Quote:
Originally Posted by PCH
Yeah my brother went to help a blind person to cross the road and got told to "bugger off !" for his trouble. Go figure!
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I figure. The last thing someone with balance problems needs is some dimwit suddenly rushing towards them regards the intentions. or suddenly shouting "NEED A HAND MATE?!!!" anything sudden.
Those of us with disabilities are fully focused on crossing the road, opening the door, whatever it is, because we need to get from A to B. Unless you have the ability to gently levitate us you can NOT help and most of the time YOU become the obstacle we have to navigate around.
Having a physical disability does not require us to have a mental disability either. Having poor muscle control means we have to commit effort from being safe in order to slowly turn our head or even speak. So yeah don't expect us to be as responsive as all you "normal" people.
Want to help? a wad of cash would actually help, I still have to work full time as I'm not disabled enough yet to get any sort of assistance (having a job and a home both also exclude me, I'd have to lose both in order to be considered for the waiting list to see if there is any form of assistance i qualify for). We have greatly increased costs of living and only some get some form of assistance. my medications and physical aids I have to pay full price from my own pocket. I get NO handouts from anywhere ever.
So don't complain they could have been friendlier or they have it easy on welfare. You haven't a damn clue. Its hard enough being alive for most of us without small minded people making false assumptions and judging us. If you want to offer ask softly and kindly and approach at a normal pace from a safe direction where the person is aware of you early. Don't startle them, dont take offence if you are told to $@$^ you might have been the tenth person in the last 60sec to ask the same dumb question. Choose a better phrasing like "is there anything I can do to help?" think what is like to be in a three legged race, getting someone with walking difficulties to take your arm can be just as dangerous but maybe in the situation there is something you can do to help and they could them instruct you exactly what it is even if it seems silly. Blind people (actually everyone, but blind particularly) rely on sound too for balance and navigation. It may be that person had a good uncluttered sound view on a fairly empty street and a helper could become extra noise polution or sound baffle that clouds their view making assistance a source of danger. On a crowded street they might ask you to walk in front clicking your fingers to clear a path for them. Its all different for different disabilities and different circumstances. No such thing as one disability fits all.
Except idiocy. Your post is HIGHLY offensive on so many levels to me, if you'd said that in person in my presence you'd be on the ground in an instant. There is no excuse for intolerance.
steve