Archive for the ‘Eigude- Shame’ Category

Addendum Eigude Shame XII

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

Frontpage

5 months ago, I have already posted about a “disabling”, new disabled toilet in a hospital (see older blogpost).

At that time, I criticised among other things that nobody had unwound the emergency cord.

It is rather bad when you are lying on the floor after a wheelchair-floor-transfer while trying to transfer from wheelchair to toilet and then your are not able to reach the alarm.

In case of emergency you can’t open the door from the inside either because wisely the door lock is mounted at 1,50 m. Probably designer model “Dirk Nowitzki”.

I am not so experienced about industry standards in the area of accessible building, but I would be surprised if such a high installation height of a door lock is allowed. Whereas… the thought is not so far off…!!!

Even wheelchair test person “Detective” had difficulties with the door lock!

I had pointed out the “trifle” with the emergency cord already several times, but it had not been unwound within 4 months anyway. I couldn’t reach the knot up there, otherwise I would have done it myself.

When I complained at a therapist – let’s call her “Work-out” – on 22.04.2013 again about the emergency cord with the Gordian knot she immediately took care of the problem and unknotted the cord. Thanks again from this side.

The appearance of the tetra pot belly had to be alienated out of proprietary reasons.

As you can see on the next picture, there are other disabled toilets in this hospital with door locks in Hobbit height.

Actually it’s my own fault… I am too small… If I really make an effort I might still grow a bit and can then reach the 1,50 m door lock…!!

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XXIV

Sunday, January 27th, 2013

Frontpage

It is always interesting how my environment is making an effort that my blood pressure doesn’t permanently remain at a low level.

Recently I wanted to go, as it is a Hobbit tradition, to a Punch and Judy show, or rather a show of the Kikiriki Theatre (puppet theatre for adults) in the “Union-Halle” in Frankfurt.

I drove with my car until the gate of the Union premises and asked the gatekeeper (since I am in the wheelchair even gate keepers are usually quite friendly) for admission onto the premises, hoping that I could park near the hall entrance.

He refused in spite of several requests and relegated me to the quite new Union car park which would be located at the rear side of the former brewery ground.

At last a conscientious employee who consequently adheres to his guidelines. He exemplified “Inclusion”, nobody was privileged, to say:

“You’re not coming in!”

I asked him several times if there are disabled parking places. The disabled parking permit behind the windscreen and my wheelchair behind me in the car could hardly be ignored.

When I stood in front of the car park I had to discover with surprise that steel brackets were raised on the two disabled parking places in front of the car park.

It is a mystery to me how you turn down the brackets, maybe I should have tried it with the European disabled toilet key, or with the password “Little bracket duck yourself!”

I don’t know…, I surely don’t have to get out of the car before, any ideas? Please write a comment.

If I have seen it correctly there are two stairs at the entrance/exit of the new car park, these are nice to look at for a wheelchair user like me, but the usage of the car park is therefore very limited.

I found a suitable parking place on the other side of the street.

After I got out of the car at last and sat in my wheelchair again I missed a lowered curb nearby.
I rolled on the street to the alleged rear entrance of the Union premises which wasn’t exactly safe, there my wife helped me over the curb between the parking cars.

Then… I stood in front of it,… a beautiful steep concrete staircase with seven stairs, I was quite speechless, and this happens very rarely.

I could imagine that the usage of the staircase with the missing handrails has already caused difficulties for some partially walking disabled guest of the “King Kamehameha Club” which is located on the same premises ;-)

I assumed that there might be an underground access from the car park to the premises, why the gatekeeper should have sent me there otherwise? This was not the case.

In the end my called-up companions (we were a group with theatre tickets) carried me up the stairs. I hate these soaring flights…!!!

I spared myself to point out to the gatekeeper his “great advice” with the car park. Was probably better for both sides.

