I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” declares Howard Beale, the news anchor from the 1976 film Network.

With tested patience, I make that same declaration often. Time and again, at various eating establishments, I’ve asked for, recommended and encouraged the installation of  a single  addition to improve the dining experience of the older patron, the patron with mobility disorder, the patron who uses crutches, the patron who uses a cane, the patron who uses a walker, and yes, even the patron who uses a manual wheelchair. And what, you’re asking yourselves, was I seeking?

I asked for one thing  — a grab bar (towel bar) a handle secured to the inside of a bathroom stall door. Such a small thing. Seriously, restaurant managers/owners! That one small thing would go a long way  to ensuring the safety of  your patrons. And being kept safe guarantees they are able to visit you again. Think about that! 

Management of numerous dining establishments in the Fredericton area have been asked — from the ‘greasy spoon’ to the high-end eatery. I’ve asked and asked and asked. Only one, in many years of asking, responded to my request. Yup, that’s right! Just ONE!  So — a huge THANK YOU to The Coffee Mill manager who, several years ago, not only heard me, but listened to me. No doubt along with me, countless others have been reaping the benefits of that single ‘small’ thing one manager did because she saw it as an important and necessary thing!

Recently, my usual dining companion and I visited another favourite Fredericton restaurant for a meal. I decided to visit the ladies room beforehand, and as I rolled along towards the bathroom, I was wondering if the management had, after years of being asked, finally put a bar on the door. Did I mention it’s such a small thing? Why, yes I did! And it doesn’t cost a lot! It only takes one time to fall and sustain a serious injury to totally alter how one will continue to live. Just one time! Just as I suspected — no ‘for patron safety’ bar on the inside of the stall door! Sadly, I wasn’t surprised!

I visited the restaurant while in my wheelchair though the bathroom isn’t particularly wheelchair accessible; it’s not even remotely close to being safe for someone who walks but has balance  issues. I speak with authority when I say that the bathroom in question poses a safety risk to the uprightly mobile disabled patron — paying customers.  Actually, a ‘safety’ bar should be mounted on the inside of ALL the bathroom stall doors in every public building in the city and beyond. It should be the standard, particularly given we have a significant aging population and with that comes decline in physical stamina and mobility and not all use wheelchairs.

An image of a wheelchair emblazoned on a parking space denotes that it’s for wheelchairs users. Taken further, it also affords those with other health issues that preclude walking long distances the freedom to park there. With that image of the wheelchair is the expectation that the interior of the building will be accessible. Surprisingly, there are many establishments where that is not the case, particularly in the bathrooms.

Not all users of wheelchairs are confined to them; some of us can and do walk, and can and do stand up in bathrooms designated for wheelchair users. Our inclination, upon standing, is to balance ourselves. What do we do? We reach our hands out. How wonderful it would be to be able to hang on to something while we were standing ourselves up and then sitting ourselves down again. Hmm! I wonder what would help with that task in a public washroom stall? Ohhh, by George, I think I’ve got it - a grab bar! With a bar secured to the inside of the stall door, folks like me wouldn’t have to worry about taking a header, having lost our balance. With a grab bar, we wouldn’t have to worry about the door flinging open and landing face first on a hard floor, possibly sustaining a concussion.  The black and blue tones wouldn’t look good on me, nor would it be a good look for management, especially if they could have prevented it.

Next time I visit one of my favourite eateries, perhaps I should bring a ‘safety’ bar, along with a power screw driver and invite the manager to join me for a bathroom accessibility check-up.

Or you could! Hey, that works! Ask the manager if s/he’d like to be party to such an inspired object lesson. It’s as easy as putting butter on toast!

Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, New Brunswick with her aging Australian silky terrier and a rambunctious Maltese. She can be reached at carmacrockwell@xplornet.ca via email.