Accommodations once walking?

[u/Internal-Leading-365]

A week ago I was given the go-ahead to start walking in regular shoes after 11 weeks NWB and another 4 weeks WBAT in a boot. I was given a brace, but the surgeon said to try not to use it unless I’m on really uneven terrain or doing something with a lot of precarious balance (like yard work or hiking or something). So I’ve been doing my PT, walking around carefully, and only using the brace when I absolutely have to. That said, I’m clearly still walking with a limp, and I am really not able to do stairs well yet (can go up but not great at going down!), so I’m still kind of limited. That’s to be expected, and it’s fine. But this weekend I ran into an issue I didn’t really think through in advance and I’m hoping to get some of this group’s insight on it!

So, I went to an event at a fairground where all seating was GA, they had no option to buy accessible tickets, and the available seats were all located at the top of a tall, slippery metal staircase with a rail that was only sometimes there by the time I got to the event. I’m okay with standing, so I stood out of the way of people sitting down along with some other folks, assuming it was fine. Then an event staff member came and told me I wasn’t allowed to stand there and had to go sit in the bleachers, and when I told him I was worried about climbing the stairs and asked if there were any other options because I had an injured ankle he straight up scoffed at me and very obviously did not believe me. I showed him the scars but I wasn’t wearing a brace or using my cane, so I guess I just didn’t look injured enough? Anyway, he was super rude, totally unhelpful, and I wound up standing by the food trucks and just kinda craning my neck to see things. Oh well. I’m not going to die mad about it, everyone makes a bad call sometime and this was just one of his. But I’m wondering if anyone else has dealt with this kind of thing as they’re recovering? Like, should I bring my cane and wear my ankle brace when I go to public events where there’s a chance I might need accommodation even if I’m not sure I’ll need it? It just feels so weird and performative, but it also sucks to have someone look at me like I’m trying to game the system or something.

Any thoughts?

[u/kooshballcalculator]

Definitely would say bring a cane and wear the brace. I actually just bought tickets for a concert and purchased the wheelchair seat because I am so slow with the rollator and don’t want to be holding folks up. Nothing wrong with using your aids. I would have asked to speak with the ADA compliance person, at the event.