Things Disabled People Hate

Having a disability can bring its own challenges and it makes life interesting. However, what makes it difficult is not the disablity in itself, but other people. Able-bodied people often have the best intentions, but more often than not they can be rather judgemental, and sometimes just outright rude!

For example, the other day I was out with my son, getting some shopping and we are minding our own business. When out of nowhere, a lady starts pushing me! I slam on the breaks and tell her to stop, she lets go. And then proceeds to continue! This time I'm really angry and I yell at her, my seven year-old throws her a dirty look. This isn't the first time this has happened and sadly I know it wouldn't be the last. You wouldn't grab a stranger's hand in the street, so why would you grab someone's wheelchair? Sometimes I wonder if I could legally get these people charged with assualt, afterall its an extension of my body and its very personal to me

Speaking of wheelchairs? It is currently 2021, why do we still have inaccessible buildings? That new shop on the high street with the large step? You might as well have a sign in the window saying 'Wheelchair users aren't welcome'. An example of this is my local Vodafone store, I can't get in the shop without help and I'm sure when they see me struggling to get in and out they must feel guilty. Not enough to actually fix the problem of course, that would be crazy.

Speaking of problems, me being disabled isn't one of them and I wish more people would realise that. The amount of random people on the street that have tried or said that I can be healed is laughable. They seem to think that I'd be happy if I could walk, well I can't walk and I am happy so what is there to fix? Besides, while GOD and Jesus can perform miracles they aren't handed out like parking fines. Wouldn't that be something?

Yes, life in a wheelchair has its downsides, but most problems can be easily fixed if able-bodied people actually gave us a second thought. Like maybe minding your own business and not invading our personal space, not assuming things, and actually taking a moment to think, or better yet ask what we would find helpful in our daily lives. Most people in society are so focused on their own lives, they often don't stop to think about other people. If someone took a moment to think of others and ask themselves, what can I do? How amazing would the world become?

Ask any able-bodied person and most would say that society has made great improvements to understand and support disabled people. In some ways that is true, however, while we may not longer be locked away and openly sneered at, doesn't mean that things aren't perfect. Far from it, disabled people and those closest to them know that deep down not enough is being done to support and protect disabled people.

Many disabled people are unable to work, or like myself - very limited in what we can do. Yet, disability benefits are often cut or taken away all together. Imagine someone's only form of independence is an adapted car. Now imagine the government calls you to attend an assessment to see if you still need that support. This is often done by someone with little medical training and they often have no idea about that person's condition, but they decide you aren't disabled enough and take away your much needed car. Leaving you stuck in your home, independence gone.

Maybe one day things will change, I hope to see it in my lifetime. It has to start with people's attitudes and their ability to be more open minded when it comes to disabled people.