February 6 - Lost in an Elevator

Generally speaking, I am most often with someone else when I need to ride in an elevator – and I have learned the rules of how to do this safely. My guide enters the elevator first and when we arrive at the correct floor, I get out first. Whether I am entering the elevator or leaving it, I put my cane forward to lead the way.

However, there are occasions when I am alone. I remember my friend, Bert telling me about a time when he was alone and properly following the safety rules. When the elevator approached and the doors opened, he held his white cane forward. Unfortunately, the doors closed before Bert could enter the elevator himself. His cane was jammed between the closed doors and the elevator began its descent. The elastic inside his fold-up cane stretched to its limit and within minutes Bert was left holding only the upper section. I’m not sure how the story progressed from there.

This past week I have been in elevators several times. Although I haven’t actually been lost, once when I was by myself trying to reach the second floor I travelled to the basement and then up to the third floor before by hit and miss method I found the correct button. Inside the elevator, the buttons weren’t lined up in a straight line but instead were placed diagonally back and forth in two columns. It was quite confusing.

I like elevators with audible prompts but my favourite elevator of the week didn’t have any sound. Instead its up and down buttons were large (approx. a 10 centimetre square) and with a lighted background. The floor number on the button was also large and in black print. There were only four floors in the building so for someone with partial sight they were fairly easy to locate. These buttons were on the left side of the door while the smaller buttons for persons with sight were on the right side.  I realise that this might not work if the building had multiple floors because the large buttons would take up a whole wall space.

It often surprises me that it is the little things in life that can cause me the biggest problems. I am always grateful when the powers that be have the forethought to think ahead. A little imagination and forethought can make life so much simpler for those of us with a disability.