r/YouShouldKnow • u/LtSoundwave • Jul 19 '20

Other YSK That many people with a disability consider their aides (wheelchair, etc.) an extension of themselves. You should ask before touching or moving them.

Read this article and was surprised to hear how many people struggle with this. Even if you are trying to help, you should ask first.

www.bbc.com/news/disability-49584591

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u/What_I_Want_Is Jul 19 '20

Or anyBODY. I use a wheelchair (full time) and have lost count of the number of times people have tried to "just shuffle me out of the way" by moving the chair without first asking me. Damn rude (and I'm not always able to turn around and yell at them). Seriously, if you wouldn't bodily pick up another human being to move them out of the way, please don't think it's ok to wheel me to one side just because I'm disabled. Thank you :-)

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u/ScreamingWeevil Jul 19 '20

Damn, it's really fucked up that people would even consider doing that. Like even if there's a raging fire it doesn't take much time (unless you're otherwise incapacitated) to be like "oi do you mind?"

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u/candybrie Jul 20 '20

And someone being incapacitated in a fire is one of those times you'd pickup another person to move them if you were able. So the general rule totally checks out.

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u/lordoftime Jul 19 '20

I first became aware that Id have to become a civil rights activist when a bar host tried to kick my wife out of a bar for "being a fire hazard" as she was waiting patiently like everyone else for our table, but also just happened to be in a wheelchair.

I wasn't aware how ableist and objectifying people can be of people with disabilities before that night.