>Last night I wrote a blog entry – Disability Normal – about a new friend’s comments about getting an insight into my life and what her insight made me think. It sparked quite a conversation on twitter this morning and I spent some time gathered the tweets together. Those can be found in Disability Normal – The Twitter Version. I then went up to my parents house for a Mothers Day barbecue (in the rain) and returned to discover in the several hours I was out it had continued. So this is part two. I rather suspect I might end up doing part three as well/.
people think because you are disabled, you should have no opinions of your own, be passive and greatful – BIgPawedBear
Possessing ridiculous amount of things featuring velcroix and a bathroom with more white plastic stuff in than an OT dept. – GentleChaos
Most of the people on here whom I’ve known for years have chosen not to follow back. Presumably I bore or irritate them.#disabilitynormal? – JulianYon
have you ever had the “if I were like you I’d top myself” line? How #disabilitynormal is that? (I’ve heard some say it is.) – Indigojo_uk
Parking in disabled bay & havin ferocious older people glare/shout @ u only to melt away as u produce ‘chair, wheels, cushion – GentleChaos
@GentleChaos We’ve all been there! You get an almost sympathetic nod of approval once the crutches/scooter become evident #disabilitynormal – PositiveAboutMS
Meeting amazing friends that you may never have encountered otherwise 🙂 – GentleChaos
Complete strangers share their medical history&layout of home with me even when I’m not wearing OT badge. – GentleChaos
#disabilitynormal or maybe OT normal? Finding that I can’t help checking out other people’s assistive kit..Often thinking dang that’s cool – GentleChaos
Silent panic that grips conversation when blind person says ‘I saw that on TV last night’ – longcanejane
Being told by a complete stranger that if you only eat [something] or don’t eat [something] you’ll be fine – IncurableHippie
Complete strangers telling you “My aunt had that and she died of it!” That’s meant to be helpful how, exactly? – MargoJMilne
Whenever two or more are gathered together let it be presumed to be an outing from a day centre. – Bubblejet
When it gets more and more normal for complete strangers to offer to pray for you – IncurableHippie
Annual Medical Assessment of Benefits: Need to demonstrate that faith healing hasn’t yet miraculously restored missing limb #disabilitynormal – Eridanus
wondering why they’re talking to you in a loud, slow voice, then remember you’re using a walking stick. – LadyLikePunk
open stares when enjoying yourself – LadyLikePunk
Being told that a friend/family member/acquaintance got over it with healthy eating and excersice so you don’t need meds – Feministinti
Getting more and more irate when people decide that their bag needs a seat on the bus more than you do – IncurableHippie
Not even bothering to explain some of the more obscure limitations you have – IncurableHippie
When friends/family/even strangers get angry with you when you don’t let them make your life decisions for you – FeministInti
“I know someone with that, hers is much worse than yours though.” – Bolli_Bolshevik
“Oh yes, I get a bad back sometimes” – Bolli_Bolshevik
Having shop assistant explain to you how to work a book of stamps – MargoJMilne
Being ignored in shop queue, in favour of person behind you – MargoJMilne
“You shouldn’t take those meds, they are addictive” “Yoga is supposed to be great for that” christ i could do this all day – Bolli_Bolshevik
“Oh yes, I get tired too” GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR – MargoJMilne
people asking your friend if you are okay instead of you because you are in a wheelchair – NevHarvey
cooked meal does NOT mean “popped something frozen into the oven” – and the benefits paperwork doesn’t make that clear – LonAitewalker
Choosing between excessive pain and not being able to function due to the side effects of pain meds. Every day. – IncurableHippie
People tying themselves in knots trying not to say “Take a seat” #wheelchairuser – MargoJMilne
approaching situations calmly when non disabled people are flapping like mad – BIgPawedBear
