Thread by @BlondeHistorian

I'm blind. This morning I was walking through my local park with my pram & my white cane.

A man shouted "Woah!" in my face & grabbed my cane & my pram.

I pushed back in shock & demanded he let me go.

He refused.

Why?

Because I was going to "walk over some dirt & grass". 1/

I had to push & pull my pram & cane away from this person's hands so that I could leave.

He had his hands on the pram with my baby in it & wouldn't let go until I started physically trying to get him off.

All because I *might* walk over some dirt & grass on a path. In a park 2/

I cannot emphasise this enough.

It is completely unacceptable to touch a disabled person, their mobility aids & THEIR CHILDREN without permission.

If you think there is a hazard, communicate first.

Because personally, I don't find "dirt & grass" particularly hazardous. 3/

And before the reply guys turn up, no there really wasnt a valid hazard or reason for this behaviour.

Eventually I ascertained from the person who grabbed me that there were some grass cuttings on the edge of the path.

My pram wheels just rolled over it, no problem. 4/

And again, before the reply guys come in with "well I guess you can't grab a blind person if they're going to walk into a fire / road / tornado"

Disabled people have the right to choose who touches us & why.

Even paramedics tell unconscious people when they start CPR 5/

Also what may seem *dangerous* to you as a non disabled person might be completely safe & routine for a disabled person.

For example, the person who without warning pulled me by my hair away from a set of stairs. The set of stairs I used every day on my commute.

So ask first 6/

It's really not difficult to ask if assistance is needed.

After leaving the park I was waiting to cross a road.

Passerby: Hey do you need help? The cars have stopped for you.

Me: Oh great thanks for letting me know.

Passerby: No problem. You ok now?

Me: Yup, thanks again. 7/

Honestly I'm still processing that a grown man took hold of my pram (stroller) with my baby in it & thought that it was an appropriate thing to do.

And I was already really struggling with my confidence getting out with my baby & my white cane without @GuideDogAva 8/

I'm missing the support of my Guide Dog, because working with her really reduces these incidents.

I'm exhausted & I feel that I have to keep to sharing experiences because apparently "don't grab disabled people" is still hard to understand.

So please share & #JustAskDontGrab 9/

Thank you for all of the support.

I won’t be reporting the incident because I’ve found the police simply don’t care about disabled women’s safety.

I recently spoke about this issue of forced “help” & consent for disabled people.

Podcast / transcript ⬇️

podcasts.ox.ac.uk/hands-navigati…