It’s been a while since I’ve shared a video from Gem at Wheels no heels and this one has inspired me to respond to the questions asked about wheelchair users on a Netflix show called You can’t ask that 😀.
Question 1 Why are you in a wheelchair?
Answer, because my left side is paralyzed and I can’t walk more than 30 steps without becoming exhausted.
Question 2 What are the perks of life in a wheelchair?
Answer, great parking spaces, as long as a non disabled person hasn’t parked there. Great public washrooms 🚻, as long as a non disabled person isn’t using it. Getting great treatment when at the doctor’s office or the hospital.
Question 3 Can you shower yourself?
Answer, yes and no. Because I don’t have access to both hands, I can’t wash my hair, so my husband does that for me, but I’m able to wash everything else. However, I prefer to take baths, and I use a bath lift to get into and out of the tub.
Question 4 Do you get mad when you see able bodied people being lazy?
Answer, only when they encroach into my spaces. For example, when I go to a show or concert and I’m seated in the disabled section next to someone who is obviously not disabled and who is only there because it’s better seating.
Question 5 Can you have sex?
Answer, Yes,though I don’t. And why is none of your business.
Question 6 Do you care if non disabled people use the disabled toilet?
Answer YES! It really pisses me off!
Question 7 How do you feel when someone says that you’re an inspiration?
Answer: If it’s someone I know, it’s lovely. If you don’t know me, it’s patronizing.
Thanks to Gem for the inspiration for this blog post, and I hope that answers some of your questions about being a wheelchair user.
Just remember it can happen to anyone at any time, and it’s nothing to be ashamed about.
Thanks for this, my friend. This is very relevant particularly for seniors who may experience this in the future.
True, but not just seniors. I was just 5 weeks after my 50th birthday when I became paralyzed from a massive stroke caused by a tumor that had been growing inside my heart for over 25 years without my knowledge 💔
So sorry for you. Know that your write-ups bring joy to many people like me. I truly appreciate your notes.
Thank you so much for this. I appreciate it ❤️
I, by no means, want to diminish your feelings. Or be upsetting. All I’m asking is before you get too upset at the people who park in or use handicap services that don’t appear to be handicap; appearances can be deceiving. A really close friend of mine has severe COPD, by no fault of his own. He can’t walk 500 feet without having to stop and rest. He had a reaction to sometime in the anesthesia when having a colonoscopy. He had been in the hospital before to have surgery. We had no reason to think this procedure would be any different. To look at him, you’d think he was healthy as a horse. I have another friend, again to look at him, you’d think he’d never been sick a day in his life. He had a widow maker and now only has 10% usage of his heart and wears a defibrillator.
I agree whole heartedly that people take advantage of these services that don’t need them. And there isn’t nearly enough accommodation (in the US) for people suffering from a disability. We have more parking spots at Kroger for the people picking up their groceries than we do handicapped parking places.
I’m well aware of invisible disabilities. However, I meant people who are obviously able bodied that literally run out of the shop, with no disabled parking placard or stickers on the license plate. Or in one case, a construction worker who decides to use the wheelchair accessible washroom to evacuate his bowels while I nearly wet myself waiting for him to finish. The look on his face when he saw me waiting was all I needed to tell me that he wasn’t disabled.
I understand. Oh, wow. I’m sorry that happened.
❤️☺️
💕