Wheelchair users (or other obvious disability)

[ShakingAfterAllThis]

Following a car accident my DD (twenties) is in a wheelchair which may well be a long term thing.
She gets called at by people e.g. youths and doesn't always feel safe.

DH has suggested carrying a rape alarm.
I was wondering whether anyone uses body cameras (or dash cam ones?) or has any other good suggestions?

I have several friends who are guide dog owners and use body cameras and similar to record access refusals. I think it might be the go pro type cameras.

I’ve never felt the need to and find the public helpful but get her anything that will make her feel safer! Also decide whether she wants to ignore comments or whether she wants to arm herself with some good ‘come backs’. It sounds like she’s been unlucky, in many many years I’ve only had a few comments!

Maybe it's the area.

I don't think she'll be good with 'come backs' and I would worry they might inflame any situation.

I’m in my early 30s and use a walking stick or rollator (my zimmer, as DH calls it!).

I’m sorry your DD has experienced that, that’s awful. For me, it tends to be contained to a certain demographic of people glaring at me when I park in a disabled space, then looking even angrier when I produce a blue badge 🙄

Body cams/personal protection devices hadn’t even occurred to me but it’s something I’m going to put some thought into.

I'm in a wheelchair. I've recently bought a safety device which sprays UV liquid (only lasts about 48 hours though). I also use padlocks to ensure noone can run off with my bag I keep on the back of my chair.

How safe I feel depends on where I am and what I'm doing, plus whether someone else is with me.

Fucks sake. Why are some people such absolute arseholes. I am so sorry your daughter and other posters are going through this. Get her anything that helps her feel safe. Xx

I'm sorry people are such arseholes.

Helmet cams are very popular with cyclists - thankfully they don't need to be attached to a helmet! GoPro are one of the more popular brands, but there's lots out there https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/bike-helmet-cameras-327336

I walk with a stick and so far have been very lucky - I have had no abuse and everyone I have met goes out of their way to be helpful. I guess it depends a bit where you live.

I am sorry your DD has this challenge on top of everything else. It is a sorry day when you cannot trust your fellow citizens to be kind and humane.

I'm permanently on crutches and have to use a wheelchair or hire a mobility scooter if we are going to be going any great distance and I've found that the public are much more helpful when they see someone on crutches than in a chair. On crutches they will hold doors or offer for me to go in front in a queue etc. When I'm in a wheelchair of any kind I've told DH before I actually feel like a target sometimes, he didn't really believe me until DD1 pointed it out too and asked why people seemed to hate wheelchair users.
A body cam thing is actually a really good idea, I'd never thought of.

TBH I don't think a rape alarm will be of any use. All it does is make a noise. Agree with pps about the possibility of a camera to record access issues.

My dd has experienced some awful behaviour whilst in her wheelchair.
She has had people threaten to push her in front of a bus.
A person decided they were going to help push her when she was going up a hill. I wrote about it on here a few years ago. He grabbed her shoulder and started to push her up the hill and despite shouting at him no one around came to help her. And he was angry at her for refusing his help!
I have even had a woman try to take over from me pushing her up a hill!
She has had religious groups decide to stop her when going through a park, grab her hands and pray for her.
She has been left at bus stops by bus drivers, almost pushed out of her chair by 'helpful' bus drivers getting her off buses.
I fear for her whenever she out on her own, a lot of what has happened to her is when she was at uni, in two different cities. She has removable handles on her wheelchair which she usually takes off but forgot that one time.

I'm sorry your DD is having to deal with this on top of everything else.

White cane user with some vision here. I've had one instance of people mocking my cane - mimicking the sweeping motion and laughing, which I just ignored.

A lot more often I get children loudly asking their parents what it is or why I have it which generally doesn't bother me, as the parents are quick to answer and explain. The 8 or 9 year old who shouted at the top of their voice, "MUM, WHY'S SHE GOT THAT?!" at a station recently, made me feel really self conscious and I actually shrunk down in my seat. The parent handled it well, which was good.

Had one taxi driver state "you don't look blind" while dropping me off, which was awkward and I had to educate him about how sight loss is a spectrum and people with a lot of vision can use canes as it helps with certain situations.

Generally though, people are decent. My friends with guide dogs have a much tougher time due to access refusals.