14 replies to this topic

[Love life to its fullest]

Hi there everyone,
I am still amazed at this site its just fantastic, and everyone is so willing to help each other, so I am posting this one for some help on my assignment as I have not been able to find to much info on it thus far and am only going on personal experience.
My assignment is on Stigma, we were given free choice for our type of stigma for our mental health class. I decided to do on mine on people being given a "stigma label" just because they are in a wheelchair. I have my beginning and I have my end lol the middle is somewhat missing!!! I chose this subject as my partner is such an inspiration.
What sort of information do I need? That is a good one lol. I guess I want to know some personal experiences of when you have been treated as an outcast in society by ignorant able bodied people, if you suffered emotionally because of it what sort of help did you seek? Have you done anything yourself which has raised peoples awareness on people in wheelchairs e.g been a motivatioinal speaker, given talks, done demonstrations? What do you think would be the best way to educate people to help get rid of peoples ignorant ideas? Do you believe there is still a stigma? I know it has improved vastly over the years but there diffently still some ignoramises left lol.
Thank you to anyone who is able to help!
Kimmy

[Tinbasher]

Love life to its fullest, on May 4 2007, 12:54 PM, said:

Hi there everyone,
(snip) I decided to do on mine on people being given a "stigma label" just because they are in a wheelchair. I have my beginning and I have my end lol the middle is somewhat missing!!! I chose this subject as my partner is such an inspiration.
What sort of information do I need? (snip) Thank you to anyone who is able to help!
Kimmy

A great resource for disability studies with quite a lot on stigma http://www.leeds.ac....veuk/index.html especially here http://www.leeds.ac....k/archframe.htm

Good luck Tom

[Love life to its fullest]

Tinbasher, on May 5 2007, 03:59 AM, said:

Love life to its fullest, on May 4 2007, 12:54 PM, said:

Hi there everyone,
(snip) I decided to do on mine on people being given a "stigma label" just because they are in a wheelchair. I have my beginning and I have my end lol the middle is somewhat missing!!! I chose this subject as my partner is such an inspiration.
What sort of information do I need? (snip) Thank you to anyone who is able to help!
Kimmy

A great resource for disability studies with quite a lot on stigma http://www.leeds.ac....veuk/index.html especially here http://www.leeds.ac....k/archframe.htm

Good luck Tom

Thank you very much Tom I will take a look at it. Kimmy

[essexscipilot]

I guess one example is being asked by strangers 'Why are you in a wheelchair'?

How bloody ignorant. I would nerver dream of asking an over weight person 'Why are you fat' or a bald guy 'Why are you bald'

Well not unless they have just asked me why i'm in a wheelchair

[Love life to its fullest]

essexscipilot, on May 6 2007, 12:00 AM, said:

I guess one example is being asked by strangers 'Why are you in a wheelchair'?

How bloody ignorant. I would nerver dream of asking an over weight person 'Why are you fat' or a bald guy 'Why are you bald'

Well not unless they have just asked me why i'm in a wheelchair

Lol Lol Lol I loved that answer and I will ensure to put that in my assignment! What are your feelings on people who just stare? Would you rather they just walked up and asked whatever it is they are thinking? Lol as long as they dont ask you why you are in a wheelchair that is lol

Love life to its fullest, on May 6 2007, 10:08 AM, said:

essexscipilot, on May 6 2007, 12:00 AM, said:

I guess one example is being asked by strangers 'Why are you in a wheelchair'?

How bloody ignorant. I would nerver dream of asking an over weight person 'Why are you fat' or a bald guy 'Why are you bald'

Well not unless they have just asked me why i'm in a wheelchair

Lol Lol Lol I loved that answer and I will ensure to put that in my assignment! What are your feelings on people who just stare? Would you rather they just walked up and asked whatever it is they are thinking? Lol as long as they dont ask you why you are in a wheelchair that is lol

Reading back on that I dont think i worded it to well!! The funny part I was referring to was asking fat people why they are fat and bald why they are bald it is very true no one would think to ask that lol.

