living with a person with a disability

People that shy away from those with a disability do not know what they are missing out on.

As a child we used to have a deaf and dumb girl called Debbie stay with us when things were getting too much for her mum. I used to spend many hours passing the time with her. In fact I was well in to my 20's when a pal turned to me and said,"Remember that deaf girl that used to stay with you? I was so impressed how you two would sit there conversing in sign language."

Believe it or not I had not even thought about that for years, didn't at first recall that is what we did! Funny how kids can accept and get on with it a lot easier than adults.

I also had a family member with Down's Syndrome. She was about 20 years older than me but she loved the bones of me. When I went over to visit my day would largely be taken up going out for strolls with Angela.

In my early teens I went on a week holiday where we we were looking after a group of teenagers with all manner of disability. It was hard work to be honest but the feed back and affection you got back made every second worth it.

[peterco]

SV Net....."Im autistic - Whats your problem?"

On a t shirt ??????

That is taking a step backwards and you are labelling a person.

pete

Originally Posted by peterco

SV Net....."Im autistic - Whats your problem?"

On a t shirt ??????

That is taking a step backwards and you are labelling a person.

pete

hay slow down there .You do get to the stage where sometimes you just want to go out without the hassel of the pointing and whispering.
Thinking is not doing!!!!

Being on crutches and for the first week after my accident,in a wheelchair,really opened my eyes to actually how bad people with disabilties are/can be treated, people have let doors slam shut in my face,have tried pushing me out the way when getting into a lift...think the best one was when one of the guys i went nec show with got asked what i'd done etc whilst i was stood right next to him!!! grrrr.

My mum used to child mind a deaf kid and he was the cutest most affectionate little boy you'd ever meat, I'd even go and visit him at his house when I had time, it used to bring a big smile to his face and that made me feel good.

Never really treated disabled people any differently, ripped a guy in a wheelchair before for having thin legs (he had a well toned upper body so accentuated it more) and prestine shoes, also called him lazy for not wanting to stand up. Many may think that's insensitive but it was all said in jest and he thanked me when he left for treating him like a person. I've also pushed a guy with no legs off of my bar, but to be fair I didn't know he had no legs at the time!

Sometimes I get caught off gaurd and don't know where to look, mainly when there's a problem with the eye's as I like to make eye contact with people and it can make me feel like I'm doin something wrong and they think I'm only looking at whatever is wrong with them, I'm sure this is only my hang-up though and they don't think this at all.

I generally think that disabled people are a lot nicer, warmer and understanding than the general public.

Originally Posted by JessicaRabbit

I myself, am registered disabled. I have blue badges for the car, although on my 'good' days I try and leave the disabled spaces for someone who is potentially less mobile than myself. But I am constantly amazed and stunned at the amount of people (and I HATE to be ageist, but mainly it's the elderly) who will look at me and shake their heads when I park - legally! - in a disabled space. I'm sure that coz I am a 35yr old woman with a 2yr old child, that they think I'm blagging my case or I'm blatantly deceiving people coz I'm too lazy to park elsewhere.

Oooh I know that one.
I've tried very hard not to develop an 'attitude' since becoming a crip, (or 'Mobility Challenged' if you wanna be PC about it ), but I will admit to getting a little inner devilish smile when I see the embarassment on the aforementioned grumpy gits faces as I make an elaborate show of putting my blue badge on the dashboard.

The stranges thing is, I will get stares when I'm parking the car - able bodied looking, young(ish) woman - with a dismissive when they see me then take the crutches out of the back seat...

... but I get nothing but admiration from folks when I roll up on the bike with my crutches slung over my back. Go figure.

Originally Posted by JessicaRabbit

...I myself, am registered disabled. I have blue badges for the car, although on my 'good' days I try and leave the disabled spaces for someone who is potentially less mobile than myself. But I am constantly amazed and stunned at the amount of people (and I HATE to be ageist, but mainly it's the elderly) who will look at me and shake their heads when I park - legally! - in a disabled space. I'm sure that coz I am a 35yr old woman with a 2yr old child, that they think I'm blagging my case or I'm blatantly deceiving people coz I'm too lazy to park elsewhere.

Jo is exactly the same. And yes we have had the exact same response. In fact a person in a wheel chair gave Jo quite a bit of grief over the fact she had taken one of these spaces when she wasn't even in a wheel chair. It seemed to by pass this person that they had no difficulty moving from A to B due to the fact they are already in a wheel chair, whereas Jo has to walk with a knackered ankle.

[timwilky]

My friends son has Aspergers syndrome. Whilst he is now a young man and has learnt to cope and in reason behave normally, it was not always the case.

Before he had a diagnosis. He could be extreamly "naughty", one that always makes me smile was as a 10 year old he was like all boys a fiddler. But in his case it was that platent that he was described by his teachers as a public masterbater. One shouted at him in class. "Stop that it is not nice". to which he continued saying "It is". Well who was right?.

I also have friends who have a 7 year old with Cerebal Palsey. Once you get over the instinct of there is something not quite right. Him speaking with an American accent is a dead give away there. What a delightful child. It is just a pity that you know life is going to be so cruel to him

Originally Posted by Lissa

Many years ago my best mate Rob had a big bike accident and ended up in a wheelchair. I used to go round and kidnap him to take him to the pub, and what really annoyed me was people coming up to me and whispering 'how is he?'. I always used to say,' Ask him. His legs don't work but the rest of him does!'

I had the same with a mate who was injured in a rally car. He could do wheelies in the chair, spin it round on one wheel and could rip houses apart with his arms. But in the pub people would ask me what he wanted to drink

Ask him yourself, it might be his round next.

i have met jo (big apes BETTER half) and you cant help but notice the burns but after 5 min in her company you forget about them as she has such a strong personality. she is brilliantly funny and puts up with Mr Ape (respect Mrs Ape) lol.

Im doing sign language at college and my teacher is deaf. she has opened our eyes to the way people treat deaf people. I dont think its people being intentionally nasty but just not thinking - ie when they speak they slow their speech down and over pronounce words. My teacher says she now points out she is deaf not stupid

At school we have 2 boys on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Scale. One has aspergers and is much more intelligent than the other but his social skills are very poor. the other is not as intelligent but very sociable - he will approach people to ask to play - although with an American accent.

My dad had a brain tumour about 3 years ago and was operated on. he is like an old man now but is only 63. feel so sorry for my mum she had to give up work to look after him. he wont leave the house, cant hold a sensible conversation and will not leave the house these days. but she just gets on with it. I dont know if I could

We have a boy starting our school tomorrow who suffers from ADHD, autism and has severe behaviour problems. Its hard dealing with kids like this on a daily basis, I fully admire the parents who have to deal with this behaviour and other peoples attitudes on a full time basis.