Tag: Normal

Concerts and emotions.

On By Katy DalyIn Blog, My Disability TruthLeave a comment

This was the post I planned to write today, but as it is supposed to do, I suppose today’s daily prompt had me writing about screen time before I started this post. But never mind that let’s get into this one.

If it wasn’t obvious by my opening. Paragraph I am actually avoiding writing about this, due to it, still being emotionally raw and complex for me to deal with. However, I think this is something that I don’t write about now I have the time and space to do so. I probably won’t end up writing about it. And this is something that I think it is important to share and needs to be spoken about, or in my case written about more. All this to say just bear with me on this one.

As I write this, I’m sat alone with my babies because my sister is at a concert. Yesterday I was at the concert well at this concert, I posted the TikTok below.

Video Description: The video shows the view from a balcony at the back of a concert. The text “ Quick question, how would you feel if this was your seat when you arrived 3+ hours to a venue and were literally the first people here?”

This video is shows where I had to sit for the concert I was at yesterday. Despite arriving to it several hours early and before any other noticeable members of the crowd arrived.

I believed for this concert that I would be able to be near the front, as I am able to be in very similar venues. However, this clearly wasn’t the case and to be completely honest I was very upset about this.

It is often the case in venues that I have to go out the back door, accessibility reasons, but I honestly believe this is just because they don’t want to be sued. I really don’t want to be at the back of venue for a concert. This generally makes me very upset and reminds me that I’m disabled. It’s one of the few things that I really hate as a disabled. I would much rather be in the crowd, even if that meant I couldn’t see. I just want to be part of it. But apparently that’s too much to ask in most venues.

I think it should be the disabled person’s choice as to whether they go in a segregated area if there is one available at the venue. I do not think they should be forced to do this. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why this segregated area exists for some people as they probably feel more comfortable than they would if they were in the main crowd. my problem isn’t with its existence, but with its enforcement.

I love music. I love live music. I love concerts. I hate being segregated.

The segregated platform seems to be something that non-disabled people think disabled people need, and I very much doubt they have asked disabled people this. They certainly didn’t ask me.

It is segregation, not necessary treatment, to force people to go into a different area just because of who they are. If I phrase accessibility platforms like this, it doesn’t sound very fair does it? How would you like it if you thought you were going to have a good view and then had to go out the back, simply because of who you are, at every concert.

As I’ve said, I really don’t believe this is for my own safety, I believe it’s to stop venues getting sued by disabled people, and perhaps non-disabled people where they somehow to be injured by the disabled person.

I believe there should be some sort of waiver that the disabled person is able to sign to say they want to go in the general area, and then they should be allowed to go in the general area like everybody else. Perhaps an additional clause in the terms and condition of general sale tickets to prevent suing a venue if a person becomes injured while in a crowd should be added to the general sale tickets. In my opinion, something needs to be done so I and others that want to experience the way they want to.

Making me go out the back leaves me emotionally conflicted throughout the concert and honestly taints, the memories I have of it. That said I am not about to let this stop me going to concerts, I just wish my experience was different. To be honest honest, I just wish I wasn’t disabled when I’m at some concerts. Which when you, think about it is really sad

I apologise if this post isn’t clear or well thought out as I said, I’m still very emotionally triggered by this.

Disclaimer this post was written using voice to text. Please alert me of any mistakes that make the content unclear and I will fix them as soon as possible.

That I’m held to both standards.

On By Katy DalyIn My Disability Truth, Writing PromptsLeave a comment

Are you holding a grudge? About?

Let me explain.

I’m disabled. But I live in a world where depending who someone is they will hold me to the standard of a non disabled person or a disabled person, sometimes interchangeably.

When people can’t decide whether you should or shouldn’t be treated as a ‘normal’ person, what they expect from you can often contradict.

On one hand they can expect you to get a job. On the other hand making a phone call can be a step to far for there ideas of your abilities.

All of this while remembering that the world is inaccessibility to me in many ways. So just because I want to do something doesn’t mean I can, and that is not my fault.

It can be hard to figure out what you want to achieve, what you should push yourself to try to achieve, and in all honestly just who you are.

We need to stop seeing disabled people as different, as less than non disabled people. The world is hard enough to navigate, without me having to try to decide if I want to try to prove I’m normal or not.

If I’ll ever be ‘norml’

On By Katy DalyIn My Disability Truth, Writing PromptsLeave a comment

What are you curious about?

It’s not that I want to be normal, or don’t want to be seen as disabled. But I do want to be treated as if I’m normal.

I’m trying to fight to be seen that way. To educate the world so I and others can be seen that way. But ultimately whether I will is not up to me.

Inclusion is just another thing that those in power have to be on bored with it for it to work.

My favourite moment.

On By Katy DalyIn My Disability Truth, Writing PromptsLeave a comment

Describe one of your favorite moments.

Wow what a question this is. I’m lucky to have had so many great moments so far that it is hard for me to pick which ones to write about for this prompt.

As I am coming up to my Masters graduation I think back to the moment when I graduated from my degree. That was certainly a big moment for me, but for perhaps in more ways than you might realise.

Education for me has been the leveler in my life. It has given me something which is recognized in an able normative world that I have been able to achieve.

Now I am aware as I write this, of the internalised ableism involved in such a statement. But it’s definitely true for me and perhaps that is something I need to learn to deal with.

But if I’m being completely honest in that moment I felt normal. I was being celebrated for a recognised achievement and not for simply existing as a disabled person.

That said there were parts of the ceremony that I’m not looking forward to repeating. Even my favourite moment seems tainted by the inaccessibility of the world around me. But that’s something for another time, and possibly another post.

If you would like you can check out my post from yesterday’s prompt on notable things that happened to me yesterday, that I have updated.