When I finally stood in front of the entrance of the hall I wasn’t too surprised about the aluminium ramp because I had used it once four years ago, however I was hoping that it maybe had flattened a bit in the meantime…

The ramp winter service probably had its company holidays this week, otherwise the ice and snow on the 25° ramp (max. 6% gradient are normal) are not explicable.

With combined pushing efforts I arrived upstairs at the entrance after all.

It reminded me a bit of a ski jump!

After this precedent “expedition” my laughter to the jokes in the theatre was a bit more modest. I was thinking already about my way back.

After the show my companions decided with me that it would be saver to carry me down the entrance stairs instead of using the “jump” again.

With such training conditions we should consider to introduce wheelchair ski jumping at the Paralympic winter games!

A contact approach with a person in charge is in process ;-)

Click on tag “ramp” to read other nice stories.

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XXIII

Friday, January 4th, 2013

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Wheelchair Ramp Reopening

On November 25th 2012 a stone from the facade of my usual post office branch in Frankfurt hit a pedestrian on the back.

Thereupon a scaffold was put up extremely creative as protection against falling stones.

A local newspaper from Frankfurt reported this incident on December 9th 2012 with the headline:

Little stone, big trouble

for reference click here

I got the tip from a friend to have a closer look at the protective roofing.

The scaffold was put up so clever probably only to protect us wheelchair users so that the ramp next to the stairs to the entrance of the post office is not accessible with wheels since 4 weeks.

Which wheeler wants to go the post office before Christmas anyway???

I have already written a blogpost about this ramp some time ago see older blogpost.

Yesterday I made a little excursion to this post office, of course only to purchase the new 58 cent stamps. ;-)

In front of the building I had a heated dispute with a pedestrian, if his car blocked only one or two disabled parking places. I could not get out of my car, it was probably better that way.

From an unverified source I learnt that a report due to parking violation in front of a post office yesterday would be initiated against this disabled parking place occupier.

Well then, to my surprise I noticed that the ramp was accessible for wheelers without problems. Where was the coup of the fools at work?

From a post employee I learnt that the ramp was “reopened” a couple of hours before after four weeks.

When I was sitting in my car again I saw that a pedestrian apparently bumped his head at the upper scaffold bar when he was walking down the ramp with wife and stroller.

I don’t know how high the crossbar is, I fitted through below ;-)

I already expect the next article in the local newspaper.

Translator BL

 

Wheelchair Ramp Reopening

On November 25th 2012 a stone from the facade of my usual post office branch in Frankfurt hit a pedestrian on the back.

Thereupon a scaffold was put up extremely creative as protection against falling stones.

A local newspaper from Frankfurt reported this incident on December 9th 2012 with the headline:

Little stone, big trouble

for reference click here

I got the tip from a friend to have a closer look at the protective roofing.

The scaffold was put up so clever probably only to protect us wheelchair users so that the ramp next to the stairs to the entrance of the post office is not accessible with wheels since 4 weeks.

Which wheeler wants to go the post office before Christmas anyway???

I have already written a blogpost about this ramp some time ago see older blogpost.

Yesterday I made a little excursion to this post office, of course only to purchase the new 58 cent stamps. ;-)

In front of the building I had a heated dispute with a pedestrian, if his car blocked only one or two disabled parking places. I could not get out of my car, it was probably better that way.

From an unverified source I learnt that a report due to parking violation in front of a post office yesterday would be initiated against this disabled parking place occupier.

Well then, to my surprise I noticed that the ramp was accessible for wheelers without problems. Where was the coup of the fools at work?

From a post employee I learnt that the ramp was “reopened” a couple of hours before after four weeks.

When I was sitting in my car again I saw that a pedestrian apparently bumped his head at the upper scaffold bar when he was walking down the ramp with wife and stroller.

I don’t know how high the crossbar is, I fitted through below ;-)

I already expect the next article in the local newspaper.

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XXII

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

Frontpage

Sad, sad, sad…!!!

When I saw this new disabled toilet in a hospital I started thinking a little and got my camera first of all.

This toilet is disabling!!!

