[Ansteorra] mobility issues ( long, sorry)

Fri Jul 15 08:32:19 PDT 2005

I didn't snip this because so many valid points are in it:)
You are 100% correct...our society has made eve the most visable of "disabilities" sorry I hate the word handicapped...everyone is handicapped in some form...even if you only wear glasses or are left handed...c'mon...ever try using one of those stupid desks they have at the colleges when you are a lefty? I swear my elbow is constantly bruised from it  :)
But I digress...sorry...
I have worked with the disabled my whole life ,btw, either with those who are developmentally disabled beginning with my cousin who is 9 yrs younger than me and has Down's, thru working with the deaf, and being a coach for the Special Olympics and now dealing with my own disability.
As a rule, people in our society deal with disabilities in one of 2 ways...they either pretend the disabled person doesn't exist...or they stare and make rude comments...or comments they think are funny...but really are hurtful. And what is worse, is when their children make comments and aren't corrected. Again ...I feel like I am on  my soapbox here...but I am going to give a few personal examples from my mundane life...please bear with me as I hope they help to make my point.

1) When our 2 youngest were about five, we were shopping one day and the boys saw their first" little person" before we could stop them , one of them , not sure if it was Paul or Sam...and they are close in age...blurted out to the man " How come you are so short?" The man just glared at the kids and walked away. Well, we took the boys, found him and made them apologize, and then asked him to explain to them if he would. He was so grateful for OUR resonse to the situation that he accepted the kids apology immediatley, explained to them, and even hugged them goodbye when we left.

2) I am fluent in ASL ( sign) and while doing a project with my husband for a college class, I had to simulate a disability, so I was " playing deaf". We were in a subway restaurant, and he was interpreting for me, but was having issues with a couple of the signs...he needed to figure out for himself what they were, but rather than having patience, the girl behind the counter got snotty and said" Can she write down what she wants...or is she too stupid to use the english language" Needless to say, not only did she get the shock of her life when I spoke up, and told her off for her insensivtivity. I also called the owner of the store, who was a good friend....needless to say, the young lady ended up losing her job, because we had a huge deaf community there and they had many deaf customers.

3) I generally wear a very heavy leg brace, due to my knee problems. Granted it is rather pretty, as it has butterflies and flowers on it. But all too often I find people staring, or making comments like" I want a brace like that ( kinda reminiscent of High School, if you wore something not too attractive and you had the popular kids  making very similiar comments? ) or as the costco  out by us didn't have the motorized carts, my hubby would have me sit on a flat cart and he would push me around while we shopped, and I would hear " God, must be nice...wish I could get someone to push me around"

Again, these are personal experiences, but for me they tear at the heart. Where is the compassion and manners we are supposed to teach our children? I would far rather have a child ask why I wear the brace, then have them just stare, and their parents, rather than correct them, drag them away as though I was contagious.

Someone stated earlier that their biggest beefs are people who use the Handicapped stalls when the regular ones are available, I have to agree and add one to that. People in stores where they provide the scooters for the disabled, who feel that the scooters are for them to joyride their kids around the stores. ( Yes I have seen it), or who feel that they have had a long day shopping, and so the scooters are there because they just dont want to walk ( have seen that too)

And the worst of all for me...people who use disabled placards that are for a spouse or aging parent, when that person is not with them...you see them get out of the vehicle and run ( literally) into the store, and they are taking up the spot someone else may need...just because it is more convienent for them.

OK sorry for the rant!!!
Getting off my soapbox now
Einin

A Brauer <mabrauer at hotmail.com> wrote:
Lord Richard has a difficult time getting around many events. We pick and 
choose which events we will attend based on the site.

If we have not been to a particular site before, I will call in advance and 
make sure that he will be able to get around.

Camp Cimmeron is one site that he has gone to and found it too diffucult to 
get around.

Regular porta potties are out of the question for him. He has to get out of 
his wheelchair and crawl around on the floor to use one. Which by the way 
is unhealthy to do.

Feasts can be hard as stated because of the way the tables are spaced. If 
wheelchair bound people were allowed to reserve a table ahead of time that 
would be benificial. Too often even when we arrive early it is difficult to 
find seating where he is comfortable at. It makes it hard to enjoy such 
events when you are stuck behind a row of tables with barely enough room to 
turn around, or feel you have to sit in one spot so that you don't desturb.

Sites with cactus, stickers etc are hard on wheelchair tires. Richard has 
had many a flat at an event. Hills, ditches and alot of underbrush are 
difficult for him.

We haven't camped at Warlord in several years. The site is ok, but we usual 
wound up camping too far away from the bath house or handicap privy. He too 
has to carry a chair with him so that he may shower.

But it is not just events to take into consideration. Are you holding 
fighter practice at a handicap friendly place? What about business and 
populace meetings? If they are held in a home, can a wheelchair negotiate 
through it? If you do not have wide doors, would YOU crawl around on your 
bathroom floor? If you wouldn't, he wouldn't either.

We don't expect special favors, just take into consideration those that need 
a little extra space or flatter ground.

Just my two copper,

HL Mary Elisabeth
(whose knees scream mercy at events)

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