DDA issues at work

[hannah]

I couldn't find a thread to tag this onto, and I although I will start off with my specific issues, I thought it might be good to have a general place for anyone to discuss DDA/access/building related discrimination (if there is such a thing?) at work issues.

As mentioned in the 'lifts at work' thread, the lift at my office is too old and frequently faulty - obviously a DDA issue. but that is discussed elsewhere. Today I got an additional 'issue'.

The ladies has an electric door opener, you push a button and the door opens. It was fitted about 2 months ago and has worked for about 2 days since . until today this meant that the door was permenantly open - a bit of a privacy issue (but not too bad cos the loos and sinks are round the corner out of sight), but brilliantly accessible.
Today the door decided to remain closed. I got in because someone held the door for me, then when I wanted to leave I found that I couldn't open it more than about 6 inches without serious dislocation risk, and no guarantee I'd manage to hold the door and manouver my wheelchair out if I did succeed. It ended up with me having to call a female colleague on my mobile to come and rescue me. (fortunately my policy is 'always take mobile if not at desk')
This was highly embarrasing, but also quite funny in a slightly hysterical way. a you laugh or you cry situation.

I asked facilities when it would be fixed - they are doing their best, but 'should be next week' was all they could come up with. OK, I thought, no big deal. I can cope with this.

Then I needed the loo later and realised that this actually means I have to go round the office and find a female colleague who isn't in the middle of something to 'take me to the loo' every time nature calls. It feels extremely demeaning. I was in tears on the way home. And I can't 'hold on til I get home' with my stretchy HMS bladder.

There aren't any other accessible loos on our floor - the other ones are on the ground floor - which I'd need help to access too (see 'lift issues' thread).

I know they are trying to fix it, but everything takes such a long time with our maintenance contractors that it is likely to be at least the end of next week before its fixed.Does anyone know if there is anything I can do about this? or do I just have to swallow my pride and accept that going to the loo alone is yet another bit of independance HMS has temporarily removed?

[Tabi]

Hannah, I don't have anything intelligent or remotely helpful to add, but
You know where I am.
Tabi xx

[barkingmad]

Hi Hannah,

I dont know for sure but couldnt you approach human resources or your line manager? But I guess on why it will take to next week to fix...ie are they waiting for parts to be able to fix problem? Maybe in the meantime (as toilets arent usually a fire risk) couldnt they wedge the door open for you?

I would feel upset and embarrassed too, as would most people so I dont think you would be alone there hun!

[Rosie]

Hi Hannah

Just what you need! Please, get straight on to your line manager and explain to them what is happening. You should not have to go throught finding someone to escort you to the toilet whenever you need to. It is possible that your line manager, or their manager if necessary, can speed up the door being fixed. If they can't, I would ask them to pass it up the line until it reaches someone who can. You should not have to deal with the maintenance contractors yourself unless this is part of your job.
In the meantime, could the door be wedged open for you as donna suggests, or failing that, could one person be appointed to help you? At least it would save you having to search out and ask people each time.



Rosie

[Ali13]

Hannah,

That sucks majorly pet Definately keep pushing for it either to be fixed or the door wedged open. It is absolutley ridiculous to expect you to have to ask for someone to "take you to the toilet", and "holding it in" shouldn't even be something you have to consider. I hate the attitude towards fixing disabled access facilities. It was an issue in my old job, our lift was broken and there was only one in the building so I had to sit and explain to customers arriving at reception that, no, they could not go upstairs because our lift is broken. And, no, I didn't know when they would fix it.

You should never be put in this position. And don't even consider accepting the situation as it is, you have every right to take YOURSELF to the toilet.

Hugs and lollipops and easy toilet access xx

[Eloise]

Well they have three options:
1. Fix it within the hour
2. Leave it wedged open with a note that NO-ONE is allowed to shut it
3. Send you home on full pay until it is fixed (and not annual leave/sick leave etc)

Not having access to a toliet is a violation of a basic human right. Make sure you tell your manager that one of the above needs doing. Be strong. If your manager won't do anything, go to their manager and repeat the process up to the top until something is done.