I consider the equipment and construction, described in friendly words, as unfortunate solution and declare this disabled toilet to be the patient.

It all starts that hardly any wheelchair user can lock the sliding door from the inside because the lock is mounted quite high. This is also possible in a different way, see older blogpost.

The transfer from wheelchair to toilet would be quite painful if not dangerous because no second handle is mounted next to the toilet. I don’t know the official regulation, but I consider two handles in a hospital disabled toilet as a matter of course.

The toilet paper holder is currently out of work. The paper roll was probably thrown into the toilet or taken away for handicrafts by the last guest because not even a dustbin is at hand.

Considering the distance to the wall, the fishing for toilet is paper is a bit tricky anyway…!!!

Maybe with some physiotherapy the new toilet paper roll under the toilet might be reachable without involuntary floor transfer.

I don’t know if the fact of

anticipated grossly negligent non-assistance

exists, but this is the case here.

A not unwound emergency cord is not acceptable for me. I would have unwound it, but I definitely can’t do it with my motor functions…!!!

It is also possible in a different way. In the pool shower in the wheelchair hotel Mar y Sol in Tenerife (see older blogposts) several emergency buttons are ideally mounted on ground level.

My friend said, when I am not able to lock the door anyway it is not necessary either to reach the emergency cord when I am lying on the floor.

I would just need to crawl to the door and wait for the next patient.

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XXI

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Frontpage

Thursday evening it was time again; the weather god decided that it was about time to extensively wash the cars.

When I eventually arrived home with my car I noticed with pleasure that a van was standing on my personal parking place and kept the tagged disabled symbol dry.

I stopped with my car on the street in the restricted parking area and took some photos first. Then I wanted to call my wife in the flat to plan the next “steps”.

Suddenly I heard a distinct Yeeessss…!!!

A nice lady in blue uniform from the Frankfurt city police was standing next to my driver’s door and probably wanted to point out that my parking place was maybe somehow inappropriate.

I replied with a Yeeesss… as well and pointed out to the lady that my personalized parking place was currently not available, but apparently a note was lying inside the front screen.

The lady immediately took care of the challenge (I have cancelled the word “problem” from my vocabulary already some years ago).

The note read as follows:

I am pregnant!!!

… and a mobile phone number.

The lady from the city police – and her blood pressure seemed to rise as well – let her head office call the number.

Her comment: I am working for the city and not for the telecom!!!

Then she issued a 35 € disabled parking place special use rent ticket.

When she came to me and told me that the call was rejected when calling the disabled parking place occupier we decided jointly to tow away the car!!!

Just before the tow truck was called the lady with the supposed future earth-dweller came back to her car and had to pick up a blow-up from the lady in uniform first. I stayed really calm this time, which has not always been the case (see older blogpost) and just asked the lady how I should have read her note up on the dashboard of her van.

Thereupon the reply: You are right… oh well…!!!

When the bus driver departed I heard the following comment from my new friend:

Pregnancy is a condition and not a sickness.

Let alone a handicap!!!

If labour would have begun early I would possibly still sit in the car in the rain.

Translator BL

3. Addendum Eigude Shame XX

Friday, October 26th, 2012

Frontpage

Letter from the German Federal President’s office!!!

As already reported several times I was during my visit at the book fair on 12.10.2012 pushed ruggedly across the street without asking by a bodyguard due to the arrival of our federal president.

Thereupon I wrote on 15.10. an e-mail to the federal president.

All this can be referred to in the blogposts from 14.10.12 and 16.10.12.

I have continuously heard comments that I should have saved the work with the letter, it wouldn’t bother anyway anyone “up there” what concerns us “minor citizens”.

Even if I got a reply this would last weeks, or even months.

But many people were curious to read the reply as well!

On Friday 25.10.2012, already 10 days after the e-mail, I received a letter from Bellevue Palace (translator’s note: official residence of the German federal president), see stamp.

The letter is not signed by Mr Gauck, but by one of his three closest staff members, his

Personal Officer Mr Johannes Sturm.
TRANSLATION!!!

OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PRESIDENT
Personal office of the
Federal President

BERLIN, 19th October 2012
Spreeweg 1

Mr.
Steffen Löw
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx Frankfurt am Main

Dear Mister Löw,

Federal President Joachim Gauck thanks you for your e-mail from 15th October 2012.
He has asked me to answer you. He has read your description of your unpleasant experience at the Frankfurt book fair attentively.
I can understand very well that it must have been unpleasant that you were pushed across a street in your wheelchair surprisingly and without being correctly addressed. It is regrettable that this apparently happened. It is not possible to verify your suspicion any more that the person concerned was a security force of the federal president. At this day personnel of a private security company and the Hessian state police were on duty as well.

At the same time I am asking for your understanding that the officers who are in charge of the security of the federal president before and during an event visited by such numerous people like the book fair are bearing a particularly large responsibility. This is concerning the security of the federal president as well as the prevention of possible accidents during arrival and departure of the car convoy.

In good knowledge of the acting officers and the described situation I can assure you that none of the officers is acting in thoughtless or unkind intention.

However I used your letter as occasion to discuss with the officers again the special situation of wheelchair users. Therefore I thank you for your feedback.

The federal president sends his best wishes and sincere regards.

Kind regards,

Johannes Sturm
Personal Officer of the Federal President

Mail address: Bundespräsidialamt 11010 Berlin, lnternet: http://www.bundespraesident.de
E-Mail: poststelle@bpra.bund.de

I have achieved what I had intended with my e-mail.

Mr Sturm has discussed with the security forces the special situation of us wheelchair users.

Download as PDF answer_federal_president_office

Translator BL

2. Addendum Eigude Shame XX

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.

Addendum Eigude Shame XX

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

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I have really done it!!!

e-mail to the Federal President Mr. Gauck…!!!

After my not-so-nice experience at the book fair in Frankfurt when a bodyguard of our federal president pushed me in my wheelchair out of the way without asking (see blogpost of 14.10.12) I have decided after a day of soul-searching to report this incident to our federal president.

Download as PDF Letter to the federal president

 

Dear Mister President,

I would like to draw your attention to an incident which happened in connection with your visit to the book fair in Frankfurt on Saturday October 13th, 2012.

I am a wheelchair user and was going around 15:00 hrs from the exit of exhibition hall 3 in the direction of the main plaza when suddenly without prior warning an unknown man grabbed quite ruthless and snappy the handles of my wheelchair and pushed me across the street which was actually closed to traffic.

I was rather in panic, but even shouting didn’t help, the man pushed me further across the street.
It turned out that the man was one of your security forces. You yourself were driving immediately afterwards with your convoy around the corner.

I was very lucky that I didn’t fall out of the wheelchair with this involuntary action because I am sitting in my wheelchair rather unstable due to my quadriplegia (cervical vertebra) and can’t firm up myself with my paralysed legs either.

Additionally I am using, like our minister of Finance, an active wheelchair which stops suddenly even at a small curb due to its construction and the small front tyres, and thus there is the risk for me to be dumped out of my wheelchair. As pushing escort person one should be trained accordingly.

Your staff member most probably would not have been able to hold me back when there would have been only a small curb or similar.

I fell out of my wheelchair in September 2011 the last time.
At this occasion I broke my right shinbone and fibula, spent four weeks in a hospital bed and had to painfully wear an orthosis for five further months, see blogposts on my weblog:

http://www.eigude.de/blog/?tag=beinbruch

When I addressed your staff member that I didn’t like this conduct I got the reply:

This is the president, it is like it is!!!

Mr. Gauck, I have great respect for your function as federal president, but this statement is not acceptable for me.
I am asking you in person to have your security staff trained and sensitized especially in interaction with disabled people.

A possible “accident”, how it could have happened, cannot be in your interest.
I am completely at your disposal in case of further enquiries or in advisory capacity.
Awaiting your reply.

