Living with disability

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And the accessible service in Barrie is also difficult. They'll give you a 1/2 hour window at either end, in which the bus will arrive. So if you have an 11:00 appt, you'd have to pick a 10-10:30 pickup, guess the longest the appointment will take (hard with some specialists), then book a half hour window after that. Once Mom was in a wheelchair, appointments took half days for me to accomplish. I'd drive to her facility, wait with her for the accessible bus, travel with her to the appointment, hope whoever (dentist, psychiatrist) was not running terribly late, then wait with her, often almost an hour, for a return ride. But the charge was reasonable - exactly the same as an adult fare, and an aide (me) gets on free.
Bette, For my Dad, that kind of scheduling wasn't an issue, in part as he loved to gab in waiting rooms. I can see, though, how it might be for others.
Having written all that, though, I have found that calling a cab can be a 30min delay, and would tend to build that kind of scheduling into them as well.

How would you have expected it to work?
 
Well, Mom couldn't speak intelligibly, except to me, so there was no benefit.

I think that I would have preferred a wheelchair taxi that was more flexible and didn't need to be booked a week or two in advance, as long as the cost was comparable to a regular taxi. I think we tried the taxi a couple of times, and there only seemed one or none per cab company, so not really available. That part might be better now.
 
There are two doors to my place. One is fully accessible, the other has a couple of stairs - with a railing - and at night, requires I walk in a dimly lit spot with my cane, not my walker - and it’s still a bit cold at night, so I’m more stiff, less steady. I am not allowed to use the accessible one after 11 because it’s right beneath my landlords’ bedroom and he is very sensitive to the sound of the door.

Tonight, just at the nick of 11 o’clock (but not realizing the time), I put my shoes and jacket on to walk part way up and down the block. Then I saw the time. I had two choices (well 3 choices, but I was bundled up and I wanted to go out for a few minutes). I could use the accessible door with my walker, and be as super quiet as possible. Or, I could use the less accessible door, and risk falling outside with just my cane. I chose the former.

When I came back in, I closed the door too hard. I inadvertently leaned back too hard and made too much noise. Most outside observers would think I was being careless. I was being very careful - but I had an involuntary sway backwards. When I make noise or damage something, it’s rarely if ever with intent - nor is it carelessness. Growing up, my mom responded to every mistake as though it was something I always had control over, or that i was to blame anyway, even if I didn’t. That’s ableism, even if not consciously.

I nearly pulled down a little unsteady shelf one day “furniture walking” (touching the walls and furniture for balance reassurance). I leaned on it with the same intensity I had leaned on the wall, trying not to lean too heavily, and I involuntarily stumbled and leaned too much at the same time. Then, trying to catch my fall and not bring the shelf down on me - I instead put my hand down too hard on one of the racks and down tumbled some crystal wine glasses which were left here by a previous tenant. I fell. Crawled to a chair to hoist myself up. I cleaned up bits of glass and nearly cut myself. But the wine glasses were forgiven. It wasn’t a problem with my landlords. They realized I didn’t mean to and they weren’t concerned about the glasses. But I hope I don’t get in trouble for the door, tomorrow.
 
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Can you imagine autonomous reflexes being unknown and unconscious to the alert self?

Could the sympathetic and parasympathetic self play with this given the aversion to all things "para" in the natural world?

Hard to grasp? Well yes given the motives to remain simple with all nature! Wouldn't people coming to be astonished that it isn't all that simple?

Yet, you must admit the power of denial is powerful and commandeered by much of the powerful ... my humble under sight!
 
I’m going to post this here. I’ve been reading social justice Twitter a lot. It’s one of the best places to find out what’s really happening and hear from the real people whom it happens to. I’d join, but I’m not brave enough. I have had a hard enough time here. There are some tough people, and also some very unsavoury trolls, out there. Actually...I don’t like Twitter. But this is one of those instances where I’m missing out by not being on it. An excellent point, and way to think of disability as a social construct is mentioned. People are ENabled or DISabled.

...by society; enabled to live life by being included in all facets of life in society; or disabled by being excluded from any.

