tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post5623997105117689605..comments2024-02-15T00:49:12.299-08:00Comments on Rolling with the Punches: Disability Prejudice really does existSpoonydochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-83732469370003907592014-08-12T09:47:24.986-07:002014-08-12T09:47:24.986-07:00not very Christian to have a Christmas dinner in a...not very Christian to have a Christmas dinner in a non accessible venue: maybe that's because Christmas is no longer very religious?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-75579517954210617542014-08-09T15:26:50.423-07:002014-08-09T15:26:50.423-07:00Thank you so much for linking to my post!! I'l...Thank you so much for linking to my post!! I'll be sharing this :)Cara Liebowitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11860032209178249016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-28840081146947292342014-08-07T08:07:36.227-07:002014-08-07T08:07:36.227-07:00Thanks Spoonydoc. I'll most likely be a somet...Thanks Spoonydoc. I'll most likely be a sometimes wheelchair user if it comes to that--that indignant binary thinking is what I worry about the most. I was encouraged to see so many supportive comments in the Takei post's comment thread--including many who wrote that the discussion had caused them to rethink their views on disability. The trolls were outnumbered this time. Progress!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00068671443994496718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-30366533614484839552014-08-07T04:23:34.991-07:002014-08-07T04:23:34.991-07:00Hi Amy.
Please don't worry too much.
In terms...Hi Amy.<br />Please don't worry too much. <br />In terms of people, the vast majority you will meet are perfectly fine and helpful (even overly so at times!), although you may have to remind them to speak to you and not the person you are with, and may have to put up with condescending/patronising attitudes at times.<br />You will probably notice stares and such at first but to be honest you soon get used to it.<br />Unfortunately you will probably also get some of the low level impatience/anger (for instance when you politely ask people to move aside for you), but this is a minority of people. Based on my experience it certainly shouldn't happen every single time you go out. Having spoken to other disabled people it varies considerably depending on location.<br />The really nasty incidents are a very small minority and have happened a handful of times over the course of many years. I know some disabled people have never had such experiences. You might be lucky enough to be one of them.<br />The only time you may actually cause difficulties is if you only use your wheelchair sometimes and occasionally get out of it. For instance I use an electric wheelchair but can still stand and walk a few steps. When out I might occasionally stand up to get something off a shelf. I now avoid doing this as it has triggered nasty reactions in the past from people who decided I was "faking". (See link in my blog about "binarism").<br />Finally, you will have to deal with the everyday obstacles a wheelchair user has to face: silly ramps and drop curbs which don't really work, blocked pavements, ill thought out shop lay outs which prevent you from getting around, and so on and so forth. This isn't from any malice by anyone, but lack of knowledge and understanding. We can try to educate people, but in the mean time we just have to deal with it as best we can.Spoonydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530660179706960529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-5551096478221016452014-08-06T13:21:13.745-07:002014-08-06T13:21:13.745-07:00Shared to my Facebook page. This reminds me of th...Shared to my Facebook page. This reminds me of the way women who speak out about street harassment are often disbelieved by men. Similar dynamic, methinks. I'm not in a wheelchair at present, but may need one in about 10 years (due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a degenerative connective tissue disorder). Based on what I'm hearing from my fellow spoonies, I'm worried. (LOL Jacqueline, when/if the time comes, I'll definitely invest in a big hooter.)Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00068671443994496718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102063997894034497.post-35280940597132385922014-08-04T06:14:28.533-07:002014-08-04T06:14:28.533-07:00I've had them things happen/still happening to...I've had them things happen/still happening to me :( So bloody irritating as the non-disabled take offence if I politely turn away their help.<br />I haven't been on a train for years and have to go quite a way to see another specialist - and I have to take the train. Hubby will be with me but he either needs his own wheelchair or needs to use mine as some kind of walking aid. I am dreading going, it absolutely terrifies me as I don't know what kind of things I am going to face.<br />I've booked a ramp there and back and then there and back again - I only hope that they do turn up as I have no way of getting onto the train otherwise and I really do need to keep this appointment.<br />I've also decided that I'm going to invest in a larger hooter and put it on my chair - that'll teach the buggers who won't move :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06475814533210477851noreply@blogger.com