Accessible Warsaw: OP Nails

Mani/pedi?  Sure!  I enjoy having painted nails, especially now with gel polish that lasts a lot longer on my nails than "regular" polish.

Getting in to the nail salon is an interesting task, one that I'm currently not able to do without help. Luckily my friend Julie wanted to get her nails done too, and is not intimidated by a friend on a scooter!  So we met at OP Nails, which was a safe choice because I already knew it was accessible.

OP Nails is in a strip mall with a small parking lot.  It does have a handicapped parking space.  I need extra room by the driver's side door so that my scooter can be brought right up next to me.   Julie met me in the parking lot.  This not being her first time helping me, she came right over to the back of my car and lifted out my scooter.  She brought it over to my open door and, very thoughtfully, offered to kick away the slushy snow.

Trying to make the area less slippery!

After the area was less slushy, Julie brought my scooter right next to the door.  She helped me get my legs out of the car and positioned so I hopefully wouldn't fall as I transferred from the car to the scooter.  

Hop on!

There are two ramps up to the sidewalk in this parking lot.  One is right in front of OP Nails, but often many cars are parked in front of it making it unusable.  The other ramp was wide open, but it's awkward to use because it ramps up to a very narrow sidewalk.  Julie stood next to me, but I feel like if I would have tipped, I would have taken her down with me!

I appreciate the blue lines in front of the ramp.

OP Nails does not have a handicapped door button opener.  Thumbs down, OP!  I've been told that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) does not mandate those buttons, only that doors have handles.  I'm sure that would quickly change if, even for just one day, everyone had to get around in a wheelchair or scooter!  Thankfully, Julie very politely held the door open for me. 

So polite! 

I had not gotten a pedicure since I've been in my scooter.  It's difficult to take off my shoes and socks and then, of course, put them back on before going home.  We both wanted pretty toes though, so Julie offered to help me with shoes, socks, and getting into the pedicure chair.  The man at OP Nails, however, just kept helping me every step of the way.  (I don't know his name, I believe he is the owner?  He's Vietnamese and there is a language barrier.)  Julie helped too, but he took over and didn't seem put off at all by helping me.  He was patient when my stubborn leg wouldn't bend.  He helped me get on my scooter to go over to the manicure area.  Before I knew it, he was putting my socks and shoes back on for me.  

OP Nails = ****  (4 out of 5 stars on my accessibility scale)

+ Handicapped parking and two ramps, but one is often blocked.

+ Polite, helpful staff.

+ Shop is all one level, easy to get around in a scooter.

- No button/automatic door.

(Julie =  5 out of 5 on my friendship scale!)

Patience

I hope in a year from now I'll look back on Sept '15 through June '16 as "That time I stayed home.  A lot."

I drive with hand controls.  I took six hours of Driver's Ed and got a restricted driver's license.  My right leg is my bad leg (although my left leg isn't moving so well either these days), so driving with hand controls is a relief, not a challenge.  I don't ever accidentally try to use my foot because my foot won't move!

Now that my right arm and hand are very weak, I am working on getting "reduced effort steering" on my car.  I'm going through Vocational Rehabilitation, which is a government agency that helps people with disabilities stay working.  They paid for my hand controls.  They'll pay for reduced effort steering.  They'll pay to get a mini-van converted with a ramp.  They came to my office and assessed my work environment and concluded I could use a desk that will rise and lower (to fit my power chair), a different type of mouse, a smaller keyboard (to ease one-handed typing), and Dragon Naturally Speaking software, which will allow me to verbally command my computer and ease hand fatigue.  And Voc Rehab ordered and paid for all the items.  It is a wonderful resource, one that I'm so thankful for.  We have incredible expenses due to MS, so to get these things paid for is great!

BUT.  It takes soooooo long.  I started the hand control process in May 2013 and they were finally placed in my car on Dec. 24, 2013.

I started the office modification and reduced effort steering/mini-van process on Sept. 1, 2015.  And I'm still waiting!! The office supplies order has been placed, I was told today.  Until we get the mini-van with a ramp figured out, I can't go anywhere alone.  Luckily I have family and awesome friends who have learned how to help me get in the car and how to assemble my scooter. But I sure do miss running to the store on my own every now and then.  I miss going to the library and spending as long as I want looking for the perfect books, no one waiting on me.    Walking from my house to my car, maybe 20 steps, is so physically draining that most times I prefer to stay home!

A year from now... by then I hope to be able to zoom my chair right into the van, drive, and do what I want!  I'm wrapping my brain around the idea of being out and about in my hulk of a power chair.  I hated using a cane, but got used to it.  Dreaded taking my scooter out in public, but now have even been on the (insane) sidewalks of NYC with it.  So I'll be in a power chair.  Ok, not the image of myself I dream of portraying.  But I can't stay home the rest of my life! It's still me.  Just in a big chair that drives.  At least it's pink.

My Truth: A Life Reduced

I'm living a life reduced.  Not in every way, because I am still alive and breathing.  But in so many ways.  I'm typing this using only my left hand because my right hand is too weak to type.  Those muscles and nerves don't listen to my brain anymore.  I can no longer walk.  I live on only the main floor of my home.  All my needs are met on this level of the house.  I can't, however get upstairs to my kids' bedrooms.  There is a special bond that comes from being in your child's room, sitting on his or her bed, peeking in at their slumber.  I miss that. 

I'm unable to go down to our beautiful basement that we finished 5 years ago.  I miss the quiet privacy of working in the gorgeous office down there.  My office is now in my son's playroom. 

I struggle getting on and off the toilet on my own.  I haven't showered independently in over a year.  I require help getting my legs up into bed.  If I don't have someone help me get dressed, I can do it alone, but it will take 45 minutes.  I don't prepare meals for my family.  I don't do dishes, I don't do the laundry.  Multiple Sclerosis has taken away the use of my legs and of my right arm and hand.  There are so many things I don't do anymore.

But I'm still here.  And there is much I am able to do. I'm emotionally available to my kids.  I'm home 95% of the week.  They are secure in the knowledge that when they're home, Mom's home.  I do my job.  I take care of accounts payable for three businesses and our home and run payroll for two businesses.  MS hasn't affected my cognition, I'm still pretty bright. :)

My idea for a blog is to write about the accessibility of my town.  Once I've taken the effort to get dressed, get in the car and drive somewhere (using hand controls), can I get in?  That's one thing I plan to focus on with my writing.  But... I've already discovered with this first entry that I'm also, apparently, using it as a place to show my reality.  I'm guilty of hiding my truth behind a lot of smiles and "I'm ok"s.  But here it is.  Warts and all.