On this blog, I write a lot about little things that one-handed people have to adjust to doing, like pulling my hair up into a pony tail or typing on a computer.
Recently, a few new everyday things have come to my attention as being easy for two-handed individuals but an unnecessary struggle for someone like me.
A funny one that I’m guessing many people don’t realize is putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. For most people, this is a no brainer. You hold the toothbrush in place, squeeze some toothpaste over the top. Simple.
Well, without the hand to steady the toothbrush, I occasionally knock it over, getting toothpaste smeared on my bathroom counter. It doesn’t really bother me. I just wipe it off and resume brushing my teeth. But it can get frustrating, especially if the toothbrush falls onto the floor. It’s not as easy to clean up toothpaste off a rug.
Another issue I recently ran into though was a much bigger annoyance and potentially could be a big problem for hand or arm amputees. The windows in my boyfriend’s downtown Indianapolis apartment were designed without amputees in mind. If you don’t have two hands, good luck opening one.
There are three locks on one window — two on the bottom that need to be lifted up before the glass will budge and one on the top that needs to be pushed over to get the window above a certain level.
On Friday, the windows and I battled. Luckily, I won (after several tries).
In my first few attempts, I struggled to slide my left arm underneath the bottom locks. It’s also too weak to keep the top lock pushed to the side. I walked away at one point, thinking I was doomed to be in a stuffy apartment until my boyfriend with two hands returned. I texted my frustration to him. Who would make windows like this?!
I stared down the window and convinced myself I wasn’t going to lose this fight. It was hot in the room, and I wanted the fresh air. I wiggled my arm under the bottom lock and pushed it up, hoping it would slide over the ledge and allow my shoulder to inch the glass higher.
Fortunately, I conquered the first step and pushing the top latch to the right with my right hand and continuing to nudge the glass with my shoulder was successful. Fresh air at last.
Obviously, I was thrilled I managed to do it, but it’s upsetting that I had to work that hard at it. I thought about what would happen if I moved into one of these apartments — would I be stuck having to fight with my windows every time I wanted one open or relying on a two-handed friend to come help me? How many other apartments have windows like this? Does anyone realize the problem with these for amputees?
I’m a little worried about what the answers to those questions are. While I can’t change the type of window installed in every rental unit, I can be more cautious when apartment hunting. I never thought I needed to view a potential home through the eye of a one-handed person, but I realize it’s in my best interest to pay attention to these things. I’m pretty sure no one wants to be responsible for opening and closing my windows, and anyone who knows me knows that I wouldn’t want that either.
Lindsey Erdody 