[hannah]

Thanks guys

I have decided that I will be reviewing the situation on monday, and if it is still not working and the door is shut I will ask them to

Leave it wedged open with a note that NO-ONE is allowed to shut it

fingers crossed it works!

And if that is refused/can't happen I will talk to my union rep and then find the highest level of management that is available, and go spare in a very concentrated, coherent and focused manner.
I would so love to find the keys to loos near the chief execs office and tell her that any time she wants to use them she has to call me and ask I bet that would get the message across. OK, a bit OTT, but tempting all the same.

And yes, it might be that I should just go home til tis fixed. But I love my job. And I don't want to not progress my current project, all for the want of an accessible loo. Ihate having time off for any reason. that really would be a last resort.

Unfortunately all the females in my office that I am willing to ask work part time and/or have jobs that involve multiple site visits, so I can never guarantee who will be around at my moment of need. Infact there are frequently times where there are no females in my office. I guess I'd have to hope there was someone nice in next door.

Your support is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Hannah

[Cath]

Hi Hannah, I'm new on here so have no idea what job it is you do, but I used to work as a Occupational Health Nursr in the private sector. Is there any way you could do any work at home, I would often recommend that if posible this was enabled where possible, I have to say though that the companies I worked for were well ahead of the game when it came to helping staff with disabilties. Does the place you work have a health and safety officer and this could be a great source of help also, and they may be able to get things sorted, after all the workplace has to be suitably maintained for all staff.
Hope you get something sorted.
Cath

[naama]

Hi Hannah
I have to agree with Eloise. Going to the toilet unaided is a basic right. If you have a union rep then definitely kick up a fuss with them.
We have a bit of an issue with our keypad for getting into the office. Sometimes it's fine but sometimes it takes several attempts to get it to open. Days like today I gave up and went in via the opposite side of the building and walked round. When it's working OK then it's not too much of an issue for me - my fingers can cope with being bent back five times. When I've tried the combination four or five times it starts to get annoying and sore! The thing that really annoys me is that sometimes our receptionist sits from behind his window and watches me do it! A few weeks ago he piped up 'some times it's better to just use the other side'. I retorted back 'or of course you could just open the door for me'! I can't understand the mentality of anyone who either sees or hears someone struggling with the door but just watches them or ignores the sound!

[naama]

Incidentally, he didn't open it for me, he just giggled!

[naama]

Grrr, office manager sent round a message to everyone in the office to say she would be available at the door to provide advice on the combination lock situation! At the allotted time she came and found me and asked me if I was coming. I was the only person who went so I had my own personal lesson in how to use the combination lock which included not pressing the buttons too hard (unlikely!), making sure you don't accidentally catch any of the surrounding buttons, waiting a few seconds if it doesn't work before trying it again, etc. Of course, when I tried it with her standing there it worked!! I know she's trying to help but I just felt patronised!

[hannah]

I hate coded door pads too - fortunately the ones I have to use are used a lot - so I frequently get away with a 'damsel in distress' flutter of the eyelashes, and hey presto, someone opens it for me. And yes, it is really frustrating when someone can see you struggle and does absolutely nothing about it

Guess what. The door to the ladies still wasn't fixed.
the good news was that I have a 'desk swap' policy for when the lift doesn't work, so I can use a ground floor desk - so today I decided that although the lift was working, my floor was 'not accessable' and worked at her desk, and she worked at mine (our work areas are linked, so it is OK for one off's). I couldn't access the kitchen on my own, but at least I could get to the loo indepenantly. And I got an email stating that the door would be fixed on Wednesday which is my next day in the office, so I'm happy with that.

Poor chaps in the alternative office got a crash course in hypermobility - In the course of 5 hours in the office I had to get someone to put both wrists back on, my foot fell off, I realligned my pelvis lots, and then had to lie on the floor to try and get my ribs back in Funnily enough, having done my bit to raise understanding of EDS/HMS I left early......

