‘Look Mummy! The door fell down!’
A statement made by a young child, after I had left the bus and bus-stop, in Kingston, the other week. The mother then confirmed what I had predicted.
‘No, Tommy, that is called a ramp.’
This experience made me realise how I was accustomed to this ramp, having been introduced to it in my rehabilitation home (4 years ago), and used it ever since. I can now realise just how important this fairly new device, is.
OK, boarding ramps still need to be manually positioned on trains, but the recent advancements in ‘universal design’, are quite incredible. My ‘power-wheelchair’ is obviously the key, however this ‘falling door’ is also a wonderful advancement that both encourages and allows for further independence of disabled people. Once the ramp has been used, the bus boarded, one’s horizons are expanded hugely, and ‘disabilities’ become ‘abilities’.
A statement made by a young child, after I had left the bus and bus-stop, in Kingston, the other week. The mother then confirmed what I had predicted.
‘No, Tommy, that is called a ramp.’
This experience made me realise how I was accustomed to this ramp, having been introduced to it in my rehabilitation home (4 years ago), and used it ever since. I can now realise just how important this fairly new device, is.
OK, boarding ramps still need to be manually positioned on trains, but the recent advancements in ‘universal design’, are quite incredible. My ‘power-wheelchair’ is obviously the key, however this ‘falling door’ is also a wonderful advancement that both encourages and allows for further independence of disabled people. Once the ramp has been used, the bus boarded, one’s horizons are expanded hugely, and ‘disabilities’ become ‘abilities’.
