Sharing my life and areas of inaccessibility, as a full-time electric wheelchair user.
Posts specific to Disability Pride in one way or another.
And I had to backdate this post due to having a bad day with my disability yesterday. I literally spent the day crying over something very minor due to my disability. So this seems like a good time to share it.
List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.
I’m a person who definitely believes that most things in life are subjective. I said most things because I am aware that there are often exceptions to a statement like this. That said I’m going to give this writing prompt a go:
I know that many of these are about disability, and that’s because disability restated things are currently on my mind. Maybe that has something to do with it being Disability Pride Month, or more likely it’s just because I’m disabled, so these things are always important to me.
Whatever the reasoning behind the focus of the list, everything I’ve said is true. And you’ve got to love when you’re able to get a Doctor Who quote in to something and it still makes perfect sense, that’s just a double win.
Do you have any objections to anything I’ve included on the list? I’d love to know what you think.
The Definition of a Disability is: a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.
Those who wear glasses have some form of limitation to there sight, they are technically disabled. It’s simply that society has accepted the mobility aid that they use, glasses.
This is interesting as it shows the way society has accepted some disabilities, in a way that doesn’t continue to exclude them. It is completely normal for someone to wear glasses. I wonder how people would react to disability if it was normalised this way.
One day I hope that all disabilities and disability aids are accepted the way that wearing glasses is. This will be the true inclusion of those with disabilities in society
I have more I want to say on this. I might but as always I make no promises. This might help though if I don’t end up saying more.
If someone stops by briefly it’s not often me they see. They come and see the person I live with and I don’t expect them to even talk to me.
It takes so long for me to get out of the house and so many people are impatient for me to leave the house, it’s not worth me even trying when they are here quickly.
This means I’m often left out, simply because people don’t want to take the time to include me. If I know in advance I can be more prepared for them to come, but just turning up isn’t helpful if you actually want to see me and aren’t willing to take time.
Now I want to say that I will be doing various posts related to Disability Pride over this July which is Disability Pride Month. And I will do my best to share information, but as always I make no promises.
But for now, let’s start with the flag. All of the colours have individual meanings so let’s go through them.
As I’ve said I will try to post more about Disability Pride this month. But plans can sometimes be difficult, so don’t blame me if I fail.
♿️HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE♿️
So today is International Wheelchair Day 2024.
And funnily enough I’ve just had my wheelchair fixed. My wheels bring me freedom, I’d be stuck without them. They are the reason I get to be a person.
But the truth is the world isn’t built for people like me. It’s difficult using a wheelchair, because of the inaccessibility around me. Being in a wheelchair takes a lot of effort and planning just to get out of the house some days. Memorising routes and hoping nothing is going to block them. Not being able to go to concerts and have the same experiences as everyone else.
But without a wheelchair I wouldn’t even have the freedom I do now. Yet growing up as was told I needed to do as much as possible, to not become “wheelchair shaped”. Despite this being my eventuality and it causing a considerable amount of discomfort to attempt to delay it.
Using a wheelchair isn’t bad. Not walking isn’t bad. Mobility aids and physio need to be given for the best outcome of the individual, and not simply to push someone towards the societal norms that can actually be damaging to them.
Wheelchairs are not bad.
Mine is a life saver
I just got back doing some adulting errands on my own. While out I asked for help from strangers and dealt with things not being as expected. I did this without a lot of anxiety; avoiding doing it for a long time or not getting something I wanted from the shop.
I know this might seem minor but the me from not that long ago would have really struggled with this today.
Remember to Be proud of yourself for doing the things that were once difficult, even if they felt easy to do at the time. Especially if they felt easy at the time. Younger you is smiling, you should to.
What do you complain about the most?
This question sounds like complaining is a bad thing, but I don’t agree. There’s nothing wrong with complaining, I think it’s good for the soul.
Complain about the weather.
Complain about the work you have to do.
Complain about music.
Complain about your pain.
As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, you’re allowed to complain about things that need complaining about.
It can make you feel good.
It can release negative emotions.
I complain about being disabled fairly often. That seems to upset the people who for dome reason always want me to be happy.
Why do you always have to be happy?
You’re allowed to have a bad day, when you’re not disabled. But when you’re disabled, people often say you need to be more positive. Like everything they’re good days and bad days and that’s okay, that’s how you cope. Ignoring the bad days will just make them worse in the long run, when you can’t ignore them any more.
Letting the anger out with the little things, can make the big things easier to cope with.
Feel the bad things, just don’t hurt anyone.
Name your top three pet peeves.
1. People that disguise ableism, sexism, racism etc as an “opinion”.
2. People that are continuously late, with no reasoning behind it, for a job they are paid to do.
3. People that lie, particularly about inconsequential lies, where the truth wouldn’t actually be a problem.
These are all based on real experiences I have with my own careers. I probably have more things that annoy me to be honest. However given the conversation I had today with one of my careers, who let’s just say had some very ableist things to say, I thought these fit well.
Just read you audience a bit more please.
Someone literally just said to me “I’m not as bad as you but”… They were complaining about a really bad medical problem that apparently was ruining their life, while still seeming to function pretty well. I know you can’t judge what someone is going through by how well they’re able to function. But you’re working, you’re walking, have some perspective. At the very least don’t use me as your reference for it could be worse to my face.
This is why it’s hard to have Pride, because my existence in life is always going to be someone’s idea of it could be worse.
My Inaccessible Life 