peoples attitude to wheel chair users.

[Ratfinkz]

Because of the level of pain I've been in today I needed to use a wheelchair to get round Tesco. I wouldn't have gone but it's my fiance's 30th tomorrow (
Or today depending on how you look at it) and I wanted a card for him as well as a couple of little presents (his main pressie cost over £100 inc p and p from America I@m not as tight as that last sentence makes me sound)
Have used hired chairs before during this pain and also Christmas shopping in previous years when I've ended up in hospital early December due to asthma attacks and I've always found people really inconsiderate or over bearing and treating me like I'm mentally disabled as well as physically.

However in Tesco tonight I had to push myself as obviously did not want Chris to see what I was getting. HAve worked out a way to do it without using any of my tummy muscles so it doesn't hurt. Anyway I was amazed at how polite and helpful most people were. I crashed into a ladies trolley at one stage and she was all apologetic even though it was my fault, people got out of the way when they saw me coming and the couple of people I had to ask to pass me things did so with a smile and a nice word. That was the customers.

On the other hand I found the staff incredibly unhelpful. I needed to turn round at one point and had the momentum going and was nearly there when a staff member walked past me causing me to have to stop. When I was checking out using the self service a member of staff had to ok me for alcohol and as she was there I needed to put my card in to pay but could not reach the machine easily. She did try to get it for me but when we realised it didn't lift down she just walked off without saying anything. The worst thing was the amount of their big cagey things around the shop. One had left me a really narrow space to get through as it was on one side of the aisle and there was a trolley on the other (this was where I crashed) and despite a staff member standing right next to it not doing anything he did not offer to move it for me.

SO thumbs up to the customers of my local Tesco but big thumbs down to majority of their staff (there were some nice ones who stood aside to let me pass etc)

[Clutter]

I'm glad the customers were considerate Sarah. Shame about the staff.

Hope you managed to get the bits & bobs you wanted for Chris & that you feel well enough to celebrate with Chris later today.

Happy Birthday Chris. #KissBlowSmiley1#

[Ratfinkz]

Thanks clutter I wasn't really moaning just found the different reactions interesting especially when compared to what I've experienced in the past.

I will be well enough to celebrate with Chris, well he'll think I am anyhow. The fact I've had no sleep yet and am in quite severe pain will be hidden, he's supported me for months he deserves a special day, especially as it@ll be a quiet one just he and me!

[beautycat]

Hope you both manage to have a fantastic day , happy birthday chris

[Blownupdolly]

Hope you and Chris have a lovely time Sarah
As you know i use a chair much of the time. I find supermarket experiences wide and varied. It ranges from those who will bend over backwwards to help to the downright hateful and mean. I often find men are more likely to help me. Many times i have been struggling to reach something and a guy will ask if i want help. Only last week i wanted axtra large eggs and as usual they are on the top shelf Not only did this guy offer to help he opened the box and took every egg to check it was not cracked. Very sweet man Then you get the people so engrossed in themselves they don't even acknowledge your existence. One of my pet hates is people who will just barge right in front of me whilst i am at a counter looking for what i want. Obviously because i am in a disability scooter i have to pull up very close to shelves and counters to reach anything, but its as if i am invisible. I feel it is so damn rude to practically push someone out of the way without even an "excuse me" or "do you mind".. The last category are the ones who upset me the most. Fully grown adults who must be either embarrassed or ignorant and stare at you with disgust on their face. Yes, incredible isn't it? 2012 and we still have people who find you disgusting because you are not like they are.
I am just very pleased that the vast majority are NOT like this.

[kickit]

I've always brought my (now grown-up) kids up to be polite and consider other people. And they do, I'm very pleased and proud to say. However, they both look a lot like most others of their age (early 20's) and it can sometimes be funny to see the reactions of others.

I was shopping with my eldest a few years back, when a wheelchair user was trying to get out of a shop and the automatic doors were broken. We were waiting outside on the pavement, and my son rushed across from where he was standing, opened both of the big doors, and held one of them so the person in the wheelchair could get through. And they DID get through, and sailed past as if my son was some sort of unpaid doorman, without even making eye contact, let alone saying thank you. And it wasn't just the person IN the wheelchair, there was someone pushing them as well. They both managed to say nothing.

Other son has had similar experiences.

Some people treat wheelchair users appallingly. Some wheelchair users behave appallingly.

[Blownupdolly]

good point kickit. Decency works both ways

[Ratfinkz]

I totally agree kickit, there's no need for rudeness like that!!! Some wheelchair users seem to think they deserve special treatment because they're in a chair, which is annoying. Obviously they deserve some consideration but so does everybody and a thank you when people help isn't exactly hard!!!

Dolly I agree the prejudicial ones are by far the worst!!!

[Deleted]

You're right, Kickit, sadly. There is no need for rudeness like that from anyone at all, common courtesy costs nowt, but those wheelchair users & disabled that behave that way, make it harder for the rest of us that are grateful to those who are thoughtful, helpful & patient.

[OneDay]

There's a story in the Telegraph today about a wheelchair user aged 60 who was left on a bus overnight. The driver clocked off and left hum there. A cleaner eventually found him

mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/07127224-wheelchair-bound-man-60-left-stranded-manchester-stagecoach-bus-depot-until-3am-whi

Sent from Proboards Mobile

[johnboy]

Dec 8, 2012 12:49:10 GMT OneDay said:

There's a story in the Telegraph today about a wheelchair user aged 60 who was left on a bus overnight. The driver clocked off and left hum there. A cleaner eventually found him

mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/07127224-wheelchair-bound-man-60-left-stranded-manchester-stagecoach-bus-depot-until-3am-whi

Sent from Proboards Mobile

OMG Oneday, bet he/she was bliddy cold,
A few months ago one got hit on a ped crossing, He did not wait for the lights to go green, Rolled the disabled scooter on it's side but not to bad hurt,could have Killed him.

[Banky]

Good on you on getting out to do some shopping pity about the staff
at Tesco, At least the customers where helpful have a lovely day with Chris.

[addict]

I have a close relative in a wheelchair. Negotiating the aisles in shops can be a nightmare. When pushing her out and about, I have been known to wish evil on: shopkeepers who put display units on the corners between aisles; whoever designed cinemas so the only accessible seats are right under the screen; stores with heavy push/pull doors on all but the most remote exit, and places where you need to find a keyholder to access the toilet (probably necessary to prevent selfish gits using the wheelchair loo to skip the queue). I despair at some of the supposedly accessible toilets. Hard enough when you're the mobile person doing the pushing, but it must be soul destroying for wheelchair users trying to manage on their own.

I always find that most people - staff and the general public- go out of their way to help us and are very understanding when we accidentally bump into them.

[Blownupdolly]

One of my biggest bugbears at supermarkets and shopping malls is where they place disabled parking bays. I am a blue badge holder. Now, common sense tells you that many of the people who have blue badges have them because mobility and walking too far is a problem for them. So why is it that more often than not they place OUR bays further away from the store than parent and child parking!!!... grrrrr. This makes my blood boil. I managed to raise 2 kids back when no one gave a toss about helping parents doing their shopping. I do not object one bit to them having alloted spaces as i do understand they need extra space to load kids and buggies etc into their car, BUT, ordinary parents do NOT have issues with walking!! So why should their spaces be closer to the stores than a person with disabilities?

[addict]

Yes, but on the plus side, the blue badge is a godsend in theme parks like Disney. My niece is treated like a celebrity there. Her siblings call it the magic card.