Theme
2:27am November 15, 2011
phenomenalmama: Okay, I don’t even know what to say about this…I guess liquor has healing powers?!?!  WTH? Not sure if you actually want to know this or not (especially since it’s probably been a long time since you posted this, but I just came across it) – but many people who use wheelchairs are in wheelchairs because we cannot walk very far, not because we can’t stand at all ever. I live in a building for senior citizens and disabled people, and most of the people here who use wheelchairs can, at minimum, stand up at least some of the time. Not sure if you’re interested or not, especially after however long it’s been since you posted this. But lots of people (possibly most people) who need wheelchairs, can stand at least some of the time. Most of the people I’ve known who use wheelchairs – everywhere from when I was in special ed, to living in senior/disabled housing – can either stand or walk some of the time. People use them because we don’t have the stamina or balance required to walk longer than a very short distance – because of things like multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, dysautonomia, cerebral palsy, various neuromuscular conditions that may or may not have names, etc. Many elderly people use them because of the risk of falling and other things that can come with aging. And many impairments fluctuate in severity so that one day a person can walk and the next day they can’t. (Which isn’t considered “right” in a culture that sees all impairment as something fixed and unchanging.) It’s actually extremely common. Unfortunately, most people seem to have a stereotype that all people who use wheelchairs (mysteriously excluding elderly people, for reasons I don’t understand) are completely paralyzed. This leads to people who can wiggle their toes, let alone stand or walk, being treated as fakers. (Even though, for instance, there’s an entire kind of wheelchair designed to be propelled with the feet.) Which has serious effects on the people who need the wheelchairs – some people would rather just not leave their house at all, than deal with the public’s ignorance about the matter.

phenomenalmama:

Okay, I don’t even know what to say about this…I guess liquor has healing powers?!?!  WTH?

Not sure if you actually want to know this or not (especially since it’s probably been a long time since you posted this, but I just came across it) – but many people who use wheelchairs are in wheelchairs because we cannot walk very far, not because we can’t stand at all ever. I live in a building for senior citizens and disabled people, and most of the people here who use wheelchairs can, at minimum, stand up at least some of the time.

Not sure if you’re interested or not, especially after however long it’s been since you posted this. But lots of people (possibly most people) who need wheelchairs, can stand at least some of the time. Most of the people I’ve known who use wheelchairs – everywhere from when I was in special ed, to living in senior/disabled housing – can either stand or walk some of the time. People use them because we don’t have the stamina or balance required to walk longer than a very short distance – because of things like multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, dysautonomia, cerebral palsy, various neuromuscular conditions that may or may not have names, etc. Many elderly people use them because of the risk of falling and other things that can come with aging. And many impairments fluctuate in severity so that one day a person can walk and the next day they can’t. (Which isn’t considered “right” in a culture that sees all impairment as something fixed and unchanging.)

It’s actually extremely common. Unfortunately, most people seem to have a stereotype that all people who use wheelchairs (mysteriously excluding elderly people, for reasons I don’t understand) are completely paralyzed. This leads to people who can wiggle their toes, let alone stand or walk, being treated as fakers. (Even though, for instance, there’s an entire kind of wheelchair designed to be propelled with the feet.) Which has serious effects on the people who need the wheelchairs – some people would rather just not leave their house at all, than deal with the public’s ignorance about the matter.

Notes: