So this week at UVSC is officially "Disabilities Awareness Week", and I've never seen anything more insulting.
My entire life's endeavor has been disability unawareness. When I meet a new person or people, I don't want them to think of me as 'The Guy in the Wheelchair'. Of course, there's not a lot I can really do about that so I try to somehow amend the title I can't escape with precursor words. 'The Funny Guy in the Wheelchair', or even 'The Hot Guy in the Wheelchair' are good examples of titles that are pleasing. But it's really irritating to be known by an object my butt happens to be stuck to a lot.
Also, my number one pet peeve is when people assume that because my legs don't work, my brain must not work either. Believe you me, friends, there is nothing more degrading than being treated like you're mentally handicapped. Whenever some idiot comes to me with a condescending smile, hands on their knees, using a voice reserved for very small annoying dogs, I feel like punching them in the face. "Disabilities Awareness Week" is just the sort of event that encourages that mentality.
The best way to make 'handicapped' people feel comfortable and accepted is to not treat them differently at all. I always forget I'm in a wheelchair until people ask me those questions they're afraid to ask (what happened to you, what's your disease called, is it genetic, etc.). I'm not saying I'm too proud to accept help sometimes, but there is a vast difference between accommodation and overbearing, constant reminders.
I seriously considered writing a letter to someone, but two things stopped me. First: I have vowed never to become one of those whiny, self-pitying fools that seem to comprise the majority of the group labeled 'people in wheelchairs'. Second: I really didn't know who to write to. I'm sure the second issue could have been dealt with quite easily, but the first will probably hold my tongue time and time again. Oh well. 'That's life', as they say in France.
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2 comments:
Hear, hear. I always hated stuff like "Disabilities Awareness Week". I mean, honestly, it's the same concept as having something like "Naturally Ugly People Awareness Week". I mean yes, I can see the value in having a week where people really try to put themselves into the shoes of ugly people. It's got to be hard to live life that way, and I think you could gain more respect for them, but still...nobody wants everyone to be aware of how ugly they are. Much less defined by it.
On a side note: you and Stephen Hawking are the only intelligent guys in wheelchairs and you alone are the only hot guy in a wheelchair. And you know you like it because you get to defy people's expectations.
On yet another note, did you know that there's a Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge in scouting? I think you should write Robert Baden-Powell about that one.
I actually participated in "Disabilities Awareness Week" by putting myself in a wheelchair for two hours. The movie they showed said pretty much the same thing you said, Trevor. That is that people with disabilities should be treated as if they don't have a disability. They made it clear that it is annoying for disabled people to be treated like they have a disability. It is really funny to read your "I prefer unawareness . . ." because you pretty much said they same things they taught us. As for the wheelchair part, I found that people who felt okay to offer some help in pushing me were the people who had been in wheelchairs themselves. I think "awareness" is simply that. We recognize that there are some areas where we could help people with disabilities, simply because we care, not because we want to be demeaning. I guess my point is that "Disabilities Awareness Week" may be a lot more on your side than you think.
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