Day 2 - Wheelchair in town

[NorasMom]

Part 1: Our town is a series of hills. The large parking lot we use is at the bottom of a hill, and the hospital complex spreads across several blocks at the top. This is not the hospital I use, so I'm not all that familiar with it.

This afternoon, I hopped in my wheelchair, maneuvered around the potholes, did better at staying on the smooth parts of the sidewalk, and zipped right up the hill. It went much better than my last attempt. I kept on going...until the sidewalk abruptly ended. I was next to an abandoned church, and there was no one around. I look straight ahead, and I'm so high on the hill that I can't see where it goes down. It was a really scary slum area, and while I'm sitting there dumbfounded it finally occurred to me that I'm more than a little lost and need to get out of there. Yeah; I'd gone a block too far. I was supposed to turn left at one point instead of continuing on. Once the shock wore off, I laughed myself silly, but at least now I know the wheelchair can go mountain climbing!

Part 2: This was the part that has me fuming. Fortunately, I was still in a good mood from getting lost, so I did not express myself verbally with the various foul words that were running around in my head. I am not a small woman. Put me on a motorized wheelchair, and I'm even bigger. Well, apparently I was completely invisible this afternoon. I'd been sitting in front of the bank of elevators in the hospital for quite some time. I turned down 2 that stopped, because they were half full and I'm too dangerous on 4 wheels. The next one comes down, and out of nowhere came a group of middle-aged women who just walked right in front of me, filled the elevator, and never glanced my way. For the second time in half an hour, I was speechless. They never saw me. Because I was in a wheelchair.

After leaving, I did the only sensible thing. I stopped at Walmart for a new mystery, a frozen pizza, and a whole lot of chocolate.

[kycmary]

WOW & Double WOW! So sorry you had an experience like that yep pizza a good book & chocolate works in my book too!

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

I wish that I was there, NorasMom , because it would have taken a lot of restraint to not give that group of women a piece of my mind! But then I would have been out of my mind! 🤬

[Amore55]

I remember being in a wheelchair and people would ask my (then) husband what I wanted to eat for dinner when we were in a restaurant! He was always gracious, but would firmly say to just ask ME, not him. Yes, people are often invisible when they are in a wheelchair, unfortunately. Or treated very poorly. I’m sorry to hear about your experience.

[goatgal]

Can you add an air horn to your vehicle? If so, you could give a gaggle of geese like those gals a blast that would ruffle their feathers! Comin' thru!!!!

[Cutefreckles72]

Sorry you went through that. Some people can be very disrespectful to the disabled. I have been in the restroom and had to wait for a person who is not disabled to come out of the handicapped bathroom and look at me like I am crazy for waiting. I am in a wheelchair. I need space. Some people just don't care until it happens to them. I have power wheelchair now and can move fast and say "excuse me " at the same time. And keep moving.

[mrsmike9 in reply to Cutefreckles72]

I have used the handicapped wheelchair bathroom and not been in a chair, but the rails on the walls help me stand up. People would not know by looking at me that I have to use them. So just remember! 😉

[Cutefreckles72 in reply to mrsmike9]

i understand exactly what you are saying. The rails and the extra space are extremely helpful We have to share and be mindful of each other. 👍

[Fancy59 CommunityAmbassador]

I feel your pain as I have been in electric scooter for years. When we're manuevering around broken sidewalks, missing sidewalks, crossing dangerous streets and simply finding the handicap on and off ramps that lead from sidewalk to sidewalk it's truly a nightmare in many cases. As far as the elevator incident, you were a lot nicer than I would of been. I would of spoken up and if that didn't work I'd have pushed my way in, wheel chair and all not caring who I bumped into!😡 Not only are you your own best advocate for your health, you're your own best advocate for life in general. Fancy59.

[bxrmom]

I'm sorry that this happened to you. Chocalate sounds good after that. People can be so rude and it seems that it has gotten worse over the years I like the suggestion of getting a horn to add to your wheelchair

[falalalala]

You have some adventures!

I'm glad it turned out alright.

It amazes me how people can be. Sometimes it's on purpose, other times they're just boneheads.

[lbenmaor]

I'm so sorry that happened to you.

Leslie

[twooldcrows]

so sorry that you were treated so bad ...wow can't believe so many did this ....hope you meet some wonderful people today to help to know there are some wonderful people in this world that are not like this ....love and much happiness to you...

[NorasMom in reply to twooldcrows]

No worries today! I'm home all day with no one but the dog to keep me company. He's currently shredding a large bone all over my bed, and we're both content. Tomorrow, however, could be a very long day. I may have to go to town again but with 3 out-of-state cousins in tow.

[agate]

I'm afraid that the way you were treated at the elevator is about par for the course. Even when you might need help desperately, people go right by. I've used a manual wheelchair for over 30 years and sometimes it's been quite scary. Using a wheelchair is NOT easy.

Once I was in an elevator and trying to get out but the front wheel, the smaller wheel on the manual chair, got caught in the space between the elevator door and the wall doorway. You may never have noticed that space but it's there and big enough to trap a wheel on some wheelchairs. I nearly pitched right out of the wheelchair at that point. Somehow I got straightened out but nobody happened to be around to help. That's just one example, and I've noticed quite a few horror stories from power-chair users.

[NorasMom in reply to agate]

That was actually my concern the other day. I'd never realized just how big those gaps are, and it would be so easy for a wheel to get trapped there. I'm glad you were okay. This is the first that I've done anything in my chair except going to Walmart or a park, and it's been a real learning experience.