I don't look crippled enough!
We walked in to a massive crowd of people, we tried to work out how to get in to the theatre, did a tour of the bar, lobby, and cloakroom and still had no idea were we where going. A door opened and finally a member of staff to tell us where to go but we got this response.
鈥淪orry we are short staffed today as you can see鈥
Me- 鈥渘o we can鈥檛 actually that鈥檚 why we are asking you for help鈥
(Looking worried) 鈥 oh right, I see erm 鈥 well I guess you should follow me 鈥
This incident got me thinking about all the other times people didn鈥檛 realise my disability, admittedly I don鈥檛 always use a long cane but even when I do I often get hassle, I sometimes wonder weather its because of my age.
Take a bus for example I very rarely sit in a priority seat, but if the bus driver is a maniac or my joints are playing up, and its that or fall flat on my face I go for it. But despite having my long cane and florescent orange buss pass on show I still get dodgy looks and have even experienced being sat on by a rude person who didn鈥檛 think I looked needy enough to sit there.
I use a long cane, have a slight limp, wear a hat my entire life, have very thick glasses and have very wobbly eyes, that not a big enough clue?
Obviously not for my GP reception who, after I had worked out that the board did say my name informed me that they didn鈥檛 realise I needed help, it wasn鈥檛 on my notes that I鈥檓 partially sighted. you can read more about my infurationg visit to the GP
Then there was an interesting incident in the London dungeons it was dark and I was about to go on the ride that simulates being hung, I was told to put my long cane down take of my glasses and then sit over there, it was very dark, I could not see, how the hell was I supposed to no where to go, I stood and got an arm to attach to. I must add that the staff where really nice and even brought my long cane back to me when the ride had finished. They just didn鈥檛 think 鈥榓 person who is visually impaired, maybe we should ask if they need help鈥.
On the other hand if service providers ask if I/we need help, is that them being helpful, inclusive and understanding or is it a patronising attack on our independence?
Now there鈥檚 a question.
I think it depends on the situation and the ability for the service provider to accept a 鈥渘o I鈥檓 fine thanks鈥. It is annoying when shopping for a new bra and the shop assistant comes over to offer help, I say I鈥檓 fine thanks very much and they still loiter watching me survey there lingerie. On other occasions, whilst trying to find platform 5274鈥 at Victoria station I defiantly want help!
鈥 Visit
Comments
I sympathize with this. I'm not partially sighted, but still have difficulty on buses. Due to poor balance, perception of speed and distance, and co-ordination, (not to mention pain sometimes!) I need to sit. I have a bus pass which is a great help in my home town but not much use as proof of entitlement to a seat elsewhere. I've also frequently booked assistance on the train and had it not turn up or comments made about my looking like a perfectly fit, healthy 20-something year old!
Fortunately, most people are quite good and helpful, especially if I explain that despite looking 'normal' I do have some difficulties.
yer totally i think people need to recognise hidden disabilitys more, mind you i wouldnt exactly say mines hiddern and its not something i want to hide away from ether.
Saying that im sure most people can admit to makeing a judgement about someone elses disability, or lack of it without really noing much about it, just the same as people are prdujusced in other ways.
"you cant judge a book by its cover"