hatred of disabled people doesn’t have to be blatant:
complaining about “people who walk slowly”
calling people with specific dietary restrictions needy/fakers/high-maintenance/etc.
insinuating someone isn’t responsible if they’re “living in their parents’ basement”/some variation thereof
insinuating that students with disabilities are actually “cashing in on special treatment”
praising what are basically snuff films about disabled characters
defending the casting of abled people for disabled roles
defending paying us lower wages
*swoons at the accuracy*
i used to complain about slow walkers because i was a selfish prick, now i walk with a cane and i’m on the receiving end of that shit
*raises hand* I used to complain about people who took the elevator to the second floor when I had to get to the 9th, now I’ve learned to consider it’s definitely a lot faster to run up to the 2nd floor, if someone is using the elevator to the second floor, it is probably because they need to.
And omg your slow walker story reminds me of how I used to zig zag at high speeds to get through crowds pre-disability, as well as reminds me how shitty it feels when I’m in my chair and trying to push myself towards the elevator and even though I’m closer, someone runs past me, into the elevator and closes it because I’m “too slow”. Yup, its happened a couple of times.
I will press the automatic door button for myself, and so many abled folk will rush in front of me because I’m slow that it’ll be closing as I go through. This happens at my university campus where there are literally four doors in a row, they could go through any of the three, but the fact that it is open (BY ME, FOR ME) makes that the quickest path, even though them darting through means I can’t get through any door lmao god damn
That’s another great situation to bring up! Prior to my experience with disability, I thought it seemed silly when I saw someone who appeared to be able bodied, push the automatic door button, now I know more about invisible disabilities, many people risk dislocation trying to pull those doors open, they NEED the automatic door or they need assistance. When my arm joints flare up, I can’t pull doors open either, at that point, I can barely pick up my phone or cut my own food
Also! People always talk about “manspreading,” but able-bodied people take up SO MUCH space. As far as I’ve experienced, this phenomenon isn’t limited to masculinity, it has so much to do with people subconsciously feeling that they have physical power over me. Able-bodied women may feel invaded and humiliated because people expect them to move out of the way; but as a disabled person, this has an impact on my everyday ability to get around. Able-bodied people move like fucking bulldozers.
When I see someone heading straight toward me, I can’t just step off the sidewalk to get out of the way. I’m trapped. If I’m in my wheelchair, sometimes people will literally grab my chair and move me without my consent. I have to constantly stop in the middle of the path and hope I don’t get run over. On multiple occasions I’ve been walking around with crutches and people have crashed into me, and they always keep walking without bothering to help me off the ground. When I try to get onto public transit, people never make space for me even if there’s a designated area for wheelchairs. Don’t even get me started on moving through crowdeds (hint: I can’t). Trying to join a conversation is difficult because people will stand in these little huddles and never think to scoot over, expecting me to peek into the group between their elbows.
It makes me feel like I’m completely invisible. People who limp or use mobility aids can’t move around the same way as everyone else not only because of our conditions but because we’re perceived as small, weak, and insignificant.
“not only because of our conditions but because we’re perceived as small, weak, and insignificant” ^^^^ yes. I am more disabled from doing thing by other people making actions inaccessible than I am by my own body impairing me from performing certain tasks.
My stubborn ass has had multiple injuries because I refuse to alter my path when able bodied come barreling through. They don’t give a single fuck.
My favourite is when I’m moving through a moderate crowd and people kick my walking stick from out under me. I’m just wobbling there like “Oh yeah, that’s cool. It’s not like I needed that to be upright anyway.” Or when they expect me to move over so far that my walking stick is off the kerb and is therefore useless. Seriously, sometimes I just want to be like…
… just so people realise that mobility aids are fucking important.
The number of times I have been hobbling slowly towards a chair to sit down before I collapse, and an able bodied person zips in front of me and takes the only open seat… This happens especially in airports, for some reason.
Thoughtfulfangirling 