What is dis-abled?

Our language, writing and speech is carefully crafted to reflect ‘positivity’ about disability and we usually see the disabled Olympics and sports people who are wonderful examples of what young, fit amputees are able to do, but where is the voice of the others? Those that are sick, diseased, fatigued, unable to move without extreme pain, the elderly, arthritic and cancer ridden people trying to survive?

What’s it like for them? I see the government and community gradually turning against them, seeing them as an expensive inconvenience, taking away their paltry independence payments and labelling them as benefit cheats. They’re an easy target

When it happens to you and you’ve been an able bodied and active person for much of your life….

Suddenly you’re much shorter and immobile.

People assume your mind is dis-abled and talk to you and treat you like a pet.

Any adaption, conversion or equipment you need is so expensive that only the mega rich could afford it and as it’s only for you, you feel selfish for needing it.

Every task is difficult, time consuming and irritating to others. There are many things never spoken or written about that a wheelchair user has to find a work around for by themselves.

Try putting your pants and trousers on sitting down or sliding from wheelchair to toilets of different heights with loose cheap plastic seats.

Disability ramps are often a joke and so steep that your tip over if you try to use them.

Cars are often obstructing pavements and ramps. Healthy people take up disabled parking ‘just getting a coffee’ or ‘waiting for someone’.

Your opinions and needs are disregarded as you can’t do anything about them anyway.

You’re seated or wheeled in a corner and expected to amuse yourself for hours on end while everyone else gets on with life.

People tell you that you’re no bother but you can see by their expressions and body language that you are.

In the end it’s better to not ask, not go anywhere, not make appointments and to go without to be ‘less of a bother’ and not cause a fuss, living as spartan a lifestyle as possible. The government count on this, making any applications for support too difficult to make and any interview like the Spanish Inquisition.

You used to fit in but now you’re an alien in your environment.

Your life used to have meaning and purpose and now it’s just ‘waiting for god’.

These are the people that have no voice, they are an easy target for muggers, the stressed health and social services and particularly the desperate government cost cutters.

They are ignored by much of society and have no voice. One day it will probably be you.