Bullseye!
So far in my journey on wheels I have encountered many obstacles, some physical and some mental. Learning how to overcome them has been a steep learning curve, and I am not talking about what is considered safe for an accessible ramp (FYI architects – it’s 1:12 but that is a story for another blog!)
Today I want to shout out to somewhere that has got things right, I won’t say perfect but then again who is? It is so easy today to complain and make a fuss, but rarely do we give public praise to those who deserve it.
Finding activities that both Robin and I can enjoy and participate in equally has been hard, apart from swimming. Although I now have a favourite hobby – AXE throwing!
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the staff at “Games of Throwing – Hull” I first emailed them back in January to see if they were accessible and after checking the measurements of my chair and the access to the lanes, the answer came back a resounding YES! Next question was “Can you see any issue with me throwing from my chair?” “Absolutely not!” I have since learnt that a discussion was had amongst the staff, and they tried out throwing from a sitting position.
We have now been twice to the venue and most certainly will be back again. I know they had to change how they would normally operate a session to accommodate me but the fact they could do this without any issues made me feel very welcome. I ended up on a lane by myself and someone had to be my “runner” collecting my axes after I had thrown them, usually off the floor to begin with but thankfully I did manage to hit the target often.
Robin used the recommended two-handed throw method, whereas I was advised to throw using one hand with the other holding on to my chair. Thankfully, being ambidextrous I could alternate hands and not end up with aching muscles on one side. I soon abandoned the “holding on to the chair” for stability while perfecting the “Sticking the tongue out” method for more accuracy. It works, trust me.
When I started this blog, one of things I wanted to achieve from it was a “What have I learnt?” approach to life on wheels. I most certainly didn’t want it to be a place for me to rant against the world and about how unfair it all is etc.
So, from this experience, what have I learnt? Firstly, it never hurts to ask, secondly – to think out of your comfort zone. When I first saw the advert on Facebook for the axe throwing, I nearly put limitations on myself by thinking “I can’t do that” (remember the mental obstacles I mentioned in the first paragraph?) I quickly then thought that they wouldn’t allow anyone in a wheelchair to throw axes, it wouldn’t be safe. Then I thought about it some more – its not safe for anyone, and that is the appeal, I guess.
It has shown me that if I want to visit new places, I must ask the question “What is your accessibility like?” There really is no harm in asking. What’s the worst that can happen? If the venue I want to visit isn’t accessible, then ask why not? How can it be improved? What happens if I get there and find out that the place isn’t accessible after been told it is – then I can use the opportunity to point these things out and suggest improvements in a positive manner. Sometimes it takes a disabled person to point out to an able-bodied person what makes a place inaccessible.