Topic one: Global Accessibility Awareness Day. It's today - and when I heard of it, I thought of people gathering to raise awareness about the disableds' accessibility in getting around, but according to the web site, "This event is a community-driven effort with the goal to devote one day
in the hopes of raising the profile of digital (web, software, mobile
app/device, touch screen kiosk, etc.) accessibility and people with
different disabilities." This is not a bad thing. I like it. But what I'd really like it a long, hard look at sidewalks, cutouts, ramps, aisle widths, seating and things like that. I've been stuck on cutout ramps designed for wheelchairs, those nifty little bumps don't help and I wonder if anyone tested them. I'm just looking for help getting to the store and back...for me, this means wheeling down the hall to the elevator, squeezing into the elevator, arriving at the Lobby, going through two doors that are not automatic, going around a tilted, narrow sidewalk, crossing the parking lot to another sidewalk, going to to the crosswalk, waiting for the light which is WAY too short, onto another sidewalk, and then I have to cross the back parking lot of a big shopping center, because the sidewalk doesn't go around. The access to the center itself is a steep cutout with a metal plate covered with 1/4 inch bumps, and my chair gets stuck trying to go up it. It's like this at a lot of places I've been to, surfaces are cracked, tilted to one side or there is no sidewalk, when in a store often aisles that would be wide enough are filled with temporary displays that I can't get around - I back up and turn around a lot, and often can't get to items I want. I'd love to be independent, but I live in a walking world...
Topic two: Gluten-free zones...I was watching the news yesterday, and there was a story on this "New gluten-free craze" going around...craze? The story went on to point out facts regarding Celiac Disease, but made no mention of wheat allergies or sensitiviy, and had a doctor on to state how bad a gluten-free diet was for people. His main point was vitamins, B vitamins, and how there are fortified wheat products you should be consuming in order to get them. The only issue I would see is vegans and B-12, because there is no really great plant-based source of B12, BUT, there are enriched soy milk and cereals, if you're a vegan, make sure you get your B12, ok? B vitamins are important for your health...good sources of B's are lentils, bananas, green veggies, whole grains (not just wheat) and meat products.
Last, but not least, Topic three: Sugar, Corn Sugar and me...TV commercials (paid for by the Corn industry) claim that your body doesn't know the difference - maybe, maybe not, but too much of either will get you in trouble - in my case, I got type II diabetes. Nowdays, I use fruit juice, applesauce, agave syrup (don't tell me it's evil, I think the corn industry is trying to sabotage it) and a product called whey-low for sweeteners, if I need sweet. 'nuff said
"But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?"
Albert Camus
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