Blogging Against Disablism Day 2009
I started out unsure about what to write, but I do believe it is important to write something, as most people don't seem to understand how disabled people get treated day-to-day. I've decided to go with the story of my last flight out of Wellington, as the treatment of disabled people in Wellington airport is the worst I have received anywhere in
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My mate "Pipes" was a little dim. Techinally I think he would have qualified as a bona-fide "moron" under the old rubric of mental classifications. Anyway, we were going to Antigua for the first time that season, and I found out that there was a scooter rental place in the Marina we were to dock at. I was all a twitter (in the traditional sense) about getting a scoot for a couple of days. Pipes heard me and said "dude, I'm getting one too!"
I told pipes several times NOT to get a scooter without me because they are not motorcycles, and despite their apparent ease of use, it actually takes a bit of skill and know-how to safely ride one. Especially if someone (Pipes) is used to riding dirt bikes.
He got off watch before me, and broke his Thigh-bone. Compound fracture. The Antiguan doctors said they had to amputate. Instead he was splinted and flown back to the states with a captain/first mate husband and wife team. They were assholes, and from all reports they had the "invalid" chairs at the airport there.
The Captain, Roy, stacked all their luggage on Pipes' lap and wheeled him into a corner. FACING the corner, and left him there staring at the wall without being able to move, with luggage up to his neck, for two hours while they went shopping at the duty free and such.
It's actually much less tragic if you know the parties involved, but still, it makes me so angry whenever I think about it, ten years later.
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