[moonstar]

HI,
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM MY HUSBAND HAD WAS PEOPLE SPEAKING TO HIM VERY SLOWLY OR LOUDLY, HE USED TO POINT OUT, ITS MY BODY THAT DOESNT WORK, NOT MY BRAIN., WORSE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD IGNORE HIM AND ASK ME QUESTIONS AS IF HE WERNT THERE, I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR xmoonstarx

[bigsmiles]

moonstar, on May 6 2007, 06:52 PM, said:

HI,
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM MY HUSBAND HAD WAS PEOPLE SPEAKING TO HIM VERY SLOWLY OR LOUDLY, HE USED TO POINT OUT, ITS MY BODY THAT DOESNT WORK, NOT MY BRAIN., WORSE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD IGNORE HIM AND ASK ME QUESTIONS AS IF HE WERNT THERE, I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR xmoonstarx

I had to take two new staff members out with me on Friday to meet a new young disabled guy which we are going to be providing care for from next week. I felt really awful for the man as one of the carers spoke really load and slowly all the time we were chatting to him. This man looked so p***off with her and I felt so embarrassed . Just before we left he told us we could come again and visit anytime but not to bring the big fat girl with the speech impediment back . Well I nearly wet myself and she just looked dumb struck! Needless to say we had words about this after.

[Love life to its fullest]

moonstar, on May 7 2007, 03:52 AM, said:

HI,
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM MY HUSBAND HAD WAS PEOPLE SPEAKING TO HIM VERY SLOWLY OR LOUDLY, HE USED TO POINT OUT, ITS MY BODY THAT DOESNT WORK, NOT MY BRAIN., WORSE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD IGNORE HIM AND ASK ME QUESTIONS AS IF HE WERNT THERE, I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR xmoonstarx

Thank you that is exactly the sort of stuff i am looking for, thank you for taking the time to help me out. This problem seems to be very common, some of us able bodied people can be very dumb ourselves and not think! Thanks again, Kimmy

bigsmiles, on May 7 2007, 04:17 AM, said:

moonstar, on May 6 2007, 06:52 PM, said:

HI,
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM MY HUSBAND HAD WAS PEOPLE SPEAKING TO HIM VERY SLOWLY OR LOUDLY, HE USED TO POINT OUT, ITS MY BODY THAT DOESNT WORK, NOT MY BRAIN., WORSE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD IGNORE HIM AND ASK ME QUESTIONS AS IF HE WERNT THERE, I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR xmoonstarx

I had to take two new staff members out with me on Friday to meet a new young disabled guy which we are going to be providing care for from next week. I felt really awful for the man as one of the carers spoke really load and slowly all the time we were chatting to him. This man looked so p***off with her and I felt so embarrassed . Just before we left he told us we could come again and visit anytime but not to bring the big fat girl with the speech impediment back . Well I nearly wet myself and she just looked dumb struck! Needless to say we had words about this after.

Lol I can just imagine the look on the ladies face and good on the man having the guts to say something, it will make her think next time!!! You do in home care? I also work as a personal carer in home, aswell as working in a nursing home too, and at the moment I am on clinicals in a hospital in the rehab section. Its a great job that gives you a sense of achievement in helping make someones day a little easier. I will try and put that funny exert in my assignment somewhere I think that is a classic! Thanks again, Kimmy

[essexscipilot]

Quote

What are your feelings on people who just stare?

I dont know what others think but I find this does not happen much these days, people seem more used to seeing wheelchair users in general as compeared to say 20yrs ago.

Am I right or am i just too tired in the tooth to notice these days?

I do remember this happening a lot years ago though and I found that staring back was the answer, if you say anything you mearly bring attention to yourself from others around and make matter worse.

[Lucydog]

I think the examples given are more of general ignorance rather than stigma. Id suggest you look at how certain groups deal with disability in general, especially religous groups and also other ethnic backgrounds. Many believe it is a punishment from God and there is certainly stigma attached to that.
As a memeber of the jewish community in Britain Im more than hppy to pass on my experiences if you want to pm me.

cheers
Lucydog

[Tim13]

What are your feelings on people who just stare? [i]

Usually, it's little kids that stare, used to bug me till i realized they weren't thinking WTF??, they were jealously admiring my cool looking toy.

[BlackCherry]

The main one that sticks with me is when I went to college. I left school which was terrible and thought finally now I had proven myself in exams people would treat me as they did before my injury and I would be there because of my mental ability.

But when I looked round the first college the first and only place they showed me was a room in which people who need help with their work, like with special mental needs and he showed me in because "obviously" I would be spending most of my time in there.
That kind of got me angry.

