The workplace for the disabled is a pretty uneven place for most of us. As my regular readers know, I am disabled due to an accident, and rely on a wheelchair or scooter. The last place I worked, I had a problem keeping my scooter close enough to get to – I was not allowed to park it in the aisle next to my desk; they wanted it out in the corridor about 30 feet away. I fought that and then they allowed me to park at my desk. Rest rooms were also a problem – this particular place did not have a button to push to open the door, my scooter didn't fit into the room, and the handicapped stall (ONE for the floor of about 300 people) was never available, even though there were only four disabled employees on the floor. I was lucky, though, that there was constant traffic so I could get someone to open the door while I got through by leaning on the walls.
I received a comment the other day from a disabled worker about her difficulties – here is her comment:
“I am a disabled person who has received accommodations for my disability, although not in a timely manner. My employer is now using said accommodations against me in regards to other situations arising in the office. I have requested to be moved to another desk due to the high traffic and noise where I currently sit. The manager denies my request and states that my medical condition prevents her from moving me. She says my medical condition requires that i have quick and easy access to the restroom. (I have an accommodation for frequent restroom trips, but nowhere does it state a close proximity.) I had requested at one time a closer distance when I first was required to use a walker, as there were numerous tears in the carpet that could cause a fall. The carpet has since been replaced in its entirety, so proximity to the restroom is no longer required. In my request to move I also stated that since I sit in such a high traffic area my walker hanging out in the aisle is a hazard to those walking by. Their fix is to use an empty cubicle across the aisle from me to set my walker in while I work. They say that anytime I need to get up to go to the restroom, break, lunch or leave for the day, I should call out for a manager to bring my walker to me. There is not a manager readily available each and every moment of the day, so this creates a hardship requiring that I walk across the aisle using a cane or no support to get to my walker to then go to the break, lunch or even to leave for the day. I requested to be moved because the noise at the current desk creates a hardship for me in that I cannot hear my customers and must ask them to frequently repeat themselves. What are my options?”
If you feel the way I do, let me know at steve@infoengr.net.
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