toilet
Loo story with wobbles
Archive from 2006
I noticed a recent article where a woman in Chicago went to use the loo in her local book store and is now suing them
In Chicago, a woman claims an unsecured toilet seat in a Borders Bookstore caused her to fall and become “permanently disfigured.”
The seat “shifted to the side,” causing her to be thrown onto the tile floor. The suit said she landed on her bum, causing her to suffer “multiple spine injuries, including the need for multiple neurosurgical spine surgeries.”
It made me recall the time when I was at work in Ashford and assured my meeting room had 1 accessible loo. On arrival I saw a sign 'out of order' I enquired and was dismayed at having to stay there for many hours with no loo to use!
A maintenance guy came back and said oh don't worry, it's just that the seat wobbles as it is broke (giving me a demo of a very wobbly seat that was totally unsafe). Considering I have no balance at the best of times I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to cross my legs. He then said something like 'it's not that far to fall anyway... I'm sure it will be ok'. Eh hmmm. Guess I'll be wetting myself then...
I noticed a recent article where a woman in Chicago went to use the loo in her local book store and is now suing them
In Chicago, a woman claims an unsecured toilet seat in a Borders Bookstore caused her to fall and become “permanently disfigured.”
The seat “shifted to the side,” causing her to be thrown onto the tile floor. The suit said she landed on her bum, causing her to suffer “multiple spine injuries, including the need for multiple neurosurgical spine surgeries.”
It made me recall the time when I was at work in Ashford and assured my meeting room had 1 accessible loo. On arrival I saw a sign 'out of order' I enquired and was dismayed at having to stay there for many hours with no loo to use!
A maintenance guy came back and said oh don't worry, it's just that the seat wobbles as it is broke (giving me a demo of a very wobbly seat that was totally unsafe). Considering I have no balance at the best of times I resigned myself to the fact that I would have to cross my legs. He then said something like 'it's not that far to fall anyway... I'm sure it will be ok'. Eh hmmm. Guess I'll be wetting myself then...
Too pee or not to pee... that indeed is the question
During my training I often talk about the most
important things in my life that give me personal
choice and freedom. It fits nicely into the how
Direct Payments could be used more flexibly and
demonstrates rights and freedoms disabled people
aspire to.
My number one thing in life is the toilet - and to hear the full story you will need to sign up to a course! So, of critical importance was to make our own bathroom accessible (cue clever hubby in the DIY field). That was in about 2004 and we are still completing it! Anyway, here is the story so far because I know others have written to me about the toilet in particular - so I have moved it onto the web again.
--
Talking about gadgets, the best invention in my bathroom has to be the vertical toilet riser.
Now you see, for all us none mobile sorts the biggest cause of incontinence is inaccessible toilets. This is a complete bug bear because the amount of thought that goes into designing accessible toilets is equivalent to the intellectual capacity of a goldfish.
Then if you can get into the room - there is the question - can I get on and off. Anyway, at home we have specifically designed our bathroom around easy access for me personally, visual appearance and use of gadgetry to make life easier.
In the beginning...
This was our layout to start with.
1) I need to transfer to my left so the toilet is the wrong way round.
2) Not enough room for hubby/PA to lift and transfer.
3) I need quite a low toilet - lower then normal. However it is really hard to lift me up from a low surface - so some gadgetry is needed.
4) Sink not correct height, shape etc and no room at the side for PA/hubby to wash/dress me.
5) Flooring needed to have enough grip so PAs and myself don’t slip when transferring, but not
so grippy that I can’t slide my feet across the floor to transfer.
6) Door needs to move for access.
Our own design.
Then we have transformed and rebuilt it to a 'wet room' which will have a second door leading to the bedroom if we later install a ceiling hoist. (large brown door on right side).
New features:
1) level entry shower i.e. now a wet room.
2) Door now in middle of the room (where it was originally as the owner had wall papered over the door!
3) Huge space (including shower area) on the floor to move around.
4) Chose a sink that is free standing with nothing underneath for lots of leg room, a big space to wash my hair in the sink (in reach of shower head) and room for someone to stand at the side to wash my hair.
5) A ledge behind the sink for a foot stool - so I can balance.
6) And a unique toilet (see below) with a round, bevelled seat (essential for posture and balance). It’s from Denmark (land of fabby toilets) and features rise and fall (and looks like the Starship Enterprise.
More to follow in future days.
My number one thing in life is the toilet - and to hear the full story you will need to sign up to a course! So, of critical importance was to make our own bathroom accessible (cue clever hubby in the DIY field). That was in about 2004 and we are still completing it! Anyway, here is the story so far because I know others have written to me about the toilet in particular - so I have moved it onto the web again.
--
Talking about gadgets, the best invention in my bathroom has to be the vertical toilet riser.
Now you see, for all us none mobile sorts the biggest cause of incontinence is inaccessible toilets. This is a complete bug bear because the amount of thought that goes into designing accessible toilets is equivalent to the intellectual capacity of a goldfish.
Then if you can get into the room - there is the question - can I get on and off. Anyway, at home we have specifically designed our bathroom around easy access for me personally, visual appearance and use of gadgetry to make life easier.
This was our layout to start with.
1) I need to transfer to my left so the toilet is the wrong way round.
2) Not enough room for hubby/PA to lift and transfer.
3) I need quite a low toilet - lower then normal. However it is really hard to lift me up from a low surface - so some gadgetry is needed.
4) Sink not correct height, shape etc and no room at the side for PA/hubby to wash/dress me.
5) Flooring needed to have enough grip so PAs and myself don’t slip when transferring, but not
so grippy that I can’t slide my feet across the floor to transfer.
6) Door needs to move for access.
Our own design.
Then we have transformed and rebuilt it to a 'wet room' which will have a second door leading to the bedroom if we later install a ceiling hoist. (large brown door on right side).
New features:
1) level entry shower i.e. now a wet room.
2) Door now in middle of the room (where it was originally as the owner had wall papered over the door!
3) Huge space (including shower area) on the floor to move around.
4) Chose a sink that is free standing with nothing underneath for lots of leg room, a big space to wash my hair in the sink (in reach of shower head) and room for someone to stand at the side to wash my hair.
5) A ledge behind the sink for a foot stool - so I can balance.
6) And a unique toilet (see below) with a round, bevelled seat (essential for posture and balance). It’s from Denmark (land of fabby toilets) and features rise and fall (and looks like the Starship Enterprise.
More to follow in future days.
