#wheelchairs — Public Fediverse posts

NJ diner Antonia Sinbaldi outraged after upscale restaurant serves her dessert with offensive birthday message https://www.diningandcooking.com/restaurants/16002/ #birthdays #disabilities #Metro #NewJersey #Restaurant #Restaurants #USNews #wheelchairs

#CommunityGardens in #Ontario Parks That Welcome Everyone

by Andrew Boyd, March 22, 2026

"Picture a garden where pathways welcome #wheelchairs and #walkers with smooth, wide surfaces. Where raised beds bring vibrant tomatoes and fragrant herbs to comfortable heights for everyone. Where sensory experiences of soil, sunshine, and growing things aren’t limited by mobility or ability. That’s the promise of #accessible community gardens in #OntarioParks.

"These thoughtfully designed spaces transform traditional gardening into an inclusive activity where families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities can dig, plant, and harvest side by side. You’ll find gardens with wheelchair-accessible raised beds at shoulder height, tactile plant markers in braille, and gently graded paths that eliminate barriers between you and nature’s therapeutic benefits.

"Ontario’s accessible community gardens aren’t just about physical access—they’re about belonging. They’re neighborhood gathering spots where retired teachers share #composting wisdom with young families, where #AdaptiveTools make planting possible for arthritic hands, and where the simple joy of watching seedlings sprout creates connections across generations and abilities."

"Whether you’re seeking a peaceful outdoor activity, looking to grow your own fresh vegetables, or searching for meaningful community connection, these gardens offer something remarkable: green spaces designed with everyone in mind. From Toronto’s urban plots to gardens nestled in smaller communities, accessible gardening opportunities are blooming across the province, waiting for you to join in. The soil doesn’t judge, and neither do these welcoming spaces—they simply invite you to grow."

Learn more:
https://www.frontenacpark.ca/community-engagement/community-gardens-in-ontario-parks-that-welcome-everyone/

#SolarPunkSunday #AccessibleGardens #AccessibleSpaces #TorontoON #EastviewGardens #OttawaON #LandsdownePark #HamiltonON #GagePark #NottawasagaBluffs #AlgonquinPark #RondeauON #BarrieON #Awenda #SpendTimeOutdoors #GrowYourOwn #GrowYourOwnFood

Rethinking #CommunityGardens for Accessibility

By Kim Ousley, April 22, 2026

"The summer after my amputation, I secured a small plot in a community garden. A dear friend paid the $15 seasonal fee—her way of helping me get outside and moving with my fairly new prosthetic leg.

"Her youngest son was five at the time and eager to help. We called it our 'experimental' garden, since neither of us really knew what we were doing. What we didn’t expect was how much it would give back to us. It became a social experiment of sorts—and a powerful boost to both my mental and physical health.

"We kept that garden going for several years. He learned how to plant, pull weeds, and harvest right alongside me—and even developed a taste for fresh salad ingredients.

"As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s a reminder that access to #GreenSpaces should be something everyone can experience.

"So why should communities consider making their gardens fully accessible, regardless of physical ability?

"#Gardening is a simple, healthy way to create a safe and welcoming environment for people of all skill levels and abilities. For those using #wheelchairs or electric #scooters, traditional gardens can be limiting—bending down or standing for long periods isn’t always possible. But something as simple as raised beds at the right height can make participation possible again.

"The term '#HorticulturalTherapy' (HT) refers to a professional, evidence-based practice that uses plants and gardening activities to achieve specific therapeutic goals for physical, mental, and social health. Led by credentialed therapists, it has been shown to improve memory, motor skills, and emotional well-being—especially in community settings.

"Communities that have incorporated #DisabilityFriendly design into their gardens are seeing the impact: increased participation, stronger connections, and a shared sense of purpose.

"My own garden wasn’t in an #ADAFriendly space, but with the help of my little buddy, I made it work. Since then, I’ve spoken with many people in my city about creating more inclusive gardening spaces for those who want to participate but face physical barriers.

"I’m starting to see that shift happen—and I hope to be part of growing it.

"So what should you consider when planning a more inclusive garden?

