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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

World book day - wheelchair

44 replies

winkygirl · 15/01/2017 20:58

DD (10 years old) is loving The Midnight Gang by David Walliams and has asked to go to school as Amber for World Book Day. This would involve wearing pyjamas, making fake plaster casts for her arms and legs and hiring a child's wheelchair on which I would put a sign "property of Lord Funt Hospital".

Problem is I am feeling uncomfortable about her using a wheelchair as part of a fancy dress outfit. I am worried it is inappropriate/insensitive. Am I over-thinking this?

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 15/01/2017 21:01

You're going to hire a wheelchair? Really?
Is she expected to sit in it all day? Does the school know to expect her to suddenly turn up in a wheelchair?
I'd get her to choose something else.

formerbabe · 15/01/2017 21:01

I don't think you should.

PeridotPassion · 15/01/2017 21:02

No I think it's a really bad idea op.

UnderClaws · 15/01/2017 21:02

As a teacher, sorry I'd say please don't! It'd bring chaos with racing, running over, taking up space etc especially as others would inevitably have goes and would one up each other

Original poster
winkygirl · 15/01/2017 21:04

Fair enough. I'll point out it is impractical and point her in another direction.

Thanks v much for the quick responses.

OP posts:
CatsRidingRollercoasters · 15/01/2017 21:04

Another teacher here - this would be a very bad idea. Please choose something else.

elodie2000 · 15/01/2017 22:18

Glad you're rethinking this OP. Really really bad idea to hire a wheelchair! It would be different if your DD was actually a wheelchair user herself but as it is, no, just no.

BriefExclamations · 15/01/2017 22:22

😂 Are you teasing us OP? BTW I presume you know it's quite a while before world book day.

Rosae · 15/01/2017 22:26

Make card board wheels which can be stuck on to the side of any chair. or carried at her side to pretend a wheelchair.

Rosae · 15/01/2017 22:27

Wrap bandages round the bottoms of pjs and shoes and arms. Sorted.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 15/01/2017 22:28

This can't be serious surely? Confused

A wheelchair is not for "dress up"!

bumsexatthebingo · 15/01/2017 22:29

Er no. Not sure how anyone would think this was ok but looking at your posting history I don't think you're a troll.

AndNowItsSeven · 15/01/2017 22:32

It's not just impractical it's offensive.
As for hiring a chair what if a parent then went to hire one for their disabled child, and they were all out on loan.

Mehfruittea · 15/01/2017 22:36

As a wheelchair user I have mixed feelings. It's hugely impractical, awkward, difficult to manoeuvre, in the way and taking up space. What a great lesson for your DD and her school to learn?

Integration is about 'normalising' disability - no one should bat an eyelid but a wheelchair is still seen as something major to accommodate.

My DS asked me when he will get a wheelchair of his own, in the same way as he asks about when he's old enough for a mobile phone. He's 5 and seeing me use a wheelchair has normalised it for him.

So I think I would feel a little uncomfortable for your DD in hoping that she gets on OK, but would support her if that is genuinely her choice of favourite character. It shows the efforts to expose children to more diverse groups through books is working. I would be proud of her!

You could try approaching a local charity that supports young wheelchair users in your area for tips on how to do this sympathetically and without offence. They may even loan you a wheelchair. I would also give the school prior warning and ask them for support (not permission).

I hope it goes well! starts to think about world book day and what the hell to do

bumsexatthebingo · 15/01/2017 22:37

If she's white I wouldn't recommend wearing blackface and going as a black character either in case you were wondering...

Mehfruittea · 15/01/2017 22:45

World book day is 2 March - 6 weeks away. I know IABU but would hope school would give me 6 weeks notice if a costume is required. I'm disabled and slow and cannot pull home made costume out of my arse at a moments notice. I suppose I could send DS in with my wheelchair....Grin

OutDamnedWind · 15/01/2017 22:50

Could she not just do it without the wheelchair aspect?

elliejjtiny · 15/01/2017 22:51

Mehfruittea my DS2 (8) is a wheelchair user and my DS3 (6) used to ask when he'd be old enough to have one Smile.

SawdustInMyHair · 15/01/2017 22:52

She wouldn't be dressing up as someone with a (permanent) disability, she'd be dressed as someone using a wheelchair because of broken legs. The comparison to blackface is ridiculous! It's more extravagant but no different to wearing a sling or fake bandages.

Having said that, it'd be wildly impractical - don't do it! (another teacher here - I'm already worrying about what to dress as!)

Original poster
winkygirl · 15/01/2017 22:54

No I am not a troll. I have been a member since 2006.

We are reading the book at the moment and DD was thinking well ahead when she asked about it for world book day.

As I said in my original post I felt uncomfortable about the idea but wanted a second opinion. And I felt I would get honest opinions on Mumsnet. Thank you all for those.

As I said earlier I will tell DD to think of another character and explain practicalities/sensitivities relating to this decision.

OP posts:
bumsexatthebingo · 15/01/2017 22:55

Using a disability aid as a prop whether the character is permanently disabled or not is in really poor taste. Like a pp said - what if someone who genuinely needed a wheelchair was turned away because the op had hired it for her dd to dick about in!

DelphineCormier · 15/01/2017 22:55

Absolutely not. Highly offensive as well as extremely impractical. Wheelchair users don't get to choose to use them because it's cool Hmm

babychamcherryb · 15/01/2017 22:58

Google 'cripping up'

PurpleDaisies · 15/01/2017 23:00

The op said she's not doing it over two hours ago for anyone that missed it...

TheDowagerDuchessofDenver · 15/01/2017 23:03

I don't think it's offensive. Blackface is offensive because:

  • It's suggesting that being black is exotic, alien, other - putting it in the same category as being a pirate or a princess.
  • It has a long history being used offensively, and it invokes that history.
  • Black people say they are offended by it and have asked people to stop.

I think if your daughter wanted to dress up as 'a cripple', that would be very offensive. But that's not what she said - she wants to dress up as her favourite character in a book, who is a wheelchair user, and that's awesome.

Having said that, I do agree with the teachers that hiring a wheelchair will result in wheelchair races down the corridor at top speed. I like Rosea's cardboard wheels suggestion.