Walk A Day In Their Shoes

[CarolAnnC]

I have shared this story with friends on the Think Tank and I thought some of you might like to read about my experiences today, too. Here it is:

I have previously had the opportunity to have a close family member temporarily in a wheelchair.. two family members actually. So, I had an idea of what it was like dealing with wheelchair access. Just a little taste of it.

While I am recuperating with my broken leg, I have rented and primarily use a walker to hop with and a wheelchair for longer distances. I am still not allowed to put weight on the injured leg, so I am relying on these two pieces of equipment for mobility.

My daughter drove me today to the Dept of Motor Vehicles in our state capital in order to obtain a temporary handicapped parking permit. There were no automatic doors, so as we approached the 3 sets of double doors, she spun me around so as to pull me inside while holding the door open with her side. Neither of us could believe a young woman perhaps in her 30's stood in back of my wheelchair waiting to enter after us, so as not to have to pull open a door for herself. Never mind the fact that it would have been polite to offer to hold the door while we got inside. Kristen has only had a couple of times pushing me so far, and she is not adept at manuevering the wheelchair quite yet.

As I sat there backwards watching this woman standing right behind me, waiting to enter our door, she heaved a very loud sigh and put a disgusted look on her face. We were not moving fast enough for her. She then stomped over to the next set of double doors and opened one to enter, glaring dirty looks at us as she passed us by....

Another woman, probably well in her 70's or 80's approached us and grabbed the door from Kristen so that she could then pull me inside. God bless her...

I have no idea how people like that first woman can rationalize their behavior. I can only think that one day they may find themselves lacking mobility, or requiring assistance to get around. I have always lived by the adage of treating others as you would like to be treated yourself...

 

[Wheelsie]

I got one for ya Carol

I go to an allergist's clinic once a yr for a study group on new med try outs...seasonal allergieis and all-year-round ones like mine....

At the enterance to the building there are 3 sests of 2 doors the middle set has handi buttons for chair use.....

There has not been one time (including yesterday in mid-teen degree weather) that I have not gone to that building that I didn't have to wait on a walking person to saunter thru the doors taking their own sweet time...."hello!!! There are 2 other sets of doors for you and only 1 for me!!!!!!!!!"

Drives ya nuts don't it sis? *hug*

 

[Safari Steve]

At Haunted Mansion we have one of those automatic door wheelchair buttons on the "full of Fear" exit door... I have no idea why. You can't get into the loading hallway with a chair unless escorted by a CM, and that CM must escort you through said exit door anyhow, so they can hold it open for you. whatever...
As for the 30-something, she should choke to death on her car keys.

 

[teri]

Some day it will be her turn.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've said before that I would like to give temporary disabilities to some people just so they can see what types of problems their behavior causes for other people. I'd give that lady more than a 24 hour dose.
For each self-absorbed person you meet, there is usually one that goes out of the way to help. That's what keeps things OK.
Another hint, wheelchairs can go IN revolving doors, but they can't get out again. We found that out in a mall in downtown Minneapolis. One entrance had only revolving doors. We got into the circle of the door OK, but when you try to get out into the building, there is not room enough to get out. The only place you can get out is the same place as you got in.

 

[nancycels1953]

when i was in school, we had to each spend a day getting around downtown philadelphia
with a different disability... let me say... it was an eyeopener! some of us were assigned
to be blind, using a walker, a wheelchr, crutches etc. it amazed me just how invisible we
became!! i hate to say i am not surprised at the reactions u encountered, but i am
saddened.

 

[mamajoan]

I would like to see this moved to the CB... because it would be wonderful for others without disabilities to see a great thread like this one.
Moderators, what do you think??

 

[s&k'smom]

Hi CarolAnn K wow what a story. It's amazing. They just had a thread on the CB board about rude people, it was absolutely amazing what some people will do. My favotire for me is when my PDD son has a meltdown and I get the "can't she control him look" . Or even better if he's somewhere and their is an issue between kids they automatically look at my kid first because he has a diagnosis and know what? Most of the time it's not him. Maybe we could have a National Try A Disability Day or Try to Be the parent/signifigant other of a person with a disability day?

 

[SueM in MN]

We have had this same subject addressed on other boards before and it often gets into a "let's dis people with disabilities" thread, where people complain that people with disabilities are getting all the "good" parking spots, etc. I'm willing to bring it up with the other mods to bring over to another board if other posters think they want to go there.