Bus boarding etiquette w/ wheelchair

[bex271]

Here's a suggestion for any educators out there: It would be great if you could add to the curriculum how to relate to people in wheelchairs, deaf people, blind people, etc. Just the other day, someone wrote to Dear Abby about going to dinner with her disabled friend, and the waiter asking her "What would she [her friend] like?" I think a lot of people are well intentioned, but don't know the appropriate thing to do or say. (Not that the lady who wouldn't move was well intentioned, but such a class might give her kid a clue.) It would be great to have disabled speakers, so students could see that they are just like them.

don't mean to highjack but just wanted to say. There are schools that do that out there, my son goes to an elementary school that has the special needs preschool, my son has treacher collins, so he looks different from the other kids and has a trach and uses a wheelchair. The week before he started the school counselor (with our permission of course) went to the different classes and talked to them about jonah so they would know how to respond and talk to him. Since then jonah has made some friends and they have learned how to deal with disabled people. so there is hope out there. I just wish every school would do that.

becca

 

[Sazuburns]

I think people are very understanding about boarding the wheelchairs first. It is done for practical and safety reasons, and it would probably take much longer to secure the chairs if there were crowds of people in the way.

I also think that the 'Disney Spirit' infuses people, even at the end of a long and tiring day. I remember one incident from the last time we were at WDW. My husband was boarding the bus on his ECV and I had my 4 year old fast asleep in my toddler's stroller and my toddler fast asleep in a baby carrier on my back. I was trying to get my elder child out of the stroller so that I could fold it up, and immediately someone in the line came and took him for me and someone else took the stroller and folded it and carried it onto the bus for me. People were so nice, and most people are very considerate.

Sarah x

 

[Michigan]

I think people are very understanding about boarding the wheelchairs first.

Then you must not visit the other parts of the DISboards because the arguing gets pretty heated because wheelchair board first. It even got so bad it was on the budget board.

 

[SueM in MN]

Most people are nice, but those few who are clueless and cruel stick in your mind.

You will find complaints about people with wheelchairs boarding the bus on almost any thread about transportation on the DIS Boards. The thing I have noticed more recently is that when people are writing to complain about wheelchair users boarding the buses first, there are more people who know the facts and are correcting them. It used to be only a few people from this board posting on those threads, but it is becoming more people who have read things that were posted by people from this board and are repeating them.
Signs of progress.

There are programs for teaching kids about disabilities in school; one is called Count Me In and is from the PACER Center in Minnesota. Schools/Organizations in other areas can purchase the puppets and scripts from the PACER Center.

 

[BroganMc]

This older woman and her daughter (30 ish) were standing at our table. She asked if I was okay. She said she, her daughter and her grandchildren were in the crowd that morning at the Jedi Training. She said she heard everything that was happening, and she had thought of us all day. She saw us sitting across the restaurant and wanted to come over to make sure we were okay.

Did you ever think that maybe the very reason you encountered such an insensitive person that morning was because it was a method of educating all those innocent spectators around you?

I got goosebumps reading your story because it was such an opportunity for people to learn what we with disabilities face. And part of that is abject prejudism from the truly ignorant. Many people like to believe that the disabled are treated fairly, but there are times when they are treated little better than those old Roman babies left on the hill to die.

As to your original question, I've felt a quiver of guilt on occasion but then I found myself waiting an extra 5-10 minutes to be let off the bus at the end. So it does measure equally overall. I can't say I've encountered truly bad bus behavior. People seem much more understanding and I'm quick with the wisecracks. (It's hard to hate someone who makes you laugh.) My encounters happen more at standing-room only shows. But alas then it's more a matter of people not realizing just who is behind them.

 

[misshilda1]

I cannot believe a grown woman would push a child out in the first place but one with special needs. Oh my Gosh I have spent a little time in a wheelchair from a spinal injury and surgery and I people are so insensitive and take for granted their blessing but to turn and say something about your child being in a wheelchair I would have stomped her. What a B---H.I know howyou feel about the loading and unloading bus thing. Go and put your son on that bus load with him and don't you give those others a second glance. If they are cursing you under their breathe well that is their problem if they can live with it then fine.I know when you ahve a special need beacsue I have before and thank God it was not permanent you don't want special treatment just the same opportunity as everyone else and that is exactly what you and your family deserve. You paid for the same advantages they did and their are some you won't be able to use so take the ones you can. I am so sorry some ignorant,sorry excuse for a woman said that to you and especially to where your son could hear her. Tell you son that he is very special and that he brightens and inspires others along this journey of life and people are jealous because they don't have the special purpose he does..Have a great trip and don't worry about what others think and say as long as your following the rules and being fair then tell then to jump in the lake...

