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AIBU?

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Original poster

Disabled through the back door

111 replies

jammypuddingmonkey · 05/08/2015 10:11

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! Wink

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?Hmm 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?

OP posts:
honeysucklejasmine · 05/08/2015 17:18

Hmm when wet

MrsDeVere · 05/08/2015 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 05/08/2015 17:48

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

PausingFlatly · 05/08/2015 17:55

Plus the front door is easier and safer for the wheelchair user to operate than the back door, because of the approach and how it opens.

Have we summed that up correctly, OP?

PausingFlatly · 05/08/2015 17:57

And there is a long history of having to battle (and involve ombudsman) to get the OT service to fulfil their basic legal obligations, so now every time they say something dismissive or evasive, it feels like more of the same?

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 05/08/2015 18:22

Op your clipped sentances and deliberate missing out of information is what's getting people's backs up.

When I had an OT out I was told it's one entrance only unless there is good cause to adapt two.

You and Dawn seem to be being obtuse for the sake of it.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 05/08/2015 18:23

If the ramp is dangerous (and tbh most ot's avoid ramps for this reason) I'm surprised they haven't recommended a platform lift (if it's a significant drop) or split level ramp

LilacWine7 · 05/08/2015 18:24

I'm still confused re what the actual problem is. I very much doubt the OT meant to be offensive, but I can see why he was confused. If both doors are now accessible, what more did you want him to do? If both doors share a ramp (now repaired) it's up to you and your husband which door you use.

Am I right in thinking your husband prefers to use the front door, but part of the ramp at the front needed repairs, which were carried out? But you are not happy because the repaired bit at the front feels slippery when wet?
If this is the case, I suggest you either use the back door in wet weather (thereby avoiding the slippery part of the ramp) or pay privately to have the ramp repaired in a different way. Or buy a special rubber mat for the ramp. A wet 'slippery' ramp is not necessarily dangerous, the wheelchair wheels should be able to grip on the metal part or that type of repair would not have been approved. The back door still provides access so you can avoid the repaired part. The ramp may not be ideal but it sounds adequate to me.

You seem ungrateful for the services you've received, but actually you were lucky to get BOTH doors widened, adapted and fitted with ramp-access. Having 2 adapted doors was not essential in order for your husband to get out and about independently; he could manage with one door, as many many people do.

OT resources are limited, OTs have to be cost-effective with adaptations; if they gave everyone exactly what they wanted, there would not be enough resources to go round and people without a ramp would be on long waiting lists just to get one ramp. The NHS is overstretched and underfunded. OTs work within strict policies and budgets, they have to justify why adaptations and repairs are essential. Preferring to use one door over another perfectly good safe door is not 'essential'. Fitting ramps and adapting doors is expensive and many OTs will only adapt ONE entrance. This is policy not personal preference. In many areas there is a long waiting list for ramps and very strict criteria, you would have to pay privately if you wanted ramp-access at both doors.

You come across as quite aggressive and very negative about OT services in general. If you were rude to the OT and demanded a different sort of ramp repair so you had the choice of both doors, I'm not surprised he got frustrated with you.

SoupDragon · 05/08/2015 18:32

Assuming there is no good reason to use only the back door, the of course it's not unreasonable to use the front one.

If there is a solid reason why it's easier to use the back and/or there is a reason they can only provide access to that door then I'm not sure.

However, it's not clear from your posts.

MrsDeVere · 05/08/2015 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArendelleQueen · 05/08/2015 18:40

MrsDeVere I can't see that this current OT did anything that was substandard though. Confused I just don't see the issue, the OP is being obtuse. Services ensured that the husband - rightly - has access to his property from the front and back.

VacantExpression · 05/08/2015 18:42

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.

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 05/08/2015 18:43

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!

ArendelleQueen · 05/08/2015 18:44

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

PausingFlatly · 05/08/2015 18:51

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?

SoupDragon · 05/08/2015 18:53

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.

Floggingmolly · 05/08/2015 18:59

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.

PausingFlatly · 05/08/2015 18:59

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.

SoupDragon · 05/08/2015 19:01

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

Floggingmolly · 05/08/2015 19:01

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

PausingFlatly · 05/08/2015 19:01

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... Wink

Itsmine · 05/08/2015 19:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 05/08/2015 19:11

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 · 05/08/2015 19:11

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.

steff13 · 05/08/2015 19:24

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.