I'm please do see that we have a thread for the RAP so it no longer get blended in with the Fast track subjects.
I just hope that this thread is helpful to our RAP users as well as making awareness to our non disable members on what day to day difficulties that we face. I hope that this thread can have a positives input as oppose to people criticising the disable without knowing their medical history.
As a carer of my wife who is severely disable with complex and extensive care needs, being full time wheelchair user (non weight-bearing whatsoever) two of our main day to day difficulties that we face is gaining access to facilities that most people take for granted, even just the simple things of finding a disable toilet that is large enough for my wife's specialised wheelchair as well as fitting me in as a carer. Please bear the above in mind next time you go to use a disable facility that wasn't designed for you to use. Please keep them free for those that really rely on them and not for your own personal selfish gain.
The second thing that we face each day is abuse (hate crime) from other people. I will say that a majority of people are good and kind, but it only takes the one person to ruin your day. People can be really nasty at times. Even though it something that we have faced a lot over the past decade, it's still something that you don't get used to. Please be kind to those that are disable, we don't choose to have a disability and remember that not all disability are visible. Please don't poke fun at us, do not stare or invade our personal space. As a wheelchair user, people do think it's an invite to come over and commit some sort of abuse/harassment, this dose happen to us several times throughout the day on a typical day out.
If you see a wheelchair coming your way, please give us extra space to manoeuvre and please remember that we don't have brakes for stopping (there are just for parking) so don't suddenly walk in front of us or suddenly stop (unless you want us to ram into the back of you,not on purpose though), plus we don't have the means to shuffle sideways. So please be considerate and step aside to allow us through next time you see us coming your way. Especially if we are going up or down a hill, we need to keep up our momentum as well as if the ground is uneven, we may need to avoid any pot holes in the ground to prevent our wheelchair from tipping over. Also try not block any pathways/drop kerbs, ramps or any other facilities that may be used by a wheelchair user.
I would like to hear from other disable people on here to learn how you deal with certain difficult situation, especially on the receiving end of abuse or when people don't give you space or feel that they have the right to touch you without your consent. It would be great to hear how you deal with other people and lack of accessibility, even if it via PM, (however I'm not interested in what is wrong with your or what meds you are on as this is private business between you and your Dr.s)
Roy