Ten annoying things that able-bodied people (ABs) do

[innoxia]

Ten annoying things that able-bodied people (ABs) do, in no particular order:

1. Denying my existence. This can take many forms:
   • Going to a restaurant/store and having the waiter/clerk ask my companion what I'd like.
   • ABs butting in front of me in lineups or at concerts and pretending they don't even know it's wrong to do so.
   • ABs

Comments

[bookgirlwa]

YES. Excellent post, may I link it round and about the place?

[innoxia]

please do- add to it, edit it, pass it around!

[asimplelife]

Disrepecting my wheelchair or my ability to use it.

Ok, in retrospect it was a bad idea to try and move it on my own, but it ran over my toes so I figure I got my just desserts.

It's a good list, and good to know. :)

[innoxia]

haha, oops. well if it's consolation, you aren't the first and won't be the last i'm sure. ;)

[asimplelife]

Well I was trying to help move it so you didn't have to come do it as I was trying to clean. I hadn't factored in the fact that I can't actually drive very well :P

[innoxia]

i don't know if you've ever noticed, but there is an uneven patch along my kitchen wall. it's where my mom gouged a chunk out of the wall trying to move my chair. :P

[daednu]

*wibble* I've been in the #10 situation.
I'm a person who thinks about people's feelings a lot. The kids and I automatically hold the door open for older people, people with their hands full, etc. We like to help out.
I get a little freaked out when I see someone with an obvious disability and it looks to me like he/she is struggling with someone I could help with. I never, ever know whether to offer to help or pretend I don't notice. I've caught crap in the past for offering help (most recently a woman whose chair was stuck on the sidewalk/road) so I never know how and when to approach without offending or catching a mouthful.

[innoxia]

actually i'm more referring to help that really isn't helping. i think it's natural to want to hold open a door or pick up something that someone has dropped or whatever, whether that person is disabled or not. it's just common courtesy really. what i'm talking about are ppl who try to steer my wheelchair for me when i am managing perfectly fine or the one guy on the bus a couple of weeks ago who practically shoved another guy out of the way for me which just resulted in a big fight and me being stuck behind them (when it would have been easier if the first guy said nothing at all). that's the kind of 'help' i'm talking about. when i object, no matter how politely, i'm seen as an ungrateful bitch.