Thursday 13 October 2011

the world from a wheelchair ...

I just thought I would write about what it is like going out and about in a wheelchair. I hope that it will make some people think about how they treat people in wheelchairs and also those who are pushing them. I will start off by saying about accessibility. There are many places that I cannot go now because they do not have access they just have stairs and a lot of them. I cannot do stairs. Maybe one step is okay I can just about be pushed up one step in my chair. Any more is just too much for my carer to do. Some places do not have stairs still do not have suitable access as their walkways are to narrow and there is not enough room to manoeuvre a wheelchair.

he main problem I have though is not with accessibility but it is with people's attitudes. I despise it when I go into a shop with my carer and the person who is serving on the till just ignores me and speaks to my carer instead even if it is me who is making the purchase. How patronising is that? Back when I was able-bodied when a disabled person came into my shop in a wheelchair I would never ignore them and I would serve them or ask them who was paying. It is not hard and I wish people would treat me like this now. I have been in restaurants and the waiters have asked my carer's what I want. '' What is she having?'' And my carer's just say '' why don't you ask her?'' I have heard of people in wheelchairs being patted on the head and their carers  or partners being asked,'' can they talk?'' What makes people think they have the right to speak and act to somebody like that? Why do people think they need to speak down to me and patronise me? My legs and body might not work but my head is fine.

And to continue with my moaning and you other people reading this who are in wheelchairs will understand this moan. Maybe the same thing has happened to you. Those of you who have babies in prams will also know what I mean. This one is about when you go into a shop in a wheelchair or pushing a pram and other customers start tutting,huffing and puffing because in their opinion you are in the way and should not be allowed to go into such places. It is the same when you go into restaurants and pubs and people give you dirty looks when you go in and try to get past them. Maybe they think  people with disabilities should just be locked away and not seen in public.

There are some benefits though but I would much rather be able to use my legs. They are that I get to use disabled parking. I can have a carer come to the cinema with me for free. I get to queue jump in some places. And I guess that I always have a seat. Anyway I hope you've enjoyed reading my complaining. Helps me feel better anyway. Let me know what you think. X

4 comments:

  1. I feel for you ! My mum was wheel chair bound for years before she passed away but she luckily had a great outlook and she was happy that she had people who loved and cared for her and she didn't care what anyone else thought apart from the people she knew and those who dont judge ! She just loved spending time with loved ones and feeling the sun and wind on her face,talking and laughing.

    Reading this was how i felt when i took mum out for the first few times as i was concious and protective over her and i mean it when i say i would have gone to war with anyone who judged the strongest , kindest most fun person i knew just because of a physical disability !

    I heard some lads say something once and without really thinking about it i had one of them up against the shop window in a flash ! To hear my mum scream at me to leave him alone then she sat me down and told me just to "ignore the arseholes in life Stuart! Its not always easy, but the more you concentrate on the good people in life and not the bad, the more you will love the life you live " .

    This is the advice i pass to you from her . Stay strong and you will get through anything life and arseholes can throw at you !

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  2. Hi Emily, Stu's right, but having just read back through a few of your posts you sound like quite a fighter to me :)
    Many years ago I worked as a carer for a lady with cerebral palsy, from things I experienced with her I totally understand what you are talking about in this post.
    People in wheel chairs are invisible to some until they're in the way.

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  3. thank you for the comments I find them really encouraging. :) XX

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  4. Hi Emily. I'm your new follower from Australia. You write really well and I'm looking forward to reading more. Thank you for blogging.

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