Accessibility
A rebel on the road
Most of you already know your trigger points but sometimes it helps to see someone else’s list. So I tried to make a list and include things I might not use but I know people who use this or would benefit from these items/ actions.
To prevent myself from overloading due to an overwhelming sensory input I take a few items with me and I make a list of what things I can do to calm my nerves.
Extra: read someone suggesting a (mini) spraybottle and a fan.
Items:
- Medication
- Bottle of water.
- Eye Mask.
- Sunscreen.
- Hard Candy. something that keeps you occupied and gives you a focus at the same time, it helps me as well to relieve the pressure in my head because it will help to open up the Eustachian tube.
- Earplugs, loops, headphones or something else to help you in the auditory field. I use the music version where I can listen to my music, which is a safe well known spot and gives me something to focus on. And make a playlist with comforting music.
- Fidget. Keep something to help you focus or to use as an emotion regulator. For some it is something to do, for others it can be a plushie and someone else might feel more happy with a stress ball.
- Sunglasses. Even if the sun is not shining bright clouds, colorful clothing, flashing cameras, glaring waterpools might still give a lot of input.
- Hat or cap. So many reasons.
- A list of nearby toilets. (Digitally) There are apps like “hogenood” to help you find toilets and their specifics like price, wheelchair accessibility etc. but if the cell towers are overwhelmed it helps to have the data pre researched and available when needed. Take a screenshot for example.
- A small bag of non obtrusive smells. I use dried lavender but other natural smells like lemon rind or herbs work the same way. If too much perfume is around me it can surely make me overload.
- Clean and/ or dry clothes, last time law enforcement used water cannons
- SOS card. With relevant information about you, contacts and specifics about your disabilities.
Actions:
- Plan ahead. Don’t have a lot of energy? Take some days off ( social media, work, the organization… ) in advance and afterwards. Book a spa or anything else that will help you relax. Know your limit.
- Make a commitment with yourself and a buddy. I know I don’t have the energy to get arrested so I won’t do anything high risk. Or maybe your neurodivergent brain is inside a young healthy (looking) male body and police might see that as an invitation to use you as an “example” so make your first priority yourself and speak those priorities.
- Take a buddy. Go with somebody who knows your signs, you can tell them your signs if you don’t know them yet or you can tag a friend along. Some people will retreat in themselves and get silent while others will do everything they didn’t want to do or get really loud.
- Retreat. Not being surrounded on all sides by people. For me the back of the area or the side is sometimes enough already.
- Close off, go away, sit down, use the sensory limiters and focus on breathing.
- Go to a Small cafe for some coffee and rewind, judge if the day was too much or if after a break the energy is back up.
- Sometimes it can be enough to close your eyes and try to let everything wash over you and find yourself as a rock in the middle of a raging river. Find the calm inside yourself, take a few deep breaths.
- App. Use someone you know and is informed to talk to. To bring the focus away from the overload and to one point like your talking-partner. Even if you have a buddy it might help to still have someone else as a backup as well. Or if too much noise is preventing speech, chats might help you communicate.
- Empty your phone screen of non necessary apps so only useful apps are visible.
A12 action
Legenda
Black: End of the Utrechtse baan
Light purple: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate
Dark purple: Temporary housing for the house of representatives
Red: Malietoren
Green: Support location
Orange: Station ( upper left central station, down right Voorburg)
Extra explanation
Station Voorburg, halfway the perron is an elevator. On the photo ( sorry for the Dutch) you can see where the people walking in the protest mars gathered behind the small builiding is on a small elevation, you can enter this with the ramp slightly to your right when you leave the elevator. The entire mars is following a route which is accesible for anyone joining the mars. Everything is on the sidewalk and where the mars crosses the street this is at spots meant for crossing and these spots are leveled so you can use it with a wheelchair as well.
Central station. If you want your route to be as short as possible try to be as far as possible in the front of the train ( looking at the driving direction) The station itself is entirely leveled. The perrons are just extensions of the station. Attention: the square outside, in front of the station, is under construction so you will be directed around this construction.
From central station everything is as good as leveled but bikers drive like “they own the place”
From central station to the Malietoren ( above the tunnel) is a sidewalk and a cycling path that are almost level with eachother. The cycling path and the road for cars are separated with obstructions. At each crossing these obstructions are leveled. From Malietoren to the end of the Utrechtse baan the road for cars is between cyclingpaths with green to the side, in the west ( in this direction left) is the Malieveld and in the east ( in this direction right) is het Haagse bos. On both sides the cycling path is obstructed with pathing blockers to separate the road for cars with the cycling paths.
For people coming with a car, there are special parking spots when you have the correct parking permit. You can search for spots on this map:
Attention!
From the website of Den Haag:
*You are allowed to park your car for free at the general parking spots for disabled parking with a European disabled parking permit. Place your permit behind your windscreen.
*In parking garages there are special spots for disabled parking but they are not for free and have the same fee as normal parking spots.
*With your parking permit you are allowed to park on spots with a parking prohibit. These places are marked with the E1 Sign (https://www.verkeersbordenoverzicht.nl/#E) Your car is allowed to stay here for a 3 hour maximum. Place clearly visible a parking disc next to your parking permit.