Disability laughs in a mobility scooter

GlasweJen

Not a mobility scooter laugh but I love it when people mumble so that I can't hear them or read their lips. After asking them to repeat themselves a few times they'll snap "are you deaf?!". My new reply is yes, do you have a speech problem?

andrew71

When I first got my scooter we went to the Trafford Centre and we decided to go into the revamped M&S there. I was backing up to get out of a tight corner when I banged into a pillar. A large chunk of plaster came off when I moved away. Needless to say we got out of there sharpish.

Been in supermarkets when little [STRIKE]brats [/STRIKE] have ran out in front of us. Ooh how I've wanted to run them over

Emmylou_2

I sometimes use a shopmobility powerchair (rather than a scooter - just a personal thing).

I was in Asda one time, just doing the food shopping with best mate. She had the trolley, I was just pootling round at my own (rather slow - I like looking for bargains!) pace. We were in the ham aisle and, having chosen our meat, decided to move on. Except I couldn't. Because a man had decided to stop and chat to someone he knew. Normally that wouldn't be an issue, but he'd decided to have a little rest. On the arm of my powerchair.

He was not a happy bunny when I made him move (having asked nicely and been ignored, I got best mate to clear the path ahead and just "floored" it). It was quite heh some!

lyniced

I get lots of kids looking at me in supermarkets etc, saying to their mums 'can I have one of those' - mums say (under their breath) 'don't stare and point - its rude'. Then they drag their offspring away. Quite honestly I don't mind kids saying things like that, cos I love my little scooter - it gives me independence and it really doesn't bother me. What does bother me (and only because I think they'll come of worse) is when mums (or dads) let their children run riot around the shop and often run into my path.

easy

sunnyone wrote: »

People are rightly denied from public transport etc. because scooters are dangerous

point number 1 - People are .... denied from public transport - No they are not. The tram system around nottingham accommodates scooters quite happily.

point number 2 - People are rightly denied from public transport - actually I don't think it is at all right to deny scooters from being used on trains etc. I can walk, but not very far. I would love to be able to load my small folding scooter onto a train then go to sit in a seat, so that I could take my son to London for a day trip like any other mother. I don't understand why this is not possible - don't cyclists get to load their bikes onto trains ??

point number 3 - scooters are dangerous - NO THEY ARE NOT. I accept that some people operate them in a careless manner, but the VAST majority of scooters are driven carefully and safely. Scooters in themselves are NOT dangerous, like cars and lorries. I have a driving license and manage to drive a Renault Megane, I am definately NOT a danger to the population on my mobility scooter.

GRRRR

easy

Can I post a "non-scooter but disabled" one ??

I was in a very busy posh farm shop, on crutches - post some surgery I think - I had made my purchases and was just headed out to my car, when a lady grabbed my shoulder, nearly knocking me down with the impact.
As I struggled to keep my balance carrying my carrier bag of things, she said "oooh you don't want to go out there dear.. there are cars out there, you might get hurt. Now who is SUPPOSED to be looking after you?" and she gazed round, looking for my carer. She had just drawn breath ( I think to shout out "who should be looking after this person"), when I gained my composure and said

"Excuse me, would you let go. I know there are cars out there, it's a car-park. Now if you don't mind, I need to go out to MY car so I can get home to cook dinner for my husband and son".

The poor woman looked sooooo shocked. As her chin hit the floor, I moved on as quickly as possible, and went to get in my car. I was seething for a few minutes, but by the time I got home I could see the funny side.

I'm sure that poor lady must still go cold with embarassment when she remembers the incident.

fiendishly

easy wrote: »

point number 1 - People are .... denied from public transport - No they are not. The tram system around nottingham accommodates scooters quite happily.

point number 2 - People are rightly denied from public transport - actually I don't think it is at all right to deny scooters from being used on trains etc. I can walk, but not very far. I would love to be able to load my small folding scooter onto a train then go to sit in a seat, so that I could take my son to London for a day trip like any other mother. I don't understand why this is not possible - don't cyclists get to load their bikes onto trains ??

point number 3 - scooters are dangerous - NO THEY ARE NOT. I accept that some people operate them in a careless manner, but the VAST majority of scooters are driven carefully and safely. Scooters in themselves are NOT dangerous, like cars and lorries. I have a driving license and manage to drive a Renault Megane, I am definately NOT a danger to the population on my mobility scooter.