Sincerely

Steffen Löw

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XX

Saturday, October 13th, 2012

Frontpage

Unbelievable but true, something new all the time…

Today I was at the

book fair in Frankfurt.

I wanted to meet my friend and author Roberto Sastre there.

I will write a separate blogpost about the reunion with him.

When I left hall 3 where there were mainly children books, comics and presumably human beings in Manga costumes, it happened.

I was suddenly grabbed quite ruthless on the handles of my wheelchair by an unknown guy and was pushed without asking me quite snappy across a small road to the main plaza of the fair.

Except me, there were only pedestrians on this road, the passage was closed to traffic.
Even shouting didn’t help, the guy didn’t let go my handles.

I was rather in panic, but was lucky that this guy didn’t push me out of my wheelchair.

If there would have been a small curb I would have been licking the pavement.

What was happening???

Just in the moment when I was at the other side of the road three black cars with flashing blue light came speeding around the corner.
One of the limousines had the

license plate 0-1

and two coloured flags with a black eagle on the wings.
Actually our

Federal President Joachim Gauck

was sitting in the back of the car.
This would have been something again if the bodyguard of our head of state would have pushed me out of the wheelchair.

Who doesn’t know my “Eigude blog” (click Frontpage) should know that last time I fell out of my wheelchair I broke my shinbone and fibula (see older blogposts).

When I explained to the guy with the ear piece that I didn’t like this he told me:

This is the president, it is like it is!!!

 

When I was driving home in my car this convoy blocked me again, now our president is spending the night in a grand hotel around the corner of my home.

I would be interested if this bodyguard has ever pushed around Mr Schäuble (translator’s note: the German minister of Finance is sitting in a wheelchair).

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XIX

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Frontpage

Everybody who lives in the city and has moved houses once knows about the big difficulty where to park the moving truck???

Normal car parking places are scarce anyway.

The blocking of perceived parking places with chairs and trash cans is rarely working.

Somebody could use the chairs, and for a parking place in the city center even a Yuppie with an Audi TT will push a trash can aside.

In Frankfurt we have a service where you inform the city when you would like to move.

The city then places official parking prohibition signs so that the moving truck has a suitable parking place.

I assume that illegally parking cars will be towed away.
So you have at least a real chance for a parking place on your moving day!!!

The guys who have set up this sign should be tied to the sign and “showered” with old vegetables!

Translator BL

3. Addendum: Eigude Shame XVIII

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

Frontpage

Addendum to blogpost Eigude Shame XVIII from 25.07.12

Other posts: 31.07.12 and 06.08.12

Last week I have heard from my informant in Rödelheim that my favourite sign

Passing prohibited for wheelchair users

at the train station Rödelheim in Frankfurt has been unfortunately removed after three month… sniff… :-(

New sign:

Attention!

Ramp gradient approx. 10% Use at your own risk!

Photo: Rödelheim Blog und P._

The new ramps still aren’t any less steep, and we hope that the lifts will always be running.

But when these are defective at least we wheelchair users are now allowed with kind approval of the city of Frankfurt and the German railway company to most officially tumble down the 10% ramp “at our own risk”.

According to the information of the commissioner for disabled of the city, a flattening of the ramps is not planned.

Allegedly, the ramps would have a floor heating!!!

There is a special blog about the never-ending story of the reconstruction of the train station: Bahnhof-Rödelheim-Blog

Kindly our letter of thanks which was actually referring to the original sign was not removed. Whereas… the text still fits! ;-)

Translator BL

2. Addendum: Eigude Shame XVIII

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.

Addendum: Eigude Shame XVIII

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.

Eigude Shame XVIII

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

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Inconceivable…!!!

Passing prohibited for wheelchair users

As born-and-bred citizen of Frankfurt I am proud of my hometown, but too much is too much!!

I have read in the internet forum Rollingplanet  that a new underpass was built at the train station in Rödelheim (a district in Frankfurt Germany). Looks a bit like an amphitheater.

