I am not a shopping cart or a coat rack. I may have wheels, but that does not make me an inanimate object.
Stop. Disrespecting. Me.
Augh. Man, I’m sorry you’re treated that way. People suck.
I feel the same way about the stupid cashiers in the grocery store who see me bagging my own groceries with one functioning arm and they come over and start doing it for me. Most of my friends don’t understand why I get worked up about this, but not only is it dehumanizing, I do it myself because I have a particular way that I want my groceries organized and it would take too long for me to explain to another person! Efficiency is important to me, grr.
Oh geesh. The least they could do is ask first if you need help.
Really, people. Personal space. It’s a thing.
Exactly! I’m careful not to snap at them, because I know cashiers get rude customers for no reason all day long, but UGH that just drives me NUTS
Out of curiosity, what kind of behaviors do you run into the most commonly using your wheelchair where people are being rude without realizing it? I made a small organization at work where I train interested associates about the perspectives of people with disabilities, so we can all do better work for our disabled customers, and I’ve never needed to use a wheelchair so your input would be really helpful!
…though I would never have thought of someone moving a wheelchair without permission, really WTF, the chair is basically the person’s legs, you don’t touch it without asking, this seems obvious to me ><
Yeah, I try to be polite to sales associates. It’s the other customers I tend to get a little more noisy with. Especially when they try to move the chair. And they DO. How they justify that to themselves is beyond me.
Thanks for the feedback! I will definitely keep these things in mind when training associates how to better work with disabled customers.
There is a law in place that all store aisles must be at least three feet wide, and there must be at least three feet around bulk stacks and displays, to allow wheelchairs to maneuver… though I’m sure not all stores follow the law all the time.
You’re very welcome! I think what you’re doing is great, and I’d love to be as helpful as I can.
Yeah, I thought there was some kind of law about that. I guess the people out here don’t figure they have to worry about it being enforced. It sucks for me, but I guess it sucks more for the stores, since I buy less when I can’t get through (and I doubt I’m the only one). There’s one store in town that is a chain store, and it’s barely navigable on foot, the aisles are always so full of stuff.
Captain Koril 