In my mobility scooter yesterday

jblack_2

Anubis wrote: »

You will also get some that feel that just because you are disabled, you should not be given preference.

Without meaning to come across as 'Anti-disabled' (Believe me I am not) it's comments like this that simply widen the divide between the able and disabled.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

jblack wrote: »

Without meaning to come across as 'Anti-disabled' (Believe me I am not) it's comments like this that simply widen the divide between the able and disabled.

Don't you think that being shouted at and abused for daring to be there shows there's a pretty flaming big divide at times already?

jblack_2

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Don't you think that being shouted at and abused for daring to be there shows there's a pretty flaming big divide at times already?

I'm not disputing that and agree what happened is awful. However, when you have people implying that the disabled should be given preference over others it's no wonder there is a pretty flaming big divide. Isn't it all about trying to make those with disabilities equal to others?

victory

I don't see myself as different to them, I certainly have more challenges but in my mind I don't see it as me disabled - you over there able, I just see it as I need a bit more help and they don't it is not a divide in my mind it is what it is, I would not wish it on my worst enemy and they need to lighten up and see the whole big picture

Molly41

jblack wrote: »

I'm not disputing that and agree what happened is awful. However, when you have people implying that the disabled should be given preference over others it's no wonder there is a pretty flaming big divide. Isn't it all about trying to make those with disabilities equal to others?

Far from being given preference, we are treated like second class citizens. We are disadvantaged in so many ways. In small ways - I cant go and buy the offers that are on sale at M&S because I cant reach them and able bodied people push and shove. In large ways - Im disadvantaged because I cant walk very far, very quickly so if a building was burning down I would be the last to be evacuated and would have to remain in the safe zone. Im disadvantaged because I cant participate in daily life, on an equal footing with non-disabled people. So in the cinema I have to sit at the front and not at the back....I could go on and on and on.

Like I say to people who have a go at me (a relatively young and trendy woman) for having a blue badge - give me your legs and your balance and I will give you my badge. We will never be equal because we are second class citizens :mad::mad::mad:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Being treated 'the same' as non disabled people means in practice that the disabled person is worse off. It takes things back to the medical model of disability, where it's the disabled person's fault that they can't be 'normal' and dash up flights of stairs, wait for hours in queues in stuffy rooms with no sitting areas until they pass out, when they are causing a problem for 'normal' people.

The social model of disability, which reasonable people accept is the way forward, demonstrates that it is the barriers placed by society that contribute towards the marginalisation of people with disabilities - for example, there is no reason why a certain disabled person can't do their own shopping if they have a mobility scooter, as that deals with their mobility issues.

But by having steep steps to the shop, crowded aisles with stuff overhanging and waiting to catch on the shopper or their scooter, narrow tills that a wheelchair can't get through or chip and pin key pads that can't be handed down to someone, the failure of others to acknowledge that there are customers who have different needs is what is making it impossible for the shopper to access the shop of their choice.


With the example of the concert I went to, there were plenty of people perfectly happy to ensure that I was not disadvantaged by being unable to stand up all the time, being less likely to stay up if someone bumped into me or even just less likely to be able to scramble my way to the front by the stage. You can say that I got preferential treatment, but without it, I wouldn't have been able to get the same enjoyment out of it as someone else there - like the guy at the back who was brought down to the front - he would have missed the lot had it not been for what some call preferential treatment, and what it really making a reasonable allowance to level the playing field.

victory

All I know is that I was treated very differently from an abled bodied person.

All my life I have always stopped and asked people if they needed help, my kids always ask me do you know them? What are you talking to them for? Simply because for me it is treat unto others how you would want to be treated, every single time before my life took me to being in a mobility scooter I have taken the time to stop and make sure that whoever looked as if they could do with a helping hand, reassurance, a friendly smile or just someone to stop and take the time to chat, I have never seen them any different, never questioned it, it is just human nature, my way, I would never want to see anyone suffer, struggle.

Now the tables have turned I naively and stupidly hoped or expected or wanted or needed everyone to not see me different and just be there if I needed assitant, turns out my goodness for want of a better word has not been reciprocated.

I find it hard

Molly41

I understand exactly where you are coming from. Before becoming disabled I was a midwife and before that an Occupational Therapist. I gave all the time to people, my clients and would never walk away if people needed help. Now Im on the receiving end and its a very different story. People in general are out for themselves and with few exceptions wont go out of their way to help or if they do think they have done a wonderful thing and are so patronising it is unreal. Jojo is right - attitudes have to change and only then will the world become a truly accessible place for disabled people.

Don'tskipit

Hiya all, excuse me for butting in but I've just bought a scooter today - haven't been further than up and down our road yet!

Having read all your posts I'm getting a bit nervous about using it.

Had one so called 'friend' rang me today, told her about the scooter and I couldn't beleive her attitude - " oh I've seen people using them, park out side a shop and then walk in"
Tried to explain to her that I could do that - (get hold of an Asda trolley to support me!) but no way can I walk far without pain. She didn't get it. She said "Well none of the people I've seen on scooters LOOK disabled"
For goodness sake - how are we to 'LOOK' disabled?! Nothing wrong with my brain (yet!), got a good sense of humour, take care in my appearance, talk on the radio- It's just that my spine has problems.

Sorry to rant on but got that off my chest

beanielou

Not so good Victory.
Unfortunatly some people are so not nice