A couple of weeks ago, my mom and I enjoyed a matinee performance of swan lake from the wheelchair section of the theater, which is the back row, by the doors. As is our usual practice, we started to leave just as the audience began applauding. I was using my portable electric wheelchair and was already into the aisle when the usher opened the doors of the still darkened theater. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a woman was in front of me, and unfortunately, I bumped into her with my wheelchair . She said sorry twice, and I said, ” You should be.”
This isn’t about me being in the wrong. It’s about the fact that you should NEVER think that you can just quickly get in front of a power wheelchair user. Every power wheelchair is different, and the user may not be able to stop as quickly as you may think. Luckily for the woman I bumped into, I have good reflexes. But I don’t have great eyesight,which should be obvious by my glasses.
This woman was lucky that I was in my portable chair that weighs 60 pounds and not a chair weighing over 200 pounds, or I could have done some real damage instead of some mild bruising.
Before this incident happened, I used to joke with my husband to speed up when I would follow him in my wheelchair ,that he’d end up in my lap if he wasn’t careful. But that’s not the worst thing that can happen if you stop suddenly in front of me, or if you just want to quickly get in front of me. And I’m okay with it. Because people need to learn to NEVER DO IT.