I do often get people who talk to those I am with rather than me, mainly loud people who work in supermarkets, like when they chat while they are cashing your shopping. It irritated me at first but I realised I have always been very very shy and so now I use a wheelchair it doesnt really help me out as I think I give them the impression that I wouldnt be up to conversation because of my shyness. So in my case I feel its not just the wheelchair.

[pawperso]

The only thing that really comes to mind is when I went to a doctor in Australia to get my medical certificate for diving (needed by everyone, AB's and disabled, to dive). A friend of mine was with me, just because we were out shopping and it coincided with the medical appointment, and he loitered about in the waiting room while I went in with the doctor.

I was in with the doc for maybe 20mins, talking about my injury (L2, climbing accident) and stuff I had done since, plus all the health questions relating to the actual medical certificate etc

After those 20 mins he got up and went into the waiting room, handing MY certificate to my friend and told him that I was OK but that he should just make sure I wear an adequate wet-suit and drink enough water to stay hydrated.

He just assumed that my friend was a carer or something, even after I had sat and talked with him for the last 20min.

I was simply amazed that someone in the medical profession could be so ignorant and give such patronising advice to someone else instead me, obviously thinking I was......................actually I have no idea what he was thinking!

But thats the only thing that has ever annoyed me, people asking me why Im in a wheelchair dosent annoy me at all, I think its a fairly natural question and Im actually quite surprised if they DONT ask me, plus I think that when someone in a wheelchair meets someone else in a wheelchair for the first time its one of the first questions asked, so I dont see why its an issue for some people, most of the time people will just want to 'break the ice' and that question is an obvious way to start a conversation, plus most people in a wheelchair normally have a pretty interesting story as to what put them there!

Edited by pawperso, 08 May 2007 - 05:06 AM.

[Godsgirl151999]

Love life to its fullest, on May 4 2007, 04:54 AM, said:

Hi there everyone,
I am still amazed at this site its just fantastic, and everyone is so willing to help each other, so I am posting this one for some help on my assignment as I have not been able to find to much info on it thus far and am only going on personal experience.
My assignment is on Stigma, we were given free choice for our type of stigma for our mental health class. I decided to do on mine on people being given a "stigma label" just because they are in a wheelchair. I have my beginning and I have my end lol the middle is somewhat missing!!! I chose this subject as my partner is such an inspiration.
What sort of information do I need? That is a good one lol. I guess I want to know some personal experiences of when you have been treated as an outcast in society by ignorant able bodied people, if you suffered emotionally because of it what sort of help did you seek? Have you done anything yourself which has raised peoples awareness on people in wheelchairs e.g been a motivatioinal speaker, given talks, done demonstrations? What do you think would be the best way to educate people to help get rid of peoples ignorant ideas? Do you believe there is still a stigma? I know it has improved vastly over the years but there diffently still some ignoramises left lol.
Thank you to anyone who is able to help!
Kimmy

my biggest problem is people at school treat me different.
i had a friend who latter was not one though i have forgiven her hear is what i mean by treating us different

she was having a b-day party and she did not invite me and (big mistake) i invited myself and also ([b][u]big fat huge[b][i][u] mistake) i told her about the whole cath thing. well you all know that that is an uncomfortable subject. well anyway she said i could come to her party. well we were having "fun" (all except me being in a wheelchair got left out of all the stuff they were doing) and my dad came to remind me to do my cath (i am bad at remembering) and the next day at school a friend of mine says i ruined this girls party becouse my dad came to "empty my bladder" as she said.

so there it is never tiell people about it and also people think i cant do things so dont even ask if i want to try!! EVEN MY TEACHER DID THIS TO ME IT WAS A SIMPLE GAME ALMOST LIKE DUCK-DUCK-GOOSE BUT BECOUSE OF THE CHAIR I CANT DO THINGS LIKE OTHER KIDS OR AT LEAST THATS WHAT THEY[i] THOUGHT!!!


ok i am all beter now ( i do wish i could have gotten to run her toes over though)

[dave420atya]

The stares don't bother me, it's the ones who seem terrified to see me coming so they do everything they can to avoid any eye contact. They bump into things and knock stuff over in stores and I always try to make sure they see me laughing and pointing at them.