Recently in Carnivals Category

In this disability blog carnival entry, I’m supposed to write about my reaction to the phrase “simply the best.” Honestly, ever since I read the topic, Tina Turner has been singing “you’re simply the best” in my mind.

But tacky ‘80s lyrics aside, there’s something to be said for understanding what it takes to simply be your best when you have a disability.

For example:

• Going to college was not an option for me. It was mandatory because I wheel into a room. I think it’s true to say that most people need a college education these days to get the type of job they want, but it was doubly important in my case. To be my best I need good credentials.

• On a snowy day taking a cab is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. To be my best I have to be able to afford accessibility.

• A lot of the time doing simple everyday things takes me twice as long as an able-bodied person. To be my best I accept that, determine what’s really important, try to make good choices, and sometimes miss out on sleep to keep up.

• I’m lucky to have a wonderful family that always encouraged me to do my best and never let me use my disability as an excuse. To be my best I need and have family and friends who challenge me, support me, tease me, and keep me honest.
  

Take a look at more "simply the best" blog entries.

Eating out? Here’s my top ten tips (in no particular order) to help make the experience more wheelchair friendly:

10. When making a reservation, let the restaurant know there will be a wheelchair in your party. Some places have a limited number of accessible tables, so it’s a good rule of thumb to plan ahead.

9. Let all of your dining partners know about potential accessibility issues. That way no one is caught off guard.

8. If you happen to be the one in the wheelchair, wear comfortable shoes. You never know when you might have to transfer out of your chair or, if you can, climb a few stairs.

7. Pick a restaurant that has a lot of space in between tables, especially if there is an electric wheelchair involved. Extra space means more room to navigate when the restaurant gets crowded.

6. If you can easily transfer out of your wheelchair into a booth, say so. Sometimes the seating host or hostess will assume that you can’t and that can mean waiting longer for a table.

5. If you want a good handicapped parking space, eat in the suburbs. Beautiful paved parking lots are everywhere out there.

4. In the city, pick restaurants located near accessible public transportation. If the transportation is accessible, the curb cuts are likely to be better too.

3. An accessible restroom is a must…especially toward the end of the evening… in a bar.

2. And speaking of bars, wine bars are more fun for people in wheelchairs than other types of bars. That’s because the tables are often lower. It’s always better to be able to look who you’re talking to in the eye without getting a neck cramp. And talking to someone perched on a bar stool all night almost always leads to neck cramping!

1. Go to sports bars that serve food. The tables are more likely to be low there too.

Thanks for suggesting I make a list, David! Check out the other top ten list entries in this carnival.