Friday, 24 January 2014
These are the top 10 things that really annoy me as a wheelchair user. If you have a disability I'd be interested to read your comments. If you are a walkerer what do you think of this list like what if you were out in a group and someone you were with did one of these things?
Parking in a disabled space or use a badge/card when there is no right or need to.
Like overweight people. It's not just the large though it's the lazy, the inconsiderate, the ignorant, the self entitled, etc. Yes the morbidly obese are actually allowed to get a blue badge here in the UK. The reason the disabled bays are wider is so the cripples wheelchair can be safely reformed and positioned for them to transfer into. It causes a hazard when I am in a car and am forced to alight in the path of other vehicles. They are closer to the door not so lazy people can burn less calories so the maintaining of a fat ass is even easier but so that people with mobility difficulties can reach the door without risk of collapse.
Having to register with the local government (council) that you are disabled.
What is this a Police State? Back when George Bush Jr, what a funny guy, was in charge of the most powerful nation in the world. The then US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, had a "town square test"; if you can walk to the centre of your town and publicly criticise your government without fear of arrest, you live in a free country. Britain fails that test so come and liberate this once great nation. I remember when it was called Great Britain. I wonder how many countries are actually secretly under authoritarian rule now.
Having to fumble around getting my wallet and bus card out on a bus because the jobsworth bus driver has to ensure that I am entitled to a concessionary fare despite the fact that I seem to have strange wheels sprouting from my hips.
It wastes everyone's time and the other commuters stare at me in disbelief that it takes me so long. Sorry I can't propel myself and get my wallet out. I'm not a fucking magician. I guess I should have someone with me, I get it free, right. No it's not like that because of the idiots who live off welfare (see below) who piss away the entire budget. So the local government is always out of cash for social services.
The assumption I'm jobless just because I can't walk.
It takes away my right not to be prejudged. Infact I also dislike being congratulated for menial tasks like when I am out shopping or eating at a restaurant with my wife. Who is often referred to as 'your special friend' by people who see us together.
The welfare scroungers.
I don't mean people who are temporarily out of work and who genuinely try to find jobs or the people with disabilities that are, wrongly, left out of society because of the failure of policy makers. I mean the scumbags who choose that way of life. I accept these aren't the lowest of the low there are the parasitical politicians and the aristocrats who receive stupid amounts of money as part of the Agricultural sit on your ass scheme. Wasting public funds does have a negative effect for wheelchair users. How many trains are accessible? I've only ever been on one and to be fair the only reason that the Heathrow Express is accessible is so people can use trolleys to push their luggage about. I don't consider the current situation, of having to faf around with assistance at least 24 hours in advance and strict compliance to schedules that inevitably get messed up by leaves on the line, accessible. Outside of London how many buses are truly or even partially accessible?
When walkerers use disabled toilets/elevators.
They are there for a reason. No it's not so that there is no queue, I really have no issue with waiting for a disabled person to use the facilities. However, when I've been waiting for ages and then a, typically burgundy haired, young female comes walking out adjusting her shoulder strap on her bra, it's blood boiling. Using elevators because its less effort. Is annoying not because of the unnecessary delay but because of the wear and tear the use causes to the machinery.
People who don't ask if I would like help.
I don't mean the people who just push me about without asking. It's a bit weird but their heart is in the right place. I mean the people who don't even bother to ask. The ones who just stare at you like it's some sort of street entertainment service I'm providing. "OMG it's like one of those cripples! Lets wait around for no reason to see how he manages to open that door while balancing that drink between his thighs."
Talking over my head and ignoring me.
Sometimes this happens like whenever I am with someone who is standing up. If and when they finally acknowledge I exist they will use that voice. The one usually deployed to talk to a preschooler who is as cute as a button.
When people are condescending.
It's a very judgemental world that we live in. Usually if someone doesn't know a wheelchair user directly they'll rely on prejudicial stereotypes. Like all stereotypes it will be a caricature. There is no such thing as an archetypical wheelchair user. Everyone is unique just like everyone else. Assuming you know best because your legs function within the parameters required to walk is really not a rational rationale.
Being left out.
So what if the venue isn't accessible. I'll work it out.
There are a lot more things too. I'll probably expand on this list sometime.
