‘People like you …’

Today Matt bravely weathered freezing conditions to swim a mile of beautiful Lake Windermere. 

I don’t know anything more about Matt’s experience, other than he is now recovering in a local pub!  Matt has been gathering sponsorship from his family and friends and has raised over £400 …thank you so much Matt and hope you’ve managed to get warm again!

If anyone else would like to sponsor Matt, please click on the link below and mention him in your comment.

Getting around with my walking stick has mostly been a very positive experience so far.  Generally people are kind and helpful, allowing me space and time to get where I need to go.  I’ve had people help get my suitcase onto a plane, open doors for me, put my shopping in the car, help me off trains and offer help everywhere and my lovely friends and family are happy to let me link arms with them when I’m walking with them (I’m much quicker that way). Occasionally, I have encountered the odd person who is less than helpful, but on the whole, the great British public are good people.

A couple of weeks ago, I was returning to my car, which was parked at the side of the road.  I waited for a gap in passing traffic before opening the car door and began the slightly complicated process of getting myself, my bags and my stick into the car, without poking my eye out or trapping something in the door!   Suddenly a speeding car whizzed by, with a cross looking man at the wheel, beeping his horn at the dreadful inconvenience I was causing him! 

Quick as a flash and without giving it a moment’s thought, I waved my stick in the air and shouted “f*ck off!!”.  Even I was shocked!  

So, i think I have found out that when I’m elderly, I’m not going to be a sweet old lady but one of those cantankerous old biddies who is always having a go at someone!  

More recently, I was in a busy supermarket on a Saturday afternoon, something I generally avoid (busy shops have always been my idea of hell!).  In one very busy aisle, a woman pushed past me, huffing and puffing and muttering to herself.  When she noticed my stick, she turned and apologised to me (fair enough, perhaps she was just in a bad mood because she feels the same way about shopping as  I do?). She went to walk away then turned back again and said “perhaps people like you should do your shopping on a week day, while the rest of us are at work!”.

I was gobsmacked!  So much so, that I just stood there and said nothing (where was my stick waving, f off shouting attitude when I needed it?!).  Before I had time to articulate a reply, she had rushed off again.  Perhaps she had run out of coffee or wine (or hard liquor) at her house and was feeling stressed?!

What I wanted to say to her was …

• People with disability also work …I work!
• People with disability shouldn’t need to hide away in case they get in the way of those more fortunate.
• People with disability don’t need advice from those more fortunate.
• The whole world is set up for the benefit of those without disability, without people with disability also having to adapt to YOUR needs too.

I don’t know where to start on the phrase “people like you”!!

Those that know me, will know that I am a bit of a socialist and have always fought for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, the rights of minority ethnic groups etc and challenged inequality in general.  I realise now, how ignorant I was of the discrimination people with disability often face.  It will definitely be remaining on my list of injustices to speak out about in future.  

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