This past weekend I went to Greenfront Furniture, located in Farmville, Virginia. It’s a place that’s well known for their furniture showrooms from manufacturers here in the US and abroad. They are all together in large old brick warehouses dating back to before or around the Civil War, multiple buildings with multiple floors. It’s kind of cool, seeing the original brick with original hard wood floors and freight elevators, (the only elevators), besides the stairs. There are also original details throughout the showrooms which are interesting. Since this is not about reviewing Greenfront Furniture, which with the elevators is hadicapped accessible.
This is about the bathrooms, which are of course, retrofitted to accomodate handicapped patrons. The first bathroom I went into, there were 3 stalls, one handicapped but surrounded by yellow tape saying it was “out of order”. The second bathroom I tried had two stalls, one handicapped, but the wheelchair couldn’t fit into it and when I entered, holding onto the walls, there were no safety bars?????? Luckily I was able to maneuver, but again, holding onto walls. Someone more handicapped then me, wouldn’t have been able to maneuver.
This is not the first time running into these types of problems. It seems that whatever the requirements needed to accommodate “handicapped” patrons, that these businesses do the barest minimum just to get by the laws. I adressed this previously, writing about handicapped parking spots, 12/11/2021, 12/14/2022. and 1/12/2023 posts. I would love to be some type of advocate addressing these issues but I don’t know how. Maybe someone could point me in the right direction.
Yes. The issue you described limits our ability to safely use the restroom. Another issue is the doors are so heavy it is difficult to open using a wheelchair or walker
So true, I forgot aboutthat, not really forgot but there are so many issues to confront. It just adds to the frustration of trying very hard to be independent.
I think it is safe to say, I have yet found a door that is easy for one person with wheelchair or walker
I meant to say NOT found a door
I agree, once the door was so heavy I couldn’t maneuver my walker and I was trapped for 15 to 20 minutes. Very few places have handicap doors on bathrooms. Where I volunteer they do and only one hotel I’ve been to had one
Sadly I feel your frustrations. From time to time I have a door that is light and easy to open and close. Such a treat.