Top 10 Things that Annoy People who use Wheelchairs

[lizzyb5280]

Thought some of you would enjoy reading the results of this poll by the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation:

Do you know what really irks people who use wheelchairs? Following up on a lively discussion in our community here, we ran a poll to find out.

Here's the official list of the Top 10 Things that Annoy People who use Wheelchairs:
1. Able-bodied people parking in accessible parking spaces 37%
2. Accessible bathroom stalls being used by an able-bodied person 12%
3. Talking over my head as if I'm not here 9%
4. Continuing to insist on helping me after I've said no thanks 8.3%
5. Congratulating me for things like going to the grocery store like it's worthy of an Olympic medal 6.1%
6. Strangers asking what happened to me 5.7%
7. Not inviting me to an event because you are protecting me from some frustration (let me figure it out) 5.3%
8. Patting me on my head. Don't. 5.0%
9. Holding on to the back of my chair so I can't move 4.4%
10. Speaking slowly to me because I'm in a wheelchair 3.5%

Now that we have the Top Ten List, we just have to get people who are behaving badly to cut it out!

We are sharing these results far and wide this week to raise awareness and help start a conversation. I hope you will join us in this effort.

If you're using a wheelchair, tell us how you deal with rude behavior -- do you try to ignore it, correct the person nicely but firmly, make a joke?

And if you're not using a wheelchair, how would you deal with a friend who misbehaved while you were out together -- apologize for your friend, let it go but bring it up later, or ignore it, and try to display better manners in the hopes that your friend would learn from it?

Here's the original message board link:
http://communities.kintera.org/REEV...ad.aspx?msource=email&tr=y&auid=6319001#71107

 

[sorul82?]

The one thing that annoys me when we travel with MIL is when people stop right in front of her scooter.

I was pushing my DH's grandma down a ramp in Epcot and nearly took out a little kid who ran in front of us.

 

[cm8]

Thought some of you would enjoy reading the results of this poll by the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation:



Here's the original message board link:
http://communities.kintera.org/REEV...ad.aspx?msource=email&tr=y&auid=6319001#71107

I thought the accessible bathroom was for everyone,but just provided
accessibility when needed

 

[Mikeyto_96]

I have to agree with Sorul82, I can't stand it when people just suddenly stop in front of me. It does seem to be the worst when I am in a place like WDW or Six Flags, etc. Fortunately so far nobody has been rude to me about it, most everyone does apologize. I do from time to time get that "how dare you" look. I must confess that I've purposly run people over for suddenly stopping, just acted like I didn't see them.

 

[ratlenhum]

I thought the accessible bathroom was for everyone,but just provided
accessibility when needed

I always thought so too. If there is a line and there is no one waiting in a wheelchair, able bodied people should be able to use that bathroom. When someone comes in the bathroom in a wheelchair then they should get it first once it's vacant. The signs usually say "handicap accessible" not handicap only. I usually take my son in the bathroom with me and he's considered handicapped/disabled but is completely capable of using a regular stall. So which should we use? I always take the handicap stall because it gives us more room but I always look behind me to make sure there is no one in line that needs that stall.

I just think it's silly to think that in a crowded place with rest room lines that a stall will be left opened and unused just in case someone one in a wheelchair comes in at some point. If someone in a wheel chair is in that stall and another person in a wheel chair comes in, they'll have to wait a few minutes right? So what's the difference if you're waiting for an able bodied person or a handicapped person?

 

[BillSears]

I thought the accessible bathroom was for everyone,but just provided
accessibility when needed

It's all how you look at it. If the only occupied stall is the handicapped stall and the guy that comes out is able bodied I tend to give him a dirty look. If all stalls are in use the handicapped stall should be in use too.

My work has this sign on the handicapped stall.

 

[lizzyb5280]

When the BR is busy, I certainly expect that able-bodied persons will use the accessible stall as a regular stall. But as others have said, when that's the ONLY stall in use, and there's an able-bodied person coming out, they'll certainly get a bit of a look for me. I've also seen a few circumstances where only the accessible stall was out of order, which makes me wonder "what am I supposed to do now?" Esp. when it's the only bathroom in a facility.

