Most days an outsider might not see my disability: MS is that way in its unpredictability and ever-changing physical symptoms.
My burning and tingling fingers are the main obstacle I face every single day. That means extra energy is spent on trying to open ziplock bags, separating thin pieces of paper, turning pages in magazines, texting on a small device, opening the child-proof medicine bottles, picking up small items from a flat surface, and opening lids of any kind. I notice doors that require two hands to open, uneven elevation in sidewalks, and cars that are parked across the walking paths. Yup, the list goes on and on.
To underscore this, more products seem to be in inaccessible packaging and requiring a lot of fine motor dexterity and strength to open and assemble. Does one really need to carry around a tool kit for opening such bags, boxes, and bottles?
We have to create our own accommodations on most days:
-scotch tape picks up items from a flat surface or helps open ziplock bags
-ask senders to use that separate texts or emails be used as scrolling through long posts takes coordination and time
-jar openers such as a wet dish rag sometimes help open a jar of pickles
-texting with a pencil end works but takes a steady hand
-asking the pharmacist to open the bottle gets me my medications
-a grab stick can pick up something that has fallen under a table or rolled away
People with MS are crafty and resourceful in order to live in this world of shrinkwrap and tight packaging, yet one would think that product designer might consider the aging population and how to keep all individual independently living.
MS Fortunate 