This underpass is such a political issue that meanwhile a citizens’ initiative has been formed. The “WutbĂĽrger” (enraged citizens) are on their way from all directions…

Amongst other things it was discovered during a job-site inspection upon almost accomplished completion of the underpass that the brand new mighty concrete ramps on both sides of the tracks have 10% gradient.

Ramps in the public area always have to be built with maximum 6% and without transversal slope according to DIN 18024-1 und DIN 18040-1 (source: barrierefrei bauen mit nullbarriere.de)

The result is that the ramps are very steep not only for wheelchair users, but also for rollator users, cyclists and people with strollers.

The city of Frankfurt has proven creativity and has hung up a prohibition sign without further ado, which prohibits the passing of the ramp for all wheelchair users.

You could use the lifts, which is basically right if it would be ensured that these lifts would always be running. I don’t know any wheelchair user who wasn’t standing at least once in front of a defective lift.

Words fail to describe the prohibition sign!
Inconceivable… How can you globally prohibit the passing of the ramps for all wheelchair users!

Passing prohibited for wheelchair users

This sign has no other reason for the municipality except to escape responsibility from an insurance perspective if something should happen to someone.

This is just the start. From now on bad planning will be compensated with prohibition signs.

We met yesterday at the train station with unfortunately only three wheelers to have a closer look at the ramps and to duly celebrate the introduction of this new prohibition sign with a glass of sparkling wine.

Highly illegal, the ramps were passed on both sides. We came to the conclusion that a fit wheeler, somebody with an electric wheelchair, a motor-supported active wheelchair or the help of a companion can surmount the ramps.

The sign does not comply with the road traffic regulations and is mounted so high that no wheelchair user will see it anyway.

An acknowledgement letter and a few flowers were fixed to the new “favourite wheelchair user sign”.


Thank you city of Frankfurt

for the successful introduction of this new

 Prohibition Sign!!!

 This sign is forward-looking.
We wheelchair users
hope to see this sign more often in the city in the future!!!
Thanks again that the municipality is
so much concerned about the
physical integrity of us wheelchair users!!!

We thank again the city of Frankfurt for the duty of care which is shown to us wheelchair users with this “Passing prohibited” sign.

With best regards from Steffen Löw and Jens Maspfuhl

Kontakt: rollinator@eigude.de

Translator BL

Eigude Shame XVII

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Frontpage

Wheelchair Ramp Occupier

I have currently started to write a few new blogposts.

But these have to wait to be published, because what happened yesterday has to be told…

When I bought a flat back in 2005 still as pedestrian together with my wife and a friendly bank, a parking place directly opposite the entrance was included for a little surcharge as well.

Awesome… Our own parking place in Frankfurt!!!

Unfortunately the parking place is too narrow for me to transfer from the wheelchair into the car, so that I have applied for and got a disabled parking place in the street (see older blogposts).

I have a lot of visitors like physiotherapists, friends and other people who are helping me with various things.

They probably only come that often to use my parking place… ;-)

I have a good relationship with all my neighbours.

One of them owns a couple of taxis which are sometimes parked in our courtyard or street a little unconventionally during driver change, especially when he has new drivers.

Last week at least three times such a beige vehicle was standing on my labelled parking place (see lifter picture), and this even when I had a visitor on Sunday morning, when you don’t know anyway where to park your car!!!

When I met my neighbour on the same day I told him in round terms to tell his drivers that I don’t want to see one of his taxis on my parking place any more.

Yesterday on Friday I descended with my

platform lifter

from my flat in the 1st floor and wanted to leave the house on my Flower Ramp (see older blogposts).

My low blood pressure was healed promptly.

I don’t tend to hyperventilate, but yesterday it was almost the case.

After about 2 minutes and the photo I had calmed down again a little and rang at my
Wheelchair Ramp Occupier:

REMOVE THE TAXI IMMEDIATELY!!!

 

I should mention as well that no car was parking on my parking place.

Translator BL