Of the list, my vote was for people's insistence to help, even after I have politely declined. The two WORST examples of this are:

(1) pushing my wheelchair for me when I have not asked for it, and esp. continuing to push after I've told them not to. I know people are trying to be nice, and I've often heard even my mother say she's "giving me a break", but I don't necessarily want or need a break, not to mention that this lack of control is extremely bothersome to me.

(2) persistently asking if I need help taking care of my daughter. This happens most frequently when I'm changing a diaper or helping her use the potty. I mean really, she's 2 1/2, I'm sure as a SAHM I've changed thousands of diapers in that time. My ability to do so doesn't change the second I walk out my front door.

 

[cranbiz]

While I try not to use the HC accessible stall, there are times when it cannot be avoided. Remember, just because it may be the only one occupied when you got there, it may have not been the only one occupied when the person using it got there.

Several of the restrooms at work (not Disney) have one regular and one HC stall. It's common to have both occupied and it's common for one to get there to see only the HC stall occupied because the person who occupied the regular stall just left.

Giving that person a "Dirty Look" , you have just assumed that they used that stall just to inconvenience you.

 

[Enter User Name]

Here were some of my irritations-
Being used as a coat rack and bag holder by friends.
Being ignored in stores (especially shoe stores)
Store isles that are too narrow to wheel through without being "attacked" by clothes

 

[poohnpigletCA]

#8 made me spit out my coffee. "Patting me on the head. " Really, I can think of no circumstance where it is ok to pat an adult on the head. I can not believe people do that, well yes I can sometimes people just loose their minds, but really.

 

[bidnow5]

I think about that all the time I use a scooter and get upset a lot. I can't imagine how upset I would get if people did some of those things to me. My biggest issue is people that walk sideways. As you are going along side by side in a crowd for some reason some people start closing in from the side. I almost always notice them and say excuse me but once in a while one will walk right into the side of my scooter a couple of them put their foot right in front of the rear wheel and had a very sore foot after

 

[Ava]

I hate when public restrooms have the baby changing table INSIDE the HC stall (just happened to me last weekend at a baseball game). I don't normally use the HC stall unless it's the only one available & there is no one in line who needs it, but if I need the changing table and it's inside the HC stall I have no choice but to take up that stall.

 

[BillSears]

While I try not to use the HC accessible stall, there are times when it cannot be avoided. Remember, just because it may be the only one occupied when you got there, it may have not been the only one occupied when the person using it got there.

Several of the restrooms at work (not Disney) have one regular and one HC stall. It's common to have both occupied and it's common for one to get there to see only the HC stall occupied because the person who occupied the regular stall just left.

Giving that person a "Dirty Look" , you have just assumed that they used that stall just to inconvenience you.

Yep, no problem. I really don't have any problems in those situations. It's more along the lines when I walk into the bathroom here at work, roll past 4 empty stalls in an empty bathroom, go the the HC stall and there's a guy in there reading the newspaper.

If it's pretty obvious that I'm waiting outside because the guy inside wanted to and not needed to use the stall those are the times I get a bit Grumpy.

 

[kaytieeldr]

While I try not to use the HC accessible stall, there are times when it cannot be avoided. Remember, just because it may be the only one occupied when you got there, it may have not been the only one occupied when the person using it got there.

Several of the restrooms at work (not Disney) have one regular and one HC stall. It's common to have both occupied and it's common for one to get there to see only the HC stall occupied because the person who occupied the regular stall just left.

Giving that person a "Dirty Look" , you have just assumed that they used that stall just to inconvenience you.

Oh, yeah - understood in places with only two, maybe three stalls. It makes perfect sense. My previous and current jobs have eight and seven stalls, respectively, with - as in Bill's case - the handicap accessible stall being furthest from the door. I guess the architect thinks that will make it less popular/less likely to be used? ? Not so. It's generally the second most popular stall

 

[Nanajo1]

I get irritated when I follow someone into the BR and she takes the HP stal when there are others open.
I also hate it when people lean on the back of my chair . My balance is thrown off.

