Ramps - Switchback

Through the winding tunnels under the University of Saskatchewan, which connect the buildings that vary in age, elevation and repair, a person will encounter many ramps of multiple different characteristics. Some are steep enough that I would not feel safe climbing or descending them independently in a manual or power wheelchair. Others are properly and reasonably gradual, with many ramps falling between those two extremes.

The ramp pictured above is one of the better ramps in the tunnel system underground. The switchback halfway up gives a person an opportunity to rest, regain strength for the next climb, and can be a place to wait for a clear path to the next plateau. This ramp would be one example of one that is too narrow for multiple people at once and when the masses are moving through here it can become intrusive to be the guy in a wheelchair blocking everyone else's way.

Unfortunately, depending on the time of day and year, some of the access points in these tunnels are often closed or locked which necessitates venturing outside to find a suitable detour. Often choosing to take the tunnels is a longer distance than going outside but it can save exposing oneself to the elements. When you hit one of these dead ends, only to have to go outside to find a detour, it results in much wasted time and energy in backtracking. Far from a perfect system when time between classes is short, transportation arrival and departure times have short windows, and when accessible washrooms are less frequent than they should be.

Thoughts: If attendance at a post secondary education institution is in your future minimize those first stressful days by having a good explore to determine the best routes for yourself. Don't be afraid to mention to the appropriate counselor the problem areas that need addressing. It may not be fixed by the time you have completed your stay but, hopefully, you will be making it better for the next person who needs proper access.

Parking Meters

By now it is no secret that dexterity limitations of quadriplegics are possibly our biggest struggle, directly or indirectly. Putting coins in a parking meter is one of the ultimate tests. I have lost more than a few quality cups of coffee worth of coins to the gutter over the years. Every time I go to the University of Saskatchewan for photography, exercise or whatever other reason, I feel like I am part of a cruel experiment. Why do I feel like this when using the designated handicap parking meters at the University? Because of the way they face.

Follow along with my reasoning, if you will. As you will notice, the coin slot faces the street. If the individual with a disability is driving they cannot reach the meter from the driver's side as they will be on the street. Once they get out, the meter is too far away to reach from the street by wheelchair or walker which means they will need to get up and onto the sidewalk to deposit coins, just like a standard meter. However, the space between the meter and the edge of the curb is only between 30 and 45 cm, between 12 and 18 inches. The photo above distorts this distance because of the wide angle lens I chose to use, but believe me when I say it is less than 18 inches between the post and the curb.

This short distance between the curb requires the individual to back up to the curb to deposit coins while facing the coin slot. This introduces the risk of falling backwards off the curb, regardless of the disability in question. If you add some improperly cleared snow to the equation, creating a cone of snow around the meter's post, you make it even more difficult for the user to get close enough to deposit coins. For these reasons I avoid the designated spots whenever possible. However, with parking at the University being at a premium, often the only spots available are the designated ones.

I would greatly appreciate understanding the reasoning used by the person responsible for designing the meters this way. All of the designated meters at the University are like this so I know that it was not just a coincidence. There are no designated meters or spots around the city of Saskatoon so difficult meters are not a problem. But angle parking, with end spots blocked off by planters or other decorations, which make the use of a van with a lift or ramp impossible, are a problem.

The city of Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan used to have pay-by-cell phone but, for whatever reason, it is no more. Other payment methods, such as a card-based system, are enabled but this is useful to me only on a very occasional circumstance when I visit the University so I have not pursued that option.

Despite my criticism of the city of Saskatoon's lack of access, they have done one thing very well. They have implemented an annual $20 fee that provides disabled individuals with a sticker that is adhered to their parking placard which allows a free 36 hour parking limit at any standard meter in the city. Of course, you have paid your $20 annual fee, but the convenience makes it completely worth it at a very reasonable cost, in my opinion. The only thing we need now is for them to make a deal with the University, St. Paul's Hospital, Innovation Place and private lots throughout the city so that we can easily use those, as well.

Parking access varies from one city to another. It may have been costly to park in downtown Vancouver but they had a very easy to use smart phone app that allowed you to pre-enter your credit card information, enter the meter number you are parked at, and choose your length of parking. It also allowed enabling notifications to let you know when your time was running low so that you could apply more time. This was not just for accessible parking, it was for everyone and was a brilliant system that eliminated the need to carry change with you. In Seattle, any accessible parking placard approved in North America provided you with free parking at any meter. Period.

Solutions: Explore the options available in your city for accessible parking, don't be afraid to speak to your city counselor and, when traveling, examine what is available in the locations you will be staying.

UPDATE: Smart meters are finally coming to Saskatoon! This pay system was enjoyed by us during our trip to Vancouver and Seattle in 2013. The option to pay with a card, a smart phone app, and still pocket change, made quicker, easier, more precise and exactly what works well for the disabled community.

Automatic Door Openers

Adaptations do not need to be ugly. That is why I chose this automatic door opener button to photograph instead of the large protruding circular round buttons. For some people, like flat light switches, the large surface area makes it easier to press. For me, the smaller vertical switches like the one pictured above are just as easy and far more subtle than the loud "clank" often heard when pressing one of those large round switches.

Occasionally the location of the vertical switches along a doorframe is less convenient, but in the interest of aesthetics I do appreciate them more. I have also learned that they are easier to retroactively install when the button is right in the doorframe. For a switch to be installed in the wall perpendicular to the door it will open, the electrical installation often means a lot of drilling and invasive work on the walls. In my opinion, if we want businesses to be considerate of our needs we need to be flexible and be appreciative of the most cost effective modifications for them.

As for the effectiveness of the switches, I find that far too greater percentage of them are shut off or malfunctioning. Many doors simply do not have them. I am thankful that I do have the strength to open most doors that I can get a proper grip on the handle without the help of the button. That said, I don't often pass up the opportunity to have a heavy door open for me, be it by machine or a person.

Source: Adaptive technology suppliers and installers.