"#UniversalDesign is the foundation. It means creating a space that is usable by everyone, regardless of ability. This can include:

- Raised beds at wheelchair or standing height, so no one has to bend or risk falling
- Adaptive gardening tools with rubber grips, extended handles, and accessible water sources
- Wide, flat, and smooth pathways—at least 36 to 48 inches—to allow wheelchairs to turn comfortably (using pavement or compacted gravel)
- Volunteers who are willing to lend a hand and support inclusive participation

"Getting involved in a local community garden can have lasting benefits. Gardening supports mobility, coordination, strength, balance, endurance, social connection, and memory.

"With a few thoughtful adaptations, it can be part of a healthy, active lifestyle—for everyone."

Source:
https://livingwithamplitude.com/accessible-community-gardens-disability-inclusion/

#SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardening #AccessibleGardens #Inclusivity #Accessibility #BuildingCommunity
#SensoryPlants #SpendTimeInNature

Patients at NHS hospitals forced to pay £2 an hour for ‘Boris bike’ style wheelchairs | Morning Star
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/patients-nhs-hospitals-forced-pay-ps2-hour-boris-bike-style-wheelchairs

#NHS
#Israel
#BorisBike
#Wheelchairs
#Wheelshare
#Hospitals
#KingsCollegeHospital
#London
#KingsFund
#LondonCentric
#KeepOurNHSPublic
#DisabledPeopleAgainstCuts
#WeOwnIt
#Disabled

Josee, a sea of books, and reading to library patrons

When I began watching Josee, the Tiger and the Fish, a 98-minute romantic comedy film, I had no idea how central libraries, and librarians, would be to the story. I knew already that there was a librarian in the film, but I wasn’t sure how vital her role would be the story. In this post, I’ll relate scenes in the film to other fictional examples and other topics.

More than 30 minutes into the film, Josee (voiced by Kaya Kiyohara), a physically disabled girl who uses a wheelchair, goes to the public library with her caretaker, Tsuneo Suzukawa (voiced by Taishi Nakagawa). She is amazed by the sea of books. She finds some books by Françoise Sagan, an author she likes, and the librarian, Kana Kishimoto (voiced by Lynn), happily asks if she is a fan, with Josee quietly admitting what book she likes. Not long after, Kana also asks if Tsuneo is her boyfriend, causing her to blush, as she is embarrassed, as the librarian sees the romantic sparks between Tsuneo and Josee. They check out the books. Interestingly, the librarian, Kana, is 24, just like Jose’s, and they quickly become friends, waving to one another.

Before moving onto the rest of the film, one aspect that struck me was how personable Kana’s character was. Compared to many of the other librarians I have profiled on here, either those of Asian descent, or those with the common hair bun, she is a good representation of a library worker in Osaka. In some ways, I see a parallel to Isomura, a library curator in Let’s Make a Mug Too!, who is just as helpful to the protagonists. The difference is that she is much more than an information provider, but is atypical, in her character type, because she becomes friends with the protagonist and ventures outside the library, making her an important part of the film.

Even positive depictions of librarians are often stuck inside the library and are never shown outside the walls of the institution. Some exceptions include Kaisa in Hilda, many of the student librarians in anime. Whether you see the film as having “little fresh” when it comes to disability, criticize it for being primarily through the perspective of her caretaker, praise it for its perspective on disability, Kana remains a key part of the film, something which reviewers appear to miss, for the most part, except to note that she doesn’t exist in the manga. [1] However, the review in Anime Feminist, by Zeldaru notes that when Josee goes to the library she has the “opportunity to become part of a fully public community” and she is able to see, for the first time, people coming together “with a similar purpose”, resulting in her befriending Kana, allowing her to “pursue her burgeoning interest in art”!

The fact that Kana is welcoming of Josee indicates the openness of the library to all patrons, including those which are physically disabled. Kana also helps Josee realize her feelings for Tsuneo after Josee said that she didn’t need him. She even encourages Josee to read The Little Mermaid to children in the library, but she is nervous, and kids leave. Although the reading doesn’t go well, Kana encourages her to display her art online and she is nervous and embarrassed by that. She later tells Tsuneo about her reading to the children and how she did it badly. She says she wants to try harder and be an illustrator.

