stop and think

Today, while walking around the internet, I came across a blog written by a mom of a boy with Spina Bifida (my search started with power wheels and ended there. Don't ask....). The mother of this blog posted a horrific story of being at a mall's play area and some dad kept removing her son's medical walker completely from the play area and how she was further bullied by security that her son's walker couldn't be in the play area.
http://spinabifidakids.blogspot.com/2010/04/take-blood-pressure-pill-before-you.html
This story was followed by other stories. Many people couldn't even fathom the cruelties people can do to each other, especially disabled children, but these people do do it. Often times, it's not a child to a child but an adult to a child. How could any adult be cruel to a child? We have encountered our share of downright meaness from others. We had a horrible experience at Universal Studios one year. The entire day, we were constantly pushed aside and humiliated. We ended up leaving that park early. We've had bad moments at DisneyWorld, as well. Oddly, mostly at Magic Kingdom which, you would think, we be the most accomadating since it's the main park to go to, especially with children. We've been yelled at by employees and guests, forgotten, and just not wanted to be "dealt with." Hayden has had adults be cruel and not understanding of his limitations and needs, including by special needs teachers.

Sometimes, the worst is when people don't realize what they are doing is cruel. We took the kids to a movie at Disney. People FILLED the WC areas with baby strollers instead of parking them with all of the others in the inner hallway and taking their children to seats that would have required going up or down 1 step. This left us no where to park his WC which he relies on to enjoy Theatre movies. This put me in the position to ask people to move their families and strollers so he could have the designated space. Sadly, we were not the only WC family and the other patrons figured they'd wait to be asked to move instead of taking the initiative to move their strollers themselves. There's the people who park crooked in the spots next to handicap spots. Parents who let their kids scream their brains out in a store instead of dealing with their children. This can turn a barely-bearable shopping trip into complete torture for an Autistic child. How about waiting for someone to walk out of a store not realizing you are blocking an access ramp or a couple handicap spots. Have you ever used a handicap stall so you can have the space or because it feels more private for pooping? I've encountered THAT several times. lol. Sometimes, it's even done by the gov't. Currently, we are living in an inaccessible townhhouse, not because there's no accessible housing but because the Housing dept. gave the 4br wheelchair house to a man who has a completely typical family and won't move cause he likes the spacious house, wide doorways and bigger, taller garage. In fact, our neighbors next door that just moved out was a family of 4 living in a 2br WC accessible house. Nice.....

So sometimes, just stop and think about what you are doing and how it may impact someone you don't know. It may be an adult. It could be a child.