GRRRR

spot on, Easy. Well said

Molly41

formaldehyde_perfume wrote: »

I take my dog out with me a lot, he is only small but he is quite protective of me so it makes me feel safer to have him around; a lot of people ask me if he rides on it with me (he doesn't).

Molly dog will always ride on my knee during her walk. Its her preferred method of transport. She sits looking down at her doggy friends but never jumps down. She will walk about half and then keep hanging back and pawing me to get up. She is a sight to behold and causes a lot of comments about how lazy she is:T:T:T

My mobility scooter is fantastic. Like everyone I have had my fair share of smelly bums and crotches and being whacked in the face with handbags. I also say Sorry a lot because I seem to get in the way.:eek::eek::eek: My youngest always asks if we are going hare or tortoise (on the speed dial) as regards speed and it has stuck as a family saying.

formaldehyde_perfume

It's not a story to laugh about, and it isn't directly related to a mobility scooter but it is a positive thing (but I didn't think it deserved it's own thread) and I thought it might be nice to share good news rather than problems, as is the spirit of this thread..

Anyway.. A while ago I registered myself as having 'difficulty using books' at my local library because of my dyslexia, there was the option that I could be registered under 'housebound' but with my mobility scooter I can get in to town if I'm feeling well enough so I didn't opt for that. I thought it was great because I could now get audio books for free, so that was very pleasing. Since then I've been put on a new pain killer which I'm pretty sure has caused me some memory loss and forgetfulness, I've been forgetting all sorts of appointments and things, one of which just occured to me as my audio book was overdue by over a week and I had that horrible punched-in-the-gut feeling that I'd get a big fine etc but when I logged on to my account I saw there was no fee, I thought this might be a mistake so I looked on the web and found that I don't have to pay any late fees on anything because of my 'difficulty with books' classification :rotfl: So inadvertantly they have actively not punished me for my disability (without the disability i wouldn't be on the meds and would have my normal memory) and it means that I don't have to try and get down to town today and hand it back as I'm not really well enough to leave the house today.

It's only a little thing, but I am very pleased.

formaldehyde_perfume

Molly41 wrote: »

Molly dog will always ride on my knee during her walk. Its her preferred method of transport. She sits looking down at her doggy friends but never jumps down. She will walk about half and then keep hanging back and pawing me to get up. She is a sight to behold and causes a lot of comments about how lazy she is:T:T:T

My mobility scooter is fantastic. Like everyone I have had my fair share of smelly bums and crotches and being whacked in the face with handbags. I also say Sorry a lot because I seem to get in the way.:eek::eek::eek: My youngest always asks if we are going hare or tortoise (on the speed dial) as regards speed and it has stuck as a family saying.

Some people tell me I'm mean for not letting him on my scooter! The truth is he doesn't want to be on there.. and he doesn't fit, he's a jack russell type terrier but it's a small foldable scooter so he would feel a bit squished on the foot plate.

When we first got him he was 10 months old and he would sit on my lap for long journeys (over a mile, say) as he has 'queen ann' legs and the rescue centre said he shouldn't do long walks or stairs until he was fully grown, to stop any further progression of his leg problem.. And also if I'm in a hurry on a hot day like we've been having then I will put him on my lap as it's not fair on him to make him run in the heat. People smile at him a lot more when he's on my lap, his facial expression is so funny and just pure bliss when we're on 'hare' mode .. But if we're going normal walking speed he likes to walk so he can sniff about and pee up things.

I wish I knew how to put photos up on here, he'd get such an 'awwwwwwwwwww' from everyone. To me he is just my dog, but everyone else seems to melt at his good looks, and I will admit he does excellent puppy dog eyes that make you smile, however naughty he has been.