Ok so I have been in a wheelchair now for nearly three years. Not that long in the big picture but long enough to find 10 things that I can honestly say is just not cool..

1) Bend down to talk to me. Yes I am short but there is no need to do the whole bend down in front of me with your hand on your knees, carry that silly smile and talk to me like a child. Yes this really happens, just not cool and completely degrading. 

2) Talk to my wife about me on my behalf. Ok this has only happened a few times but has to be right up there with the most irritating thing ever. It’s my legs that are the problem, try getting to know me you will soon learn my mind is fine and my mouth works very well. 

3) “You want to slow down in that thing”. Ok if you want to annoy me this is the way to go about it, simply shout this at me across the office, go on do it. No seriously I don’t get that angry but be realistic. First off my chair is not a thing it’s my form of mobility and yes I move around, it may appear like I am speedy but truth is I am only moving as fast as anyone else in a rush so please think before you shout out stupid statements. 

4) Give me a dirty look when I pull into a disabled spot. Now this happens to me on a daily basis. Yes I am 35 and yes I have the right to park here. I get this a lot from old people sometimes they will stare at me or make comments between themselves, I am also hard of hearing and so I can lip read. This one makes my blood boil. 

5) Talk to children as if I am an object. Recently in a shop a young child was walking backwards and walked into me. His mother genuinely said “be careful of that wheelchair” no lady the correct statement is be carful you walked into that gentleman. Teach children we are humans not objects. 

6) Talk to me like I am deaf. Right I need to explain this especially as I am deaf but people shout at me, like I can’t hear them I mean what the hell. I wear hearing aids so I can hear fine but between the bending over and the shouting in my face really makes me want to slap you so it ain’t cool it ain’t normal so STOP! 

7) Take pictures of me. This is a true story. I was sat waiting for a friend and I had my freewheel on my chair, this guy just walked up and started taking photos of me. I was like “you ok mate” he ignored me looked at me freewheel muttered something about how cool it was and walked off!! Please imagine my face. 

8) Move me out of your way. I was in a museum once looking at a temple exhibit when suddenly I was facing the wall. A Japanese tourist decided I was in her shot so wheeled me out of the way. I was furious!!!! 

9) I know a guy he is disabled you probably know him?  In one word no. I know a lot of people some suffer with disabilities does not mean I am going to know that person. 1 in 16 people in world are disabled how popular do you think I am? 

10) Say “awwww I am so sorry you are in a chair” Come on why are you sorry, it’s not your fault. Being disabled is not a negative thing it is just the way it is, for me I have learnt so much and I would not change that for the world. I would love to have my life back the way it was but I really don’t want people feeling all sorry for me, trust me I do more than most able bodied people so please go be sorry for them. 

These are all things that honestly happen on a daily basis and they all have a level in my irritation scale. Think please just think!!