 

[darlak]

I am blessed to have healthy children who have never needed a wheelchair and that neither I nor my DH have either. We don't mind waiting for wheelchairs to load first and my children have never complained about it either. I just wanted you to know that for every idiot who makes an insensitive, hurtful statement, there are many others who don't would never do that.

My girls and I were leaving AK one night near the end of EMH. When we got to our bus stop, there was no else there or at any of the nearby bus stops. There was a wheelchair sitting in the chair loading area. (I think it was a service type wheelchair.) Anyway, it HAD been a long day and no one else was around, so I went and sat in the wheelchair. As EMH ended and the waiting line grew, I got up to stand at the front of the line with my DD's, who had been waiting there. Well, the bus came, we loaded and left. On the bus ride back to our resort, an older woman leaned over to me and actually said, "It was so nice of you to get up when other people got in line. I don't know why everybody in wheelchairs can't be that considerate." I was stunned. I quickly told her "Maam, I was just sitting there. That wheelchair was there when I got there. Most people wouldn't have the option of getting up. If they could walk, they wouldn't be in the wheelchair at all." Her response was "Huumph, well I'm not so sure about that." My daughters and I were just stunned. I also believe that my DD's, sweet kids even before that incident, are now even more considerate of others with disabilities. They do have an older sister with a profound hearing loss, so be forewarned, don't EVER use the term "deaf mute" or God forbide, "deaf and dumb" within ear shot of them!

 

[mrsksomeday]

My b/f is in a power wheelchair and we do get looks sometimes when the bus driver goes to load him first. Then they see how quickly he can get into place and I show the bus drivers where to put the tie downs. This year I am going to place something lime green on the appropriate places to put the tie downs so the bus driver isn't wondering where to put them.

 

[Talking Hands]

They do have an older sister with a profound hearing loss, so be forewarned, don't EVER use the term "deaf mute" or God forbide, "deaf and dumb" within ear shot of them!

Those terms just send a chill up my back. I hate to hear the terms but realize most people that use them are just ignorant and need to be educated. They may have never met a person who is deaf. And the hard of hearing they meet are late deafened and very oral and wouldn't think of using sign language to communicate so they can't be used as examples.
I actually got at last night because I didn't put my hand up when all were asked who is deaf. I am actually hard of hearing but my deaf group told me flatly that I am Deaf even if I am hardf of hearing and an interpreter.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I am blessed to have healthy children who have never needed a wheelchair and that neither I nor my DH have either.

Just FYI, and I know you probably didn't mean that the way it sounded, but not all folks with disabilities are unhealthy. I am a very healthy paraplegic, just need a wheelchair to get around.

 

[darlak]

Just FYI, and I know you probably didn't mean that the way it sounded, but not all folks with disabilities are unhealthy. I am a very healthy paraplegic, just need a wheelchair to get around.

Thanks for being so nice about it. I didn't mean for it to be taken that way. One of my dearest friends is a paraplegic so I certainly do realize that not all people in wheelchairs are unhealthy. I meant that I'm very blessed to have children who are healthy AND not in need of a wheelchair.

 

[chaoscent]

Wow, what a nice thread. Even when someone was pointing something out that could have been misconstrued it was done in a positive way. I read this thread because I am going to need an ECV to get around in Sept. I rented at the BWV so I can ride to Epcot, MGM and even MK (ride through Epcot to the monorail to MK). I will be by myself for most of the week. I will get a ride to AK but will have to take the bus back. I was considering not going to AK because I would have to use the bus. I can walk, but not for long periods. I didn't want to deal with the "looks" and was wondering how to handle them. Thanks for those who gave good advice in this thread.
MightyMom - Your son is lucky to have an advocate such as you. & hopefully many people in the crowd learned something valuable that day.
At the end of the day, it's all about who we are, what we have learned and what we did to make the world a little bit brighter, if only for one person?
Penny