DharmaCurious , 11 months ago

Okay, here’s my fucking soap box. Didn’t mean to write all of this, but here it is.

Some of y’all have no idea what it’s like to go through life in a wheelchair… Or to deal with the American medical system as someone with disabilities. You’re disabled, so you can’t work. Now you have to spend years proving you can’t work, while not working, and not getting disability. So, y’know, enjoy living in your car without a wheelchair, because you can’t afford one… If you’re lucky enough to have a car.

My mom has been disabled since birth. She’s 62 now. She got her first power chair 7 years ago.

I’m not saying being illiterate would be any better, that would also be a disability in our society (because disability is, despite what many people think, as much a social construct as an actual reality, and illiteracy shows this better than a lot of things). But this kind of question is, frankly, pretty offensive to any one who’s had to go through a world that is built in a way that is hostile to their body. Being wheelchair bound means less options for apartments (because, for the majority of disabled people, you’re a renter, you can’t afford to own a home). You’re stuck with the choice of not being able to rent an apartment because there’s no elevator (even a lot of ground floors have too many steps for a ramp), or renting a second story or above apartment with an elevator, and just accepting that you will likely die in a fire with no way to escape.

There’s so much to this y’all aren’t considering. Needing another human when you need to transfer to a shower, or the toilet. Having to call and ask employees at stores to come outside to you instead of going in if you’re unable to transfer to a chair yourself, or get to your wheelchair. Being unable to drive because you can’t afford the conversion kit. Being unable to leave your home without help.

This world is designed for one particular body type. You can’t just slot into it with a different type and go along like you would have before. You should be able to, but you can’t.

Which is all say, just, consider what it’s like for people with disabilities, and do what you can to make it better. Agitate, vote, shame and name, and if you’re ever in a position to change things, do it. There are so many small changes we could make that would make the world better for those with disabilities. Accessible places are usable by everyone, “normal” places are only useable by one body type. There is no reason for it to be this way. Ramps, roll in showers, heightened toilets, grab bars, hand rails at three different heights, elevators with emergency generators and fire walls on exterior walls with a fire exit on the back. These are things that could be standard and would make the world accessible to all.