(plus we don’t like when other people impose labels like “differently abled” on us. It sounds cutesy and patronizing. I know people are trying to be polite. But it shows a level of subconscious ableism that needs to be wrestled with by whoever’s doing that. It shows they haven’t thought much about people with disabilities or our human rights for at least 30 yrs.)



 
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And why is reposting after I edit, so slow? It happens frequently. I just noticed I still had this question in the text box waiting because I waited too long for the previous edit to go back up, and so I left the thread.
 
And why is reposting after I edit, so slow? It happens frequently. I just noticed I still had this question in the text box waiting because I waited too long for the previous edit to go back up, and so I left the thread.
Hadn't noticed myself but I will do testing. Maybe just haven't done much editing of late. There do seem to be some editor issues with a recent release of Chrome (related to it not always autosaving drafts,), but you are using an iPad so should be on Safari IIRC.
 
Hadn't noticed myself but I will do testing. Maybe just haven't done much editing of late. There do seem to be some editor issues with a recent release of Chrome (related to it not always autosaving drafts,), but you are using an iPad so should be on Safari IIRC.

I have noticed that here as a significant hang-up that will actually kick me off line. I also hear of this happening elsewhere .. it makes me wonder whether the internet is having problems that no one can address due to what they know ... or don't! More items that are vague about what is known for sure ... yet there are extremists that will claim otherwise ... alternately to be sure!
 
I have noticed that here as a significant hang-up that will actually kick me off line. I also hear of this happening elsewhere .. it makes me wonder whether the internet is having problems that no one can address due to what they know ... or don't! More items that are vague about what is known for sure ... yet there are extremists that will claim otherwise ... alternately to be sure!
Yeah, yours sounds like an Internet issue. Mine has been flaky of late, too.
 
This:


it’s good to read these threads, and not feel so alone.

Paradoxical ... or paranormal in the sense of reality as reality goes by ... leaving us with ... a curiosity posing as nothing!

What does one do with such examples of nothing? Perfect place to put a thought as an Eire or alien wind ... stormy thoughts? Brainstorm evolved ...

Given the fragile nature of nothing ... constructing a psyche is delicate work that some people believe should be hammered in place!
 
I get a bit worried about drawing a firm line between "abled" and "disabled". Is mental illness a disability? Or only if it's permanent?

Is addiction a disability?

Is psychopathy a "moral disability"?
 
I get a bit worried about drawing a firm line between "abled" and "disabled". Is mental illness a disability? Or only if it's permanent?

Is addiction a disability?

Is psychopathy a "moral disability"?
Abled means you are not excluded from being a full member of society. Disabled means you are excluded on one or many levels because of an impairment. Listen to disabled people, not to what’s in your comfort zone. They know what they’re talking about. Listen and learn before you put your two cents in about disability.
 
So, I should listen to you tell me what is disabled? What lines will you draw? What IS disabled? Anything outside of a 'norm'? I'm not being snarky here, although you are responding as if I am.

Can only the "official" disabled decide what is, or isn't, a "disability". This is where we get into huge troubles with words.
 
So, I should listen to you tell me what is disabled? What lines will you draw? What IS disabled? Anything outside of a 'norm'? I'm not being snarky here, although you are responding as if I am.

Can only the "official" disabled decide what is, or isn't, a "disability". This is where we get into huge troubles with words.
Yes. Because they came up with it. Listen to the disability Justice community. They define disability. It’s like you can’t use an outdated title for non-white people for them...they define it.
 
Mental illness of various types, from permanent, to cyclical, excludes people from society. I spent a lifetime "explaining" that my Mom was manic or depresssed.
It does..it excludes many from living life in it on an equal basis with others. That’s the point being made.

mental health disability is disability. And I think you will find that the disability Justice community is unanimous that it is. But that obviously physical and mental disabilities are not mutually exclusive. Part of the reason we are livid with the whole f***ing C7 thing. Poorly studied, poorly consulted, rammed through...and the medical system will murder people who aren’t dying, and can call it choice so they can sleep at night.
 
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