utterrandomness
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2012
Hey all,
Sorry if this gets a little ranty, but I just needed to get this out in a forum where people have a chance of understanding. I am a 23 year old student diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome when I was a child (though my parents didn't disclose this to me until I was older - they're mild cases of both and I manage more or less okay, though change is extremely stressful for me). I'm an academic (getting a master's degree currently) so my social awkwardness is pretty "normal" for my surroundings and people are often surprised I have Asperger's rather than just being slightly odd due to my profession. I have challenges, but I have a great partner who is very patient and always willing to explain social situations to me if I need it and is willing to tell me if I'm screwing up.
Last January (2011), I slipped on a patch of ice (living in Ottawa, Canada during a year where snow removal is considered too expensive is always fun) and injured my knee rather badly. 2 MRIs later they have determined that my patella slips (1st MRI), causing damage to the medial meniscus and the cartilage (though not the ligaments yet) because the groove in my femur is too shallow for my patella to track properly (2nd MRI). Translation: pain, all the time, especially when standing on a moving vehicle, climbing stairs and standing for long periods of time. I find the bus to be a huge challenge because I'm not old, or in a wheelchair, or on crutches. I manage with my osteoarthritis brace, but it isn't terribly visible. I often get people glaring at me or even calling me out for taking up a seat or asking for one, but it is extremely painful for me to stand. The buses here kneel for accessibility accommodation, which is hugely helpful for me in terms of not having to make a huge step getting on or jump down from the bus getting off. I have problems with the drivers on this one though, because they're apparently only supposed to do it for people with disabilities and mine just isn't obvious enough for some of them. One even screamed at me that I do not have a disability and that if I do, which he doubted, I should produce a card saying so issued by the transit company, which I would be fine doing, if the company actually issued such cards. (I now live in Kitchener, Canada; the bus company in Ottawa does in fact issue cards for priority seating). I am at my wits end about this problem, and calling the company to complain accomplishes absolutely nothing. They are planning to maybe do some accessibility training for their drivers "sometime in 2013" but are unwilling to do anything else. Although, they did tell me to get a cane (that I don't need yet) so that I "look disabled" which I found really offensive. They also told me that I could apply to use the MobilityPlus system, but those vehicles have extremely steep stairs, do not run on a schedule, and are for people who need further accommodation than the other buses can provide. The regular buses are supposed to provide all the accommodation I need if only people would believe me.
Again, sorry about the rant. I just needed to get this out.
In Disney related news, my partner and I are thinking of doing Disney World for our honeymoon, but I am concerned about being a nuisance if I can't walk for the whole day. I don't want her to have to push me in a wheelchair the whole time. I will probably need surgery in the near future, so that's a concern as well.
Sorry if this gets a little ranty, but I just needed to get this out in a forum where people have a chance of understanding. I am a 23 year old student diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome when I was a child (though my parents didn't disclose this to me until I was older - they're mild cases of both and I manage more or less okay, though change is extremely stressful for me). I'm an academic (getting a master's degree currently) so my social awkwardness is pretty "normal" for my surroundings and people are often surprised I have Asperger's rather than just being slightly odd due to my profession. I have challenges, but I have a great partner who is very patient and always willing to explain social situations to me if I need it and is willing to tell me if I'm screwing up.
Last January (2011), I slipped on a patch of ice (living in Ottawa, Canada during a year where snow removal is considered too expensive is always fun) and injured my knee rather badly. 2 MRIs later they have determined that my patella slips (1st MRI), causing damage to the medial meniscus and the cartilage (though not the ligaments yet) because the groove in my femur is too shallow for my patella to track properly (2nd MRI). Translation: pain, all the time, especially when standing on a moving vehicle, climbing stairs and standing for long periods of time. I find the bus to be a huge challenge because I'm not old, or in a wheelchair, or on crutches. I manage with my osteoarthritis brace, but it isn't terribly visible. I often get people glaring at me or even calling me out for taking up a seat or asking for one, but it is extremely painful for me to stand. The buses here kneel for accessibility accommodation, which is hugely helpful for me in terms of not having to make a huge step getting on or jump down from the bus getting off. I have problems with the drivers on this one though, because they're apparently only supposed to do it for people with disabilities and mine just isn't obvious enough for some of them. One even screamed at me that I do not have a disability and that if I do, which he doubted, I should produce a card saying so issued by the transit company, which I would be fine doing, if the company actually issued such cards. (I now live in Kitchener, Canada; the bus company in Ottawa does in fact issue cards for priority seating). I am at my wits end about this problem, and calling the company to complain accomplishes absolutely nothing. They are planning to maybe do some accessibility training for their drivers "sometime in 2013" but are unwilling to do anything else. Although, they did tell me to get a cane (that I don't need yet) so that I "look disabled" which I found really offensive. They also told me that I could apply to use the MobilityPlus system, but those vehicles have extremely steep stairs, do not run on a schedule, and are for people who need further accommodation than the other buses can provide. The regular buses are supposed to provide all the accommodation I need if only people would believe me.
Again, sorry about the rant. I just needed to get this out.
In Disney related news, my partner and I are thinking of doing Disney World for our honeymoon, but I am concerned about being a nuisance if I can't walk for the whole day. I don't want her to have to push me in a wheelchair the whole time. I will probably need surgery in the near future, so that's a concern as well.
