I love that awareness of Disability is growing.
The biggest move forward in my lifetime is the gradual acceptance of people who have various challenges in their life.
An important aspect of this move forward is the adaptations and allowances aimed to facilitate lives.
We’re talking parking bays, ramps, lifts, hearing aid coils at reception desks, trained colleagues etc.
The appearance of disabled people in public life especially at events like the Paralympics really show what can be done with a little assistance, be it an artificial limb or a lightweight wheelchair.
These inspiring people show us couch potatoes what is possible with effort.
Disabled comedians and actors are becoming commonplace now too.
However, I have a beef.
It is based, I think, on a level of ignorance and self interest which pervades much of today’s population.
This ignorance generates behaviour which is annoying, offensive and at times even interferes which the lives of folk who can be offered a little help to be part of the mainstream.
When you park in a disabled bay you show the world your self interest and ignorance.
Whether it be for a few moments or an hour you are telling everyone that you and your needs are more important than anyone else’s.
In the UK we have Blue disabled badges which we show on our dash when we use one of these spaces.
If you haven’t got one you are not entitled to park in a bay.
The side issue of non visible disabilities also irritates me because so many conditions are sporadic and acute and don’t carry a warning sign for the world to see. I work on the assumption that if you have a badge you have a reason to use it which is none of my business. If you don’t have a reason and are using it illegally then I know kharma will bit you in the bum, so again, I don’t really care (you git).
Another manifestation of this is staring, inappropriate comments and treating that human being as anything less than you would expect yourself.
I just don’t understand why people see the disability first and often fail to see the human being.
My son has many facets: he can funny, loving, kind, empathic, grumpy, and oh yeah, disabled. It doesn’t define him but often it’s the first thing people see.
The impression I get from disabled adults is that they don’t want to be set upon a pedestal but just want the chance to lead a normal life. We can support this by not interfering with anything designed to help them do so.
