Today I've decided to share an article I posted in December 2013, about one of my first solo trips to the mall with my new chair...Thanks for reading!
Sooooooo, today is the first post about life from my new perspective; sitting down! Haha! There are so many things to say I sometimes feel overwhelmed, but I promise I'll attempt to keep this blog concise and humorous, if at all possible.
One of the first things I need to point out is that there of lots of worse things in life than having to use a wheelchair. It has taken me awhile to say that, but it's true. For that reason, I think I'll be able to bring humor, along with my perspective that comes with these wheelchair anecdotes I share with you.
On that note, I have to tell you all about an experience I had at the mall on Monday. I thought I'd get a little Christmas shopping in since I am able to venture out alone with my chair now. (Big deal, btw!) As I rolled up to my usual entrance at Nordstrom, I gave a small tug on the handle of the accessible door so it would trigger the automatic opening function.
All of a sudden, a very boisterous, intrusive woman who was also entering a door a few yards away, yelled, "You have to push the blue button on the wall!!" Ah, right...too bad I didn't understand how this whole accessibility thing works. (Sorry for being a smart aleck)
After all, she is on 2 legs and I'm the wheelchair user. (Truth is, that button rarely works, so I don't waste energy going over to it) As I was explaining that to her and as the door was opening, she came at me...! She crawled over my chair shouting, "Let me get it! Let me get it! I'll get it for you!" Wow. Now don't misunderstood. I appreciate people genuinely expressing a desire to help if I actually need it. But this wasn't that.
So, what can I say to you about this experience?
1) all she had to do was ask if I needed her assistance
2) I was minding my own business...wish she had too. Not to sound ungrateful, but she upset me with her loud voice & determination to take over
3) my muscles may be weak, but that doesn't mean my brain has stopped functioning...if I'm out alone in my chair, I probably know how to use the blue button
4) also, I am not deaf--therefore, you never have to shout at me
5) respect my personal space, including my wheelchair, which wheelers view as an extension of themselves...when she launched herself over my chair to reach the door, I nearly fainted with fright.
6) never approach me from behind my chair...as one valet did, funny enough at this same Nordstrom! He had followed me to my van which was parked in the parking garage, without me knowing it. When he asked if I needed help from a foot behind my head I screamed and he nearly fainted with fright! If only he had announced himself from several yards away...
It only takes a little thought... Did this lady mean well? Thankfully most people do. Did she create a commotion going about 'helping' me? Most definitely. I was polite and smiled to myself while I kept on rolling, determined to finish my mission.
Remember, I'm just a real person like you, rolling through life instead of walking like I used to.
xx