This isn’t all that Kana does in the film. She helps Josee work with Kana to write a love story so as to convince Tsuneo to stay with his dream. Not long after, Josee is reading a story to those in the library, which she wrote to cheer up Tseuno. The story is her personal adaptation of a Little Mermaid, which had references to what happened in her relationship with her caretaker. It is something that gets him out of his funk and he claps at the end,after crying during the story. After everyone claps, and blushes at the praise, and smiles. This gives the caretaker the motivation to begin physical therapy so he can walk again. She watches him day after day as he gets better.

Although some have said that this story is “uncomfortably close” to the story where a disabled person teaches an able-bodied person an “important lesson”, I tend to side with what Anime Feminist says about it, that she is trying to inspire Tsuneo “and those around her,” assembling the community she built, even organizing a picture book reading time for her book with help of Kana. This reveals her “devotion to art and to community” and it is a difference between her first reading at the library as Josee is more “confident in her work and herself and everyone is enraptured, highlighting her growth.” [2]

Later on, Tsuneo asks Kana about Josee but she isn’t at the library and hasn’t seen her. They later reunite in the end and kiss. In a scene during the credits, the librarian tearfully embraces Josee. She appears to help her by teaching her computer skills. It is also shown that the book Josee made is used by the librarian to read to children. As a result, Kana has a more fully rounded characterization than is the case for other characters. As the film’s director, Kotaro Tamura, stated, Kana was added to the film to give character development for Josee:

…I figured out the themes that would be appropriate for a feature-length film…I thought that Josee’s only way to connect with society is through Tsuneo. That’s where Josee in this film starts off at as well. But because she starts to go out more because of Tsuneo, she makes a friend named Kana. Though it’s not a huge leap, she’s able to become a bit more sociable.

However, I would argue that Kana is much more of a character than that, through facilitating reading like the librarians in the Witches Crest Library in Somali and the Forest Spirit but not as directly as Amity Blight in The Owl House, to give two examples. As an aside, Kana’s voice actress, Lynn, is very talented, known for leading roles in Keijo!!!!!!!!, Fuuka, Engage Kiss, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, along with other roles in Märchen Mädchen, Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood, Kandagawa Jet Girls, Manaria Friends, The Aquatope on White Sand, and Oshi no Ko, to name a few.

In the future, I would like to compare this film to the original short story by Tanabe or 2003 Japanese live-action film of the same name, noting how libraries are portrayed. With that, this post comes to a close. Until next time. As always, comments are welcome.

© 2023-2024 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

Notes

[1] Osmond, Andrew. “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish fails to make a splash with a rote teen romance,” BFI, Aug. 11, 2021; Clarke, Cath. “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish review – beautiful-looking anime takes a trip to the zoo,” The Guardian, Aug. 12, 2021; Cassidy, Tom. “Josee, the Tiger and the Fish,” Common Sense Media, Jul. 29, 2022; joyousmenma93, “Firechick’s Manga Reviews: Josee, The Tiger, and The Fish,” Livejournal, Sept. 22, 2022.

[2] Zeldaru. “Overcoming Barriers: Mobility limitation; ‘inspirational’ disability; and Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish,” Anime Feminist, Aug. 26, 2022.

#AmityBlight #AnimeFeminist #atypicalLibrarians #disabledPatrons #femaleLibrarians #Hilda #informationProvider #Isomura #JapaneseLibrarians #JoseeTheTigerAndTheFish #Kaisa #LetSMakeAMugToo #LibrariansOfColor #libraryPatrons #MärchenMädchen #MsVampire #reading #SomaliAndTheForestSpirit #students #TheOwlHouse #voiceActors #wheelchairs

NHS’s leading wheelchair provider told to improve as people wait up to two years | NHS | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/may/21/nhss-leading-wheelchair-provider-told-to-improve-as-people-wait-up-to-two-years

#NHS
#Wheelchairs
#WheelchairProvider
#Wheelchair
#AJMHealthcare
#WaitingTimes
#PHSO
#ICBs
#Criteria