expectation that being over 60 trumps any validity you have to a seat” – Bolli_Bolshevik
No irony spotted by the work colleague who describes her day as ‘mad’, ‘manic’ and ‘nuts’ – MnicSleepTeachr
Being questioned why you have a blue badge – EadieDog
“I didn’t know deaf people could read and write.” – SlyJuana
“you’re oral? are you wanna be hearing?” (from other deafies) – SlyJuana
“you need to work harder. stop being so lazy. you’re LAZY.” – SlyJuana
“can you tell her… ” in situations where the speaker doesn’t acknowledge my presence & only the interpreter’s. – SlyJuana
“He’s drunk,p*ssed himself&had a fight.Look at the blood everywhere!Leave him” ‘no ,avad afit, help’ “See he’s slurring!” – Robbsart
Long stares because I wasn’t using a stick yesterday and I am today. – Jermec
“there aren’t many attractive deaf people” (or variation thereof) – SlyJuana
stress making my own condition worse, but as there’s no one else to care for son, pushing on to early grave regardless – LonAitewalker
So tired I want to cry, but dragging self to park/school/shops with kids. – Suey2y
When your new work trousers have holes in&your coat cuffs are frayed two days in – GentleChaos
Promising to go out for the evening but being so exhausted by the process of getting ready that I end up back in bed. – LatentExistence
finding time to dismiss the cat staring at me in the kitchen, because I don’t have a cat & it is my mind making things up – Robbsart
Then when the cat has gone I then have to ignore the people that are talking to me because theres no-one else in the house – Robbsart
Watching everyone else have fun and enjoy life while I’m stuck inside doped up on painkillers and oxygen… – D_incurable
When u wear reflective cycle bands to roll up your jacket sleeves… – GentleChaos
questioning logic of needing powerchair for six months before NHS actually gives you one – apparently, crawl for a bit, ok – LonAitewalker
Have you tried acupuncture/osteopathy/organic vegetables/prayer-healing/ (substitute your own ‘cure’)? – MusicMP
I fell to the floor in shock when son said his first words to me…he didn’t speak till he was four. – LonAitewalker
‘Really struggled to get out of bed this morning!’ Arrrgggghhh!! – MnicSleepTeachr
Bracing myself for the pain on those rare occasions I get laid. – JulianYon
Getting a cluster attack & having 2 leave the rare social outing halfway through as my O2 tank is 2 big 2 take everywhere. – D_incurable
Buying concert tickets you know you’re unlikely to be able to attend – MnicSleepTeachr
People told to take photos of me outside whatever the weather in case the flash makes me have a fit – Robbsart
Having expert knowledge of the location and crip friendliness of most of the budget chains of hotels – CrimsonCrip
Can’t sleep well until I have both been up for two days and on drugs. – mxmlxviii
Feeling like someone wedged a tennis ball behind your knees. – SpazGirl11
Getting down on the floor and then realizing you can’t get up again…”I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” – SpazGirl11
Fighting to stay awake watching telly or reading a book at noon because your painkillers have knocked you out for the day – D_incurable
“Everyone gets sad sometimes. You’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.” Uh.. Yeah. Then why has it lasted for over 10y? – Caralynnem
“you’re a pretty woman. what’s the problem?” (mental health worker said this to me during assessment some years ago) – SlyJuana
Having people berate me for not getting out of the disabled seat for an elderly person who doesn’t want the seat anyway – Mradclyffe
Being pretty much constantly in pain. No matter where you sit, how you sit, what you do…. – SpazGirl11
“Cheer up love, what have you got to be so miserable about?” from complete strangers. How long have you got?! – Mradclyffe
staying awake til 10:00pm is a rare adventure #disabilitynormal – at least, staying alert is! – StickmanCrips
“Oh yes, I know about fibromyalgia, a friend of mine had it in her shoulder”. – Matofcourse
The irony of being told by friends and strangers that mental illness is all in my head. – Mradclyffe
Laughing with friends about my habit of using drugs before&during nights out so I can have a good time..(prescribed) 😉 – GentleChaos