 

[lovetoscrap]

As we often remind others, please remember that you may have no idea if that person coming out is able-bodied or not. I look perfectly normal but depending on how my hip or my back is feeling that day or even my feet I may need the grab bars to help steady myself to get back up. If I don't have my scooter with me or left it outside the bathroom you won't realize that I was using that stall for a reason. Many people with knee, hip and back problems are fine walking around but sitting for a few minutes can make things stiffen up and need the grab bars to help them up.

But I do agree that it isn't the library nor is it a dressing room. The worst I experienced was at WDW and I had to use the hc, it was a bad day. I waited forever and could see several feet under but wasn't sure what was going on. After about 10 minutes I was just about ready to knock and tell them I really needed to get in there and the door opened. 3 adult women and about 5 kids came out. I have no idea why there were 8 people in there and what they were doing and I don't think I want to know. But I was very annoyed.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I'm with my fellow scrapper: I use a WC in the parks but am mobile enough to walk into the rest room...where I ALWAYS choose the HA stall if it is open and there is no line.. because if if I have to use a normal one.. it takes me about twice as long to stand up as they are usually situated too bloody low.

and my upper body strength sucks and I am unable to do any of my own propulsion so it's not like I could wheel myself in the restroom anyway to make it an 'official' need.

 

[blondietink]

Two thing that really irk me are when people stop in front of me when I am pushing my son's wheelchair and/or cut in front of me when I am pushing. Then they are mad at me when I hit them in the ankles. I also get very angry when the handicapped stall is taken in the bathrooms when there are many children in there with one or more adults. If there is a line, people always want to me take my turn, but I loudly say I am waiting for the handicapped stall. The people take their merry old time and 15 minutes later come out and never apologize for making us wait. The other thing is handicapped stalls that aren't big enough to fit a wheelchair in. UGH!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

To the OP: nice list, thanks for posting it! I think I've checked off every one of those, in my five years on wheels.

I thought the accessible bathroom was for everyone,but just provided
accessibility when needed

I always thought so too. If there is a line and there is no one waiting in a wheelchair, able bodied people should be able to use that bathroom. When someone comes in the bathroom in a wheelchair then they should get it first once it's vacant. The signs usually say "handicap accessible" not handicap only. I usually take my son in the bathroom with me and he's considered handicapped/disabled but is completely capable of using a regular stall. So which should we use? I always take the handicap stall because it gives us more room but I always look behind me to make sure there is no one in line that needs that stall.

I just think it's silly to think that in a crowded place with rest room lines that a stall will be left opened and unused just in case someone one in a wheelchair comes in at some point. If someone in a wheel chair is in that stall and another person in a wheel chair comes in, they'll have to wait a few minutes right? So what's the difference if you're waiting for an able bodied person or a handicapped person?

I completely understand someone using the accessible stall if there's a line; as you said, it would be daft to leave it unoccupied, and make everyone else wait longer! However, if there are other stalls available, and you can just as easily use the non-accessible ones, please do.

#8 made me spit out my coffee. "Patting me on the head. " Really, I can think of no circumstance where it is ok to pat an adult on the head. I can not believe people do that, well yes I can sometimes people just loose their minds, but really.

Oh, I've had people pat me, baby-talk me, and completely ignore me. All of them get treated with the contempt they deserve

I hate when public restrooms have the baby changing table INSIDE the HC stall (just happened to me last weekend at a baseball game). I don't normally use the HC stall unless it's the only one available & there is no one in line who needs it, but if I need the changing table and it's inside the HC stall I have no choice but to take up that stall.

Don't worry, no wheelchair user I know would ever hold this against you. It's not your fault that they put the changing table in there, and in those circumstances, you need the cubicle just as much as we do. Thank you for being so considerate though, there are many who wouldn't even think about these things

I get irritated when I follow someone into the BR and she takes the HP stal when there are others open.

