I was
really excited to do this activity and to experience what it is like to be in a
wheel chair. These last few hours have been difficult but have helped me to see
a point of view I would have never understood without it. I was surprised by how
difficult it is to push the wheels to get moving. It requires a lot of upper
body strength which I do not have. I was also surprised to see how some people
would rush to my aid while others would completely avoid eye contact. Here is my experience.
From
the very moment I sat in the wheel chair I knew it was going to be a long day.
I had difficulty just getting through the door and keeping in a straight line.
Getting situated in the elevator was hard and I ended up having to back out
after I reached my floor. I had a class in the Clark building to get to. I decided to do the first challenge which was
to open the door without using the automatic door button. I tried my hardest to
push the door open but was truly struggling, I can’t imagine being a disabled
person before ADA was a law and buildings had to become accessible. I was lucky
to have someone rush to my aid and finish opening the door for me so I could,
very clumsily, push through the door.
Going downhill was not very
difficult other then I had to make sure that I did not pick up to much speed,
if I was going to do this simulation again I would wear gloves. As I tried to
slow myself down my hands burned but I did not want to get going to fast. Using
the automatic door button was a blessing when I arrived to the Clark building.
I got back into an elevator and headed up to the third floor. I got some weird
looks and looks of compassion and sorrow during my ride down to the Clark.
I asked a student where the printer
was and she kindly pointed it out but seemed a little uncomfortable. When I got
the floor of my classroom there was two janitors there and one of them would
not stop staring at me, it made me feel uncomfortable. I also saw a girl who
was in a wheel chair and she stopped to say hi to me. Hers was motorized; it is
almost like an entire new world when one is sitting all of the time.
Class
time was awkward, everyone was asking me what happened and desks had to be
moved around in order for me to fit. I told people that I was clumsy and had
fallen that way I could get the entire experience. People were very sympathetic
and offered to help me do everything.
It was difficult to allow them to help me but the stimulation rules told me to
accept their help, it was a humbling experience. At this time I was finally
move around well other than still struggling to get through doors.
On my
way out of the building I had a very long hill climb to make. I figured out
very quickly that this was going to take a long time, and a lot of physical
strength. I was so lucky to have someone come and help push me most of the way
there, to the Kimball building. After he stopped helping me another girl came
and offered to push me the rest of the way to the Hinckley. It is so nice to go
to a school where some students are very service oriented. I finished by
attempting to use the bathroom. Getting the wheel chair to fit in the stall was
hard enough. It took all of my body strength to lift my body off the wheel
chair. Getting out of the stall was even more difficult because it was so
small. It took me a long time to move the wheel chair around that I could
easily push myself out of the door.
When I
got a drink the water fountain was just slightly to high and I ended up getting
water all over my face. This experience has taught me a lot, I have an entire
new perspective on what it is like to be confined to a wheel chair. Some people
were so kind and helpful while others were very uncomfortable and completely avoided
making eye contact with me. This experience is going to help me a lot with my
future students because I now know how important it is to help the child but
not to overly help them. I also will be more considerate to those in a wheel
chair and make sure I am acknowledging them. This experience has made me a
better teacher and has helped to reshape my teaching philosophy.
