Last week, kids in the street shouted at me and my partner, who is also disabled, in the street. They directly referenced the show South Park, and the only disabled character within it, Timmy. They repeatedly said and shouted his name at us in the street.
While I am well experienced in ableism, in direct and indirect hate from others. But for the first time in my life I experinced being directly shouted at in the street the other day.
I don’t really know what to say about this, even though I am writing this post days later, I don’t know how to process the emotions from this. It was so direct, so unexpected.
Exclusion is everywhere in the world. Inaccessibility is in every building. It is everywhere, like a constant background noise to my existence. But it perhaps feels the strongest in other people’s words.
My Inaccessible Life 
I’m sorry that happened. I would also like to personally apologize for when I was a kid in the 80s and did that myself, I never directly made fun of any disabled person but as a group we would mock. I feel horrible that I joined in and I am offended that I ever did. I taught my kids to respect people, not saying my parents taught me to disrespect anyone but there were things that weren’t priority. Thankfully I learned a lot and have grown and continue to learn and grow as I age. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences
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Life is about learning to be better, no one is perfect myself included. I do appreciate the apology. And I hope one day the kids that shouted at me learn why they were wrong. From what you have said and what I have read about you, you seem to have grown as a person massively, that is no easy task, so congratulations on that. And I would like if I can to thank you for teaching your children the importance of respect. Not teaching hate is not the same as teaching respect, and it’s this teaching of respect that is going to make the world more accessible to everyone.
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