The Comments You’ll Never Forget
I’m having a rather… erm… interesting conversation with @funkyfairy22 on Twitter at the moment. It’s about some rather… erm… interesting comments made by a very outdated mainstreamer.
It’s reminded me of the talks I used to give at my mainstream schools. You know, the ones where I talked about my disability as well as a child can and was then asked questions.
So, two of the more interesting questions I’ve been asked in my time are:
1. (When explaining that I had physio at The Bobath Centre) “Do you have a bath there?” (Answer: No, it’s a person’s name)
And 2. “Do you get your equipment (wheelchairs, standing frames etc) as Christmas presents?” (Answer: Certainly not, though that memory did inspire a rather brilliant piece of poetry last Christmas!)
Has any mainstreamer ever said anything to you that you’ll never forget?
Same Difference 
I’m blind and will always remember the time I got into a cab. The driver had barely pulled away before he asked, “How long have you been … er … like that?” I answered, “Like what? fat?”
He was really embarrassed. So why is it OK to ask someone how long they’ve been blind, but not to ask how long they’ve been fat, thin, bald, or anything else!
The other amusing one is when people give my guide dog directions by bending down and talking quietly to it, rather than me. And yes, this does happen!
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I can’t believe they give your guide dog directions! That is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard! I mean I’ve heard of people speaking to a wheelchair user’s carer like the chair is empty but this really takes the (dog) biscuit!
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