[naama]

That's a day's work well earned!
Others did also get a private lesson in how to open the door later in the afternoon! She made a point of asking me if I had any trouble getting in this morning! I didn't.

[hannah]

I am sooooo CROSS! This could go into the rant room, but it is entirely work/reasonable adjustments related.

I don't spit feathers very often but I have never felt so like shaking a colleague. Especially one in a managerial position!

An office move has been being planned for months. Since September last year my manager and her manager and his manager (i.e. all the way up to director level in my directorate) have been giving the facilities team info about what disabilities I have and how this relates to an office move, including a face to face meeting with me, my manager, facilities manager (C) and health and safety.

Then they sent a consultation plan a few weeks ago saying "this is the move, give feedback within 2 days" - they had taken NO ACCOUNT WHATSOEVER of my disabilities. (I couldn't get into the office, let alone to my desk!) So I gave them the info (again), so did my manager, so did the assistant director, and the actual director then got HR involved to try and make things happen.

This morning we got the latest move info: Final plan. With ABSOLUTELY NOTHING adapted to make it workable for me.

So today we had a site meeting with me, HR, my manager, facilities manager (C) and Oc health.

We met up and one of the first things C said was "we have talked through things before so I'm not sure there is much point in this. We will just be repeating ourselves" HR lady said a diplomatic version of 'it needs sorting, it hasn't been, so we start from the begining' Within minutes of starting on point 1 (I can't get across the carpet in reception) C was saying to me "your manager didn't give the information we needed" and "I was never told this" and "we had none of this information"

Talk about contradiction! one minute the meeting isn't needed cos she has all the info, the next it is the first she has heard! And I'd given it in writing at every relevant point and sat across a table from her discussing it! - let alone all the input from managers etc!

All I wanted was
1. to say "these are the things that will cause significant problems"
2. to know who was going to do what to address them
3. to be kept informed so that I know that I will not be moved to a building where I have to get someone to take me to the loo and that would probably have me hospitalised within a day (yes, it really is that incompatible with me)

Every point that was raised had C blame passing. I don't give a monkeys who said what when - I just want an office I can work in!
It got to the point that shouted "Look, I don't care who said what in the past. Can we please ignore all that - I'm just interested in the here and now, how to make this work!"

And C went off on one about how she had no budget for more works, it would have to be whole new project, blah blah blah. And? How is that relevant at this stage? We had already established that we could ask access to work to help with the costs, and that it would be a director decision for the rest (to my mind end of finance story. not relevant here. They can all argue about who pays what later.) Every single issue raised got a complaining 'I could get a costing but....'
And silly excuses/non-issues kept being raised -like I cannot work in a hot environement and therefore need an air con unit. C: "it will need to be ducted to outside, and there aren't any vents in the walls or windows...I could get a costing I suppose but it really isn't that simple..." Drilling a hole in a brick wall costs a maximum of £30 - infact E would do it for free!

And my manager found out they aren't even closing the building I'm in currently! - it has big issues with the lift, but at least I am able to work! - I have EDS and POTS and am extremely heat sensitive, so if I get too hot I start by slurring speech and loosing coordination and end up in an ambulance if it goes too far. Today I was in the building for 30 mins and we had to cut it short because I was zoning out and slurring. My current office doesn't have this issue, so I would far rather have the uncertainty of a dodgy lift that the certainty of having major POTS problems on a daily basis despite being on meds.

I don't have an issue with my employer as a whole, I just have an issue with facilities management totally ignoring my requirements and then making me feel like nothing but an inconvenience and completely irrelevant. Not to mention her continuous blaming of other people and a lack of info - when she'd had everything from me direct!

I do however have a lot of respect for the HR woman who will be putting everything in writing, so hopefully things will look up and common sense will come into play. And I like the fact that my manager was pretty wound up too.

[sanguine_emma]

Aaarg, aarg, arrg. Horrible.