Oh yes, I've had people run to get into the stall ahead of me! These are normally the people who are then in there for ten minutes (not an exaggeration). I once had two women and about four kids run to get to the stall ahead of me, so they could change the kids' out of their princess dresses. They then proceed to change their diapers on the changing table in the main restroom, in front of everyone ?!

I also hate it when people lean on the back of my chair . My balance is thrown off.

For these people, I like to sudden wheel forwards when they're not expecting it. They go flying, and I get a good laugh!

As we often remind others, please remember that you may have no idea if that person coming out is able-bodied or not. I look perfectly normal but depending on how my hip or my back is feeling that day or even my feet I may need the grab bars to help steady myself to get back up. If I don't have my scooter with me or left it outside the bathroom you won't realize that I was using that stall for a reason. Many people with knee, hip and back problems are fine walking around but sitting for a few minutes can make things stiffen up and need the grab bars to help them up.

But I do agree that it isn't the library nor is it a dressing room. The worst I experienced was at WDW and I had to use the hc, it was a bad day. I waited forever and could see several feet under but wasn't sure what was going on. After about 10 minutes I was just about ready to knock and tell them I really needed to get in there and the door opened. 3 adult women and about 5 kids came out. I have no idea why there were 8 people in there and what they were doing and I don't think I want to know. But I was very annoyed.

I'm with my fellow scrapper: I use a WC in the parks but am mobile enough to walk into the rest room...where I ALWAYS choose the HA stall if it is open and there is no line.. because if if I have to use a normal one.. it takes me about twice as long to stand up as they are usually situated too bloody low.

and my upper body strength sucks and I am unable to do any of my own propulsion so it's not like I could wheel myself in the restroom anyway to make it an 'official' need.

Don't worry, I do understand that not everyone who needs the accessible stall uses a wheelchair, and I try not to judge. I'm partially mobile myself (though that seems to be diminishing by the day ), and know what it's like to need the grab rails. I once managed to get completely stuck on a toilet at work (they're the height of those in primary schools, for goodness sakes!), and ended up wearing myself out so much trying to get up again, that I had to go home sick. I no longer try and be 'strong', and instead always use the accessible stall.


One of the 'fun' things that's not yet been fully covered, is the people who think it's OK to just shove your wheelchair out of the way, because they want to get past you . I am not an inconvenience, I am a person! I have a friend who had this happen to her while she was leaning down. Using all the strength she had, she threw herself out of the chair; landed on a postcard rack, causing an almighty crash; then yelled at the person "what the heck do you think you're doing, you freak?!". She managed not to hurt herself doing this, but I bet she made the woman think twice before doing that again!

The ones who lean over me, instead of just asking to get past me, often get comments too. I always find it highly amusing to loudly shout to my fella "Have I turned invisible again?! Because there's somebody leaning right over me, here!". He thinks I should lick people who do this, but I'm worried I might catch 'stupid'.

To all who have to put up with this cr*p - keep your chin up and keep your sense of humour; if we've got to put up with these idiots, we may as well have a good laugh at their expense

 

[ShhhQ]

I almost always leave the HC stall alone if there is another option... I do need a scooter to be able to get around WDW, but usually park it outside the br and walk in. I know I personally would be embarrassed if I was using the HC stall and someone that HAD to use it came in.
On another note, I am a Pooh-Sized person in a goofy-sized world!! I just HATE it when I go to the BR and the regular stalls are just barely wide enough for the toilet... my legs are hitting both walls of the stall and the container on the wall for those lady issue things is hitting me in the thigh... What were these designed by men??? In those situations, I am tempted to use the HC stall just because they are actually big enough for me to do my duty.

Also, my Mother uses a WC while traveling due to mobility issues but not confined to it, but when we stop at a Rest Area she leaves it in the car and walks in to the best of her ability (which after sitting in the car for a couple of hours, is less than normal) and she HAS to use the HC stall for the railings. My biggest gripe is.. why do 98% of the rest areas put the HC stall all the way down the long row of stalls to the very end... and there is usually only 1 compared to 20 regular stalls. My Mother has a hard time getting to this stall.