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Marshall, Missouri ~ Sunday, July 6, 2008
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Memories and Maladies
Posted Sunday, April 13, 2008, at 11:27 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
Tucked within the Friday, April 11 edition of the Marshall Democrat News was a special section entitled Golden Years Spring 2008. Thumbing through the section touched on a few issues that recently have surfaced with my dad hospitalized in Columbia. For the past few days, my brother and I have been trying to meet my parents' needs. We both have had our fair share of managing the farm, hauling my mom around, and taking care of our own families.
When I was a young girl growing up, my grandparents and parents could do anything. If I needed my pony saddled so I could ride around the farm for hours, my grandfather saddled the trusty Shetland pony for me. The pony might have objected but my grandfather did not. Thinking back, he would have been approximately 65 years of age. My grandmother washed laundry, hung them out to dry nearly every nice day on the clothesline in the back yard. This same back yard bloomed with a huge garden full of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, radishes, and peppers every summer. Vividly I can remember her carrying the egg basket down to the hen house to collect eggs, feed the chickens, and dodge the multiple numbers of cats that always seemed to hover around the back door and under her feet. I cannot count the number of dinners we had with fresh chicken, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. If you have never had the opportunity to watch a chicken beheaded and flounder in the yard until dead, the sight gives a completely new meaning to "fresh" and "never frozen".
My mom and dad always took care of our every need while I was growing up or at least so I thought. Just as I now run my kids to tennis practice, skating rink, swimming pool, friend's houses, and school events, my parents did the same. Often times my mom was my backstop as I practiced fast pitch softball. I was not an outstanding pitcher but I threw the ball hard enough I broke a few blood vessels in her hand. Through the late night sporting events at school, 4-H and FFA meetings, livestock showing, and the normal stress children bestow upon a parent, mine were always there for us. Well, darn it, they still take good care of me! Only difference is they run their grandchildren around too.
Undoubtedly, we all expect to face the issue of aging parents, relatives, caregivers and even ourselves. Are we prepared? In dealing with my mom and assisting her travels around the large hospital grounds, restaurants, and hotels in Columbia, the availability of handicap accessible conveniences became a quick reality check for me. The aging and disabled community faces challenges everyday that often goes unnoticed.
Things I do on a normal basis I found to be difficult with my mom and I had to be creative to get the tasks accomplished. The first hurdle came with limited handicapped parking available at the hospital. While these spaces were plentiful, 90 percent of the time none was available. This required labored walking for my mom. Luckily wheelchairs were readily available and in abundance.
Difficulty quickly emerged finding a hotel with handicapped facilities which included carrying the luggage, maneuvering stairs, bathrooms, elevators and the list goes on an on. Not every aisle and doorway is wheelchair friendly, tub and showers low enough to step into, and restaurant booths ample for arthritic knees.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helps protect individuals that have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. The ADA addresses employment, state and local government activities, public transportation, and public accommodations to name a few. Although some might not find the reading to be very interesting, I found exploring the website http://www.ada.gov necessary for the future if nothing else. Additional information regarding access guidelines is available at http://www.access-board.gov.
Please take a moment each day to be thankful for your physical and mental abilities. While at work, shopping, and traveling be aware of restrictions or troublesome areas. The smallest step up through a doorway or a bathroom without safety rails can cause someone's everyday tasks impossibility.
How does Marshall stack up as a disability friendly area? Are our local venues easily accessible with wheelchair ramps or help with hearing and vision impairment? Our businesses, churches, government offices, and schools need to know if something is lacking. Speak up residents of Marshall.
K Mullins-Lamb Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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salinemg,
I find it really amazing the number of daily activities that would be very difficult for physically challenged people. While I was in Kansas City over this past weekend, I got involved in "people watching". I was waiting on a friend and took in movie-goers exiting the cinema. I am not a small person but I've not given much thought to the size of theater seats. I can't imagine paying $10.00 for a movie and not being comfortable while watching. How much extra would it cost to build the seats a little larger?
Hey Karen:
You are correct there are not as many handicap-accessible facilities in the county as there should be. But, Marshall you have a lot to be proud of as far as accessibility. There is very little accessibility in the smaller towns and villages of the area.
God forbid that you have to ride a wheelchair to go vote. You won't make it in many of the polling places of the county.
Plus many churches in the area are far from being accessible to anybody but a mountain goat!
I wanted to take a moment and give a quick update about my dad. He is doing wonderful and is actually getting out an about now. Has driven to the farm to check on his cattle, goats, and horse. The doctor's at Fitzgibbon Hospital and Boone Hospital both did a great job. We should be happy we have services so close to home.
Kathy,
It does make you more aware of our public facilities when you are temporarily in need of something that otherwise might not have been noticed. I found this out very quickly when helping my mom. I too have had knee surgery, very minor stuff though and the smallest of things become huge at these times. I am so glad to see your comment about the Courthouse and Hospital. I also think that community members tend to forget about the Habilitation Center or at least I do because I don't frequent there often.
