To be really fed up at thoughtless disabilism? Long rant, sorry

[Sixweekstowait]

Generally I just get on with having a disability- sometimes I feel sad at the things I can't do but generally I focus on what I can and I do amazingly interesting work where my disability isn't an issue and my intellect is what defines me . But this last week I've got really fed up with careless, thoughtless disabilism. Firstly, the selfish s*s at the station who think that the disabled spaces are there to make life easier for commuters being dropped off or picked up or for people calling in to renew their season tickets. Well on Monday morning at the height of the morning rush hour I'd had enough and one hapless commuter get the full force of my wrath. Other commuters stood around open mouthed of course and looking faintly embarrassed. Then an organisation I've just started work for wanted proof of my disability so I could claim for a taxi. First time I've ever been asked - wtf did they think I was doing? Putting on a silly walk so I didn't have to take the tube? And then the final straw today - Air bloody New Zealand ( of whom I expected better) wouldn't let me select a seat today when I booked online - because I requested special assistance - ie a wheelchair to the aircraft - I don't need it on board. They'll graciously allocate seats when we check in? This is Business Premier we're talking about ffs - I'm not going to be left with the last row by the lavatories. So yet something else to deal with - you can imagine the tone of the email I've just sent. FWIW - when I choose seats with BA online, they just shade out the ones by the emergency exits ( which I understand) and then treat me like a grown- up and let me choose my own seat. Feeling sad now - it's hard work being cross and fighting battles and sometimes I just want a big hug and for organisations / people to just think a bit and for me not to have to be a stroppy sod

liverpool there are people who think that disability means something very very specific.

I was told once by an occupational health consultant that losing consciousness is not a disability 'just' an acute illness as it's not like it puts me in a wheelchair or even more stupid it doesn't effect me all the time - I said no because if it did I would be dead. There wasn't really anything he could reply to that.

Liverpool and proudAS, oh I get sooooo angry when people say stuff like that!

The definition of disability is 'a physical or mental conditions that limits a person's movements, senses or activities'.

or

'a disadvantage or handicap especially one imposed or recognised by the law'.

Well I'm pretty sure that ASD qualifies!

I often wonder if the people who say shit like that ever stop to think what it actually might be like to have autism, to not understand the complex web of social interactions that are so essential to the survival of the human race, (as we are social creatures) and which 99% of us take for granted because they are so natural to us.

To not grasp the concept of danger to the point where they have to be constantly 'policed' by others to prevent them causing potentially serious harm to themselves or others.

Most people can imagine what it might feel like to not be able to see or hear but could they imagine how it might feel to not be able to feel the ground under your feet? Or to have your inner ear not function correctly so your sense of balance is constantly off?

Do they have the faintest idea of how difficult it is for someone with autism to feel so overwhelmed with emotions or even physical feelings (like hunger or pain) they don't understand and not have the ability to tell anyone so sometimes they just explode with frustration?

Do they realise how hard it is for a child to be expected to sit still in a classroom and concentrate on writing and reading when the noise and light in the room physically hurts them? How many people would be expected to perform under those circumstances!

(Of course those specific issues relate to my own son with ASD not universally to everyone with autism as it varies so much from person to person)

I very much doubt they give it much thought but if those things don't count as a disability I don't know what does! People just need to learn to have a bit more empathy for others and that goes the same for any other kind of disability, whether visible or not :)

Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant :D