's not a wheelchair, most of the time those people can't use stairs and need a ramp, wider space in the walkway, handles in the bathroom, etc. But probably, regular wheelchair-accessibility is still sufficient for them.

 

[CajunCenturion]

Always feel free to tweak.

==> Just to tweak your noses, I'll point out that by analogy your reasoning would mean the Fire Lane is there for any fire that might need it.
On the contrary, I think the phrase 'fire lane' exactly fits the analogy. My analysis was that the subject of the phrase or clause was an implied noun identified by the preceding adjective in context. Just as the adjective 'handicapped' implies the noun 'person' in context -- meaning that the space is only available to handicapped persons -- so does the adjective 'fire' imply the noun 'truck' in context, so that the lane is only for use by fire trucks. Not dump trucks or garbage trucks, just fire trucks.

A picture is worth a thousand words.
I think you'll find that almost every dictionary incorporates as part of its defintion of language, something along the lines of a systematic use of symbols to convey meaning. Therefore, signs do not take language out of the picture; on the contrary, signs are, themselves, part of the picture. Signs are elements of langauge.

Also, please note that the picture is that of a person who happens to be in a wheelchair. It is not the picture of a handicap, it is a picture of a handicapped person. And just as that picture means, in the generic sense "any handicapped person, not just those in wheelchairs", the "fire lane" phrase means any emergency vehicle, not just fire trucks.

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[SilentAiche]

Thanks to all for your thoughts, but let me be restate my question as plainly as possible.

[blue] When, if ever, is it acceptable for a non-handicapped person to use a handicapped stall in a public restroom? [/blue]

I confess - I prefer their stalls. Not for the handrails, but for the stall's width. I am a somewhat large/tall fella, but not so far outside the norm, or so I thought. At 6'4" 260lb, I'm only sort of large IMHO (although I heard recently, to my great surprise, that only one percent of adult males are taller than 6'3").

Restated: Is it ever acceptable for a non-handicapped person to use a handicapped stall in a public restroom?

THanks,
Tim



[blue]
_________________________________________________________________________
I love logging onto Tek-Tips. It's always so exciting to see what the hell I said yesterday. [/blue]

 

[SF0751]

Is it ever acceptable for a non-handicapped person to use a handicapped stall in a public restroom?

I'm not aware of any rules or laws on the subject, but in my opinion, the answer is "yes".

I will use a handicap stall if (1) I need to accompany a small child to the restroom, and the small child wants/needs "company" (thank goodness mine are past this stage now!) or (2) I am using the stall as a changing room, rather than its intended purpose. However, the time spent in a stall is (hopefully) a short time, and should not cause distress to those handicapped individuals needing that stall. Of course, if a handicapped individual were in line for a stall, I would either use a normal stall, or allow them to precede me.

Susan
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls, and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison

 

[ascotta]

Well would a broken leg constitute a non-handicapped person, or would that be a temporary handicap ?

I can think of a time where I would have been far more comfortable using one, when I broke the last bit of my backbone in a sledging accident.

[blue] A perspective from the other side!![/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[Welshbird]

I ripped my ACL once, and spent a while either on crutches or in a motorised scooter wizzing around a supermarket.

It amazed me that once I was on one of these I could reach the till, and the operator would smile down and me, and then articulate very SLOWLY AND LOUDLY the total bill.

I often had calcuated the total amount myself and had the correct change ready, but the assumtion always seemed to be that I must be a little slow....

It was an interested perspective on the world for a short while!

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[KenCunningham]

You ripped your Access Control List, Fee? Painful.

Seriously and rather scarily I've just been scanning web sites for walking aids for my Dad, who has become somewhat unsteady since breaking his leg earlier this year. I'm thinking of the tripod type of walkers (like a regular cane, but with three legs at the base), rather than a zimmer since I feel these will give him more freedom. I'd be interested to hear of any experiences in this respect.

I have to agree with Fee about the 'Does He Take Sugar?' syndrome - I have a stammer/stutter (can't recall which is UK/US usage) which used to be much worse than it is now, and the looks one would get when trying to ask for something were amazing to behold! As for people who try to finish off sentences for you: I don't have a problem using profanities ;-)

I don't mind people who aren't what they seem. I just wish they'd make their mind up.

 

[Welshbird]

Aplogies for going off-topic:

FAO Ken - I pass this place every morning on my way to the office - they may be worth a phone call to discuss...

http://www.mobility-scooters-surrey.co.uk/

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[KenCunningham]

Thanks for that, Fee, I'll take a look and discuss with Dad.

I don't mind people who aren't what they seem. I just wish they'd make their mind up.

 

[Ladyazh]

I think using handicapped stole in a restroom is ok if it is empty and you have to go BAD but as a changing room I would never. It is not an emergency to change but to p*e*e* it is...isn't it?
I kind of feeling bad when people mentioning we are off the subject of OP but I thought we closed that when it was determined that sign was hand made, had we not?

 

[RodKnowlton]

As a parent of a child with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, I don't mind a bit if you use the accessible stall quickly when no one requiring the accessibility features needs it. Using it as a changing room is fine too, as far as I'm concerned.

I also don't mind if you walk up and down ramps provided for accessibility. Just don't sit and visit on them, or rather don't sit, visit, and refuse to move.

Parking spaces are a different issue. Cars can't say "oh, I'm sorry" and get out of the way. Besides, in most places improper use of accessible spaces is illegal.

See how I awkwardly avoided the handicap/handicapped problem?

- Rod