We will all keep an eye open and look for much needed changes throughout the community. Community leaders, hear our voices!
By the way, hope you are recovering great from your surgery.
K Mullins-Lamb
Karen - plans for updates at the courthouse most definitely DO include upgrading of handicap-accessible facilities. On the list of access improvements the hospital should consider, you might include the entrance to the rehab center, too. I've become familiar with this area during recovery from knee surgery. Patients using crutches, walkers, wheelchairs and so forth must negotiate a rather long ramp up to the building that isn't covered from the weather - not very convenient. I believe plans are afoot to change this - can't come a moment too soon!
John Q, Tina, and nomad,
Thanks so much for all of your kind comments and concerns for my family. My frustration is not with the fact I need to care for my parents but with the facilities found during my travels. I remember starting my writing career as a ninth grade student of retired MHS teacher Authorene Phillips. I found that it was easier to write about something you are passionate about and this is what sparked the story.
In particularly I must agree with the statements by nomad regarding the new drive at Fitzgibbon Hospital. The landscaping is spectacular; the overall architecture of the building addition is appealing and an attractive sight from Missouri Highway 65. Keeping in mind that I have never designed a building, the mere fact I know you cannot please everyone all of the time, I am sure Mr. Ott and the rest of the design team had their reasons for the development of the drive.
Again, having just had the unfortunate opportunity to utilize the circle drive, the emergency facilities, and motoring around the Fitzgibbon campus, I found it to be difficult. Obviously, the construction is ongoing at the hospital and requires rerouting of visitor flow. I think patience is needed and faith in Fitzgibbon administrators to finish the plan and present a very user-friendly building. Honestly, how comfortable is it to visit any hospital?
I hope that others within the Marshall Community will take all of our words seriously and take a close look at accessibility issues. The Saline County Courthouse renovation is an excellent opportunity to right a few wrongs with that public building. Hopefully, the County Commissioners are taking into consideration both the needs of the building and most importantly, the building's visitors.
This article opens the doors to business owners, city officials, and citizens of Marshall to step up to the plate and do something for someone else just because it is the right thing to do!
K Mullins-Lamb
Karen, hang on and speak out. What you're doing for your mom will one day break your heart when you recall the unnecessary difficulties that she faced because of disabilities. My mother died in May, 1995. As I look back now I treasure every moment that we were together and what might have sometimes been an inconvenience is looked upon as a completion of love. Your right, it's sometimes difficult gaining access to buildings, businesses, and need services. When my mother could still drive I remember going with her to get gas and check her oil and tires because the station attendant would just set on a stool. Try to get into a Casey's if you have a handicap and need gas or to use the restroom while buying say $60.00 worth of gas and maybe a cup of coffee.
I've seen convenience store attendants tell an elderly man that they didn't have a public restroom. I believe if your open to the public as invitees then your are required to provide conveniences for the public while in your facilities. We've come a long way since ADA was put into law, but there are things that the law really doesn't address, like poor attitude and quality of services.
God Bless and hang in.
John Q.
Karen,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Please tell your father Tina is thinking of him.
In response to what have written, from a person with a disability myself, I would have to say Marshall receives a "C-" when it comes to being disability friendly.
Handicap parking is sparse and regularly abused by those not hindered with a disability, just in a hurry or wanting a close parking spot. Some restaurants are equipped with adequate bathrooms, others not.
Churches, government offices and schools are not up to standards in the least. A middle school elevator only working sporadically. A number of government offices feeling much like a mile hike from parking when walking with a crutch or cane. With a few Marshall churches, it seems 'the prayer of faith will save the sick' is only in regard to those well enough to climb the stairs.
As someone young enough that I should be in the prime of my working life, Marshall needs a major makeover when it comes to providing jobs for the disabled. After all, we have a disability, this does not mean we aren't able. Employers, do not say that you are an equal opportunity employer if you are not.
However, no matter how insufficient a building be or how close-minded an employer is, I have yet to make it through a day in Marshall without one of our fellow citizens offering a hand, pulling out a chair or opening a door for me. For that I say thank you.
None of us are perfect. Sadly enough, prior to my disability, I too was probably guilty of some action against the disabled. I also ask that everyone take a minute now and then to be thankful their physical capabilities.
I love caring for my parent as well. All though it is a challange. Our community does need to pay attention to the growing need of accessability. As we begin to repair older structures.
I do have to question why the hospital chose a narrow drive and two very small ramps at the new and expensive entrance.
NOT convenient at all. A more wise design would have been to keep the entire entrance w/o curb or make the level area larger. Definitely a wider drive itself. You can barely pass a parked car the way it was done.