CW: Really gross ableism
Summary of this morning:
I was using my wheels today—pain in my hip and POTS stuff. I had an appt. with my cardiologist. I was sitting in the waiting room & a guy strolls in and starts wishing everyone a great day. He is loud, but seems well-intentioned.
Summary of this morning:
I was using my wheels today—pain in my hip and POTS stuff. I had an appt. with my cardiologist. I was sitting in the waiting room & a guy strolls in and starts wishing everyone a great day. He is loud, but seems well-intentioned.
Next, he, having walked past, but facing away from me, starts saying to people “Hey, things could be worse. You could be in a wheelchair. It could be raining and you could be in a wheelchair. You could be on the bus and the driver dropped you too far and it could...
...be raining and you could be in a wheelchair.” On and on. I don’t say anything. They call me up to collect my co-pay. I roll to the counter.
Behind me, I hear, “Well, at least it’s not supposed to rain today.”
Laughter.
Behind me, I hear, “Well, at least it’s not supposed to rain today.”
Laughter.
I take a moment. I turn around and say, “I can hear you, you know.”
The full waiting area goes dead silent. He backpedals, apologizes. Apologizes again as he leaves. But it doesn’t matter. I was the punchline to his joke. I was the example he held up of a worst-case scenario.
The full waiting area goes dead silent. He backpedals, apologizes. Apologizes again as he leaves. But it doesn’t matter. I was the punchline to his joke. I was the example he held up of a worst-case scenario.
We need disabled characters. We need disabled heroes. More than ever. Our lives fucking matter. We are not the worst-case scenario for existence. We are brilliant, talented, sexy, powerful, creative humans with just as much value and dignity as non-disabled humans.
Change this narrative. Because NO ONE should have to be the butt of a joke like that. No one should have a room full of people laughing at their existence, thinking they are pitiful.
We are powerful. And I am stronger for being disabled. I am proud of it.
We are powerful. And I am stronger for being disabled. I am proud of it.
I belong to a SPECTACULAR community that 1 in 4 people will belong to in their lifetime. A community that shapes and betters the world in countless ways. A community with an incredible history and legacy.
Being disabled isn’t a worst-case scenario. It’s a source of strength.
Being disabled isn’t a worst-case scenario. It’s a source of strength.
My wheels and the people that have supported me as I transitioned to using them make my life immeasurably better. My mobility devices and wheelchair are freedom, independence, liberation. My life is so, so much better because of them.
Take your ableism and shove it.
Take your ableism and shove it.
