Thread by @alifrance5

I’ve questioned whether 2 tell this story as theres a sense of shame in it.

A terrible sinking feeling that in some way I may have been at fault, I embarrassed my kids, I couldve done things differently.

But today on #IDPW #IDPW2020 its worth telling. 1/14
#disability

Its a tiny woeful story about a hot chocolate order from #jamaicablue at #Indooroopilly shopping centre.

It ends in tears, humiliation...all over three seats.

It’s a story about privilege & ableism. It’s a familiar story for me, a disabled woman. 2/14

Because theres always someone in the disabled bay without a permit, someone pushing ahead of a wheelchair in a queue, someone in a disabled toilet who shouldn’t b there & a guy who says you just need 2 get up & leave.

Always someone who cant see past their privilege. 3/14 #IDPWD

It was my 1st shopping trip with the kids after surgery a few wks ago. Moving hurt. I was in my electric scooter & after shopping we needed to rest & refuel.

We got sushi & headed to #jamaicablue 4 hot choccies but I couldnt get my scooter into order. People everywhere. 4/14

I sent my son in while I got out of the scooter & sat at one of the tables outside the cafe with my youngest, waiting for our order.

I was relieved to get out of the scooter as it has no lumber support. Another family was sat across from us. 5/14

A waitress came over to tell me I couldn’t sit at the table unless I had ordered. I said my son was at the counter ordering.

She then said the area in which I was sitting was about to close.I said Id had surgery, was an amputee & wanted to stay while waiting 4 the order. 6/14

She left & a bloke returned & said you need to get up & leave.

I BEGGED him to let us stay until the order arrived, said I’d just got outa hospital. He said if I didn’t move he’d call security. 7/14

I looked at the family next to us who were firmly in their seats & weren’t being asked to move.

I said go ahead call security, we’ve just bought hot chocolates from u & they are yet 2 be delivered.

He then said how dare u, if u are asked leave you leave. He walked off. 8/14

My son then begged me to leave. He said ‘that man is so angry mum’. I said we should stand up for ourselves, we’ve paid good money into this business.

The man returned. 9/14

He said I’d only ordered hot drinks & I needed 2 have ordered food 2 b able 2 sit. He then said I hadn’t signed the COVID sheet. I said I was happy to sign it but as he knew the sheet was inside at the counter where I couldn’t get to.

He said he’d called security. 10/14

The people sitting at the table next 2 us left.

Security arrived. I was in tears. I explained I was sitting while waiting for my order. The order arrived.

The security guard was lovely - ‘just sit there, must be some misunderstanding I will bring you the COVID form’. 11/14

The security guard returned - sorry they won’t allow u 2 sign in, I have 2 ask u 2 leave.

There were lots of people watching around us, staring. I hadn’t even had a chance to take a sip of the hot chocolate. I got back into the scooter SOBBING.

We were escorted out. 12/14

The woman who asked me 2 leave, the bloke who told me 2 leave & #jamaicablue could so easily have let me sit, they could have let me sign the COVID form, they could have waited 10min. The cafe wasn’t closing for another hour. They chose 2 b cruel. 13/14

It’s not often that I fight my corner but it left me in pieces, distraught.

Because while it was just 1 terrible encounter of many, it won’t be the last.

Today on #IDPWD I think we need to speak about them. We need to call #ableism out.

Shame on u #jamaicablue 14/14

BTW #jamaicablue this took place on 21/11/2020...it took me a little while to find my voice on this, I was deeply upset for days. So grateful for all yr responses & support. ❤️