Disabled through the back door

[jammypuddingmonkey]

How unreasonable is it for me to be cross about someone saying that a disabled person is only allowed to use the back door for access, that they shouldn't want to use the front door? It feels a bit like disability discrimination...

This is in the house they live in, not a commercial building, nothing to do with anything regarding making the house accessible either. It's not that a ramp is only to one door, or anything like that.

The front door is nearest to the road. The back door isn't usable alone for the person, because of construction faults with it. The front door is usable independently.

The front door is accessible, but apparently is only to be used in an emergency, not day to day life.

So... The disabled person shouldn't answer the front door, or use it at all, they should only use the back door. It's not access within the house, it's literally that- you shouldn't use the front door, only the back, because you're disabled. Said almost like that, too... Previously said that the person should spend most of their time in the back of the house, too.

I'll add that there's ramps to both doors, both are widened. You have to pass the front door to get to the back door anyway.

Anyone an OT? Is this honestly the official opinion? Disabled only allowed to use the back door? Should stay out the main rooms? Hide away? There were worse comments made... I won't go into it all, too long!

Or is this expecting too much- wanting to use the front door...

This has been said several times to us. But yesterday was said directly- why do you want to use the front door? why?!

When so many other things are taken away by disability, so much independence lost and having to accept that, something small like deciding to use the front door because its easier surely shouldn't be a decision made by anyone other than the person who lives there?

[TheHormonalHooker]

I never had access to the garden via a ramped door at my old house. They'd have had to have either built a new door, or knocked down a shed to have done that.

I had to use the ramped front door, go down the pavement, up the path, through the gate and into the garden. It was an arse ache, but that's how it had to be.

[CinderellaRockefeller]

I know people who use the back door As normal and the front door only when you get carried over it (born, wed, dead). Are you sure the OT wasn't like that?

[serin]

Love your user name COPM!!

[serin]

It is sadly most local authorities stance that only one doorway into a property can be adapted. This is due to cost implications as each permanent ramp can run into thousands of pounds.

Whatever the OT's opinion is, S/He will have to work in line with that policy.

This policy has been in place for as long as I have been an OT (Over 25yrs now) so we can't even blame the current government for it.

The policy stinks, but ultimately we are all responsible for it, until we are happy to pay more in tax to fund better equipment and adaptations then people with disabilities will continue to struggle and OT's will be blamed for non provision.

[COPMyourselfon]

This is all very confusing and without knowing the layout, what was actually said and the OTs reasoning then it is difficult to comment further.

I do want reiterate as I and others have said the normal
position is to adapt one access point. It is only very rarely we can get agreement to do more than this (I do wonder if the conversion to both back and front has something to do with the OTs comment - we'll never know!)

Fire access is a point but many places only have one exit (my flat for one!). The fire service should also be aware of people who may be vulnerable in a fire and make the necessary risk assessments.

[maddening]

If it is just the metal that is the problem could you not just stick down grips on to the metal?

[TheHumancatapult]

sounds daft especially as need the ramp fixed to access either door


As for the fact most Ot say only front or back door can be adapted .If you speak to your local fire saftey officer they may actually have something to say about this in event of a fire and thewonly adapted way out is blocked it leaves you in a very dangerours situation

[VacantExpression]

www.disabilityrightsuk.org/housing-grants

Grants cover "easier access to garden". Don't know if this would be helpful or not to the OP. Having RTFT I'm still none the wiser.

The OP mentions the disabled person not even answering the front door- I don't know what difference a ramp would make to this? I do understand though when there has been an issue with a service it can be very hard to move on and I've had many appointments where I have felt let down but actually with hindsight it was me projecting previous disappointments unfairly onto a current situation.
I hope the OP can get a second opinion or a satisfactory explanation- I can't imagine an OT actually thinking a disabled person should be hidden away.

[Arranie]

Confused.

What is an OT?

Does what an OT says mean your husband isnt allowrd to use the front door or is it a suggestion? If it's a suggestion and nobody's saying you can't use the front door, ignore them and use the front door.

[PausingFlatly]

By jammy at 11:21:27:

Ramp goes from drive to front door, dips and joins ramp to back door. So it's the same ramp really, in two parts. The front part had a minor repair, this was fixed by slapping metal on it- it's now a waterside for a wheelchair in the rain. We didn't know they were doing it like that, would have fixed it myself if we'd known...

A new OT came out to see the ramp. He wanted to know why my husband uses the front door. It's irrelevant to the metal ramp repair- it has to be used to access both the front and back.

[steff13]

The ramp is the same one for both front and back door though. It's dangerous in the wet whichever door is used.

The OP has specifically said that the ramp in the front is slippery when its raining; she didn't make the same assertion about the one in the back. Presumably, the OT was saying that if it's raining, OP's husband can go out the back door (where the ramp is not slippery), or at least that's my understanding.

I could be wrong; I'm very confused.

[PausingFlatly]

Or which the OT could have volunteered. But doesn't seem to have.

This has clearly come after a long battle with the OT service being obstructive about all sorts because, naturally, they don't want to spend money. So I can see why jammy assumed this was just another piece of obstructiveness.

She may even be right. Or there may be a misunderstanding.

[SoupDragon]

OP is hardly responsible for explaining why the OT chose to suggest using the back door when it isn't even a solution to the problem.

Well, she kind of is given she is claiming the OT thinks the disabled should be hidden away.

Well, she was responsible for asking them why they think the back door is appropriate given the access issues with it. She obviously doesn't have to explain anything unless she wants The opinions of MNers...

[PausingFlatly]

OP is hardly responsible for explaining why the OT chose to suggest using the back door when it isn't even a solution to the problem.

People make unhelpful suggestions sometimes. It's even been known on MN...

[Floggingmolly]

But there is no difference between the front and back, apparently. In terms of safety of use, that is.

[SoupDragon]

Yes, but the slippery ramp serves both doors so any comment about which door to use makes no sense whatsoever.

[PausingFlatly]

She says extremely clearly what is stopping him safely using the front door AND the back door right now.

Viz, that the wheelchair slides on the metal sheeting when its wet.

[Floggingmolly]

But if the front door is better there's absolutely nothing to stop op using it, pausing. She seems unclear herself as to what the actual problem is.

[SoupDragon]

And yet what she doesn't say is why they are suggesting using the backdoor or if anyone is actually stopping them from using the front one, and how.

[PausingFlatly]

This thread is bonkers.

jammy says, right near the top of her OP:

"The back door isn't usable alone for the person, because of construction faults with it. The front door is usable independently. The front door is accessible"

And later on:

"Front door is easier to use, back door is difficult and can't be used alone. More hazards at the back than at the front (gate etc)."

And:

"back one swings outwards and so can't be shut easily when he uses it himself,"

Yet we have page after page of posters saying "Well if the back door is better..."

RTFT?

[ArendelleQueen]

You'd be surprised at how few disabled people actually have access to their garden. Sadly, it's a real issue.

[LunchpackOfNotreDame]

I was of the impression access to the garden was only if you have children to look after out there. That's what I had been told by my ot!

[VacantExpression]

There are two disabled people living in my home and I have regular "access" to our OT on speed dial poor woman but I am having trouble understanding your actual situation?

FWIW I'm sure DFG covers access to garden as a legal requirement now so this may well mean front and back door with ramped access.