Don and CU, thanks for sharing so much with all of us. While I haven't had a life long disability and, what I have had to deal with doesn't seem like much, relatively speaking, since last February I have become even more aware of barriers throughout our society which exclude those with any kind of an impairment.

Whilst using a walker last February when I broke my foot and through weakness brought on by an untreated condition, I basically blew out the tendons in my forearms, thumbs, and index fingers. I also had some very painful soft tissue damage in my left foot. The hands and arms problems still are not resolved but seem to gradually be improving.

What I have experienced because of this, is the inability to open doors with conventional doorknobs and those which are extra heavy. Our local post office has no disabled aids other than a parking space and ramp. There are two regular width doors both of which are very heavy and stiff. The only way I could possibly open them is to back into them with my bum and whole body weight. I have called them about this and they have had no definitive answers for me on why they have no doors that are wide enough for wheelchairs or walkers and no automatic door opener buttons to push. It seems outrageous to me that our own government has a non-compliance building such as this.

At home, almost every product I come into contact with frustrates me mightily. I usually wind up having to ask Roger to open the simplest of packages, such as a zip lock bag or a can of cat fishy. I cannot use scissors because of the pain in my thumb, I cannot cut up my food for the same reason. I am most fortunate that Roger is a very able, willing, and loving caregiver. I have not been able to drive since last June and that has been a real test of my patience and mental health, especially since there have been many therapy and doctors' appointments I have had to have Roger take me to, even having to take off time from work to do so.

I know that there are some aids which can be found online to help one open cans and jars and that kind of thing. Roger put all new door handles on all of our doors which are easy for me to either lift up or push down to open them. I have braces which help with my wrists and hands and I do get treatments which help, but every time I encounter even the small things, such as opening a package, I get so frustrated and I think I'll start writing letters to all the manufacturers, but I never do. Even without the troubles I have at the moment, being short also makes me aware of how difficult it can be to shop in the big stores where things are stacked up so high. I cannot imagine how much more difficult it would be to be a couple of feet lower in a wheelchair. Just before Thanksgiving we were at the grocery store and I wanted to reach some tinfoil pie plates. Roger was in another part of the store, I was pushing a cart with my oxygen unit. When I found the pie plates, they were stacked about 3 feet up on the highest shelf which was about 8 feet high. I thought about reaching up and just grabbing the bottom one and letting them all fall down, but I really didn't want to make a big mess which it would be difficult for me to pick up. Finally, a taller woman happened down the aisle. I asked her if she would please get down a packet for me which she gladly did. We had a nice encounter over it and then went our ways.

Not being able to drive has been one of the biggest let downs for me. The main reason is I cannot turn the key without the aid of a vice grip which even then puts more pressure on the sore tendons. I also cannot release the seat belt. Don, I agree with you wholeheartedly. When anyone is engineering or designing a new product or building, they do need to hire those with disabilities to test out their designs.

Thanks again for this thread and for listening. I have been able to type this only because I have a voice recognition program which Roger bought for me due to all of the problems I've been having with my hands and wrists and forearms. It sometimes makes for funny reading if I don't proofread, but I am grateful to have it.

kat