[kdenon01]

So yesterday my fiance [c5-c6] and I were at the mall. A little boy yelled across the parking lot "HEY! Who's that guy!?!?" Pointing at my fiance. I started cracking up. We always get the kids staring, or running into things because they are too busy eye balling my Fiance. But I just thought that he had the weirdest response I have heard yet! Like maybe he thought my fiance was REALLY something special! [Which ofcourse he is]

Do any of you have any stories of weird responses to you or your wheelchairs?

[Illinois Boy]

My daughter, when she was younger....... Whould Yell.....

Take a picture, it'll last longer.....

I just got used to it, mostly little kids or older adults... Go Figure....

I much would of prefered to tell the adults...

(Go Fu@k Yourself!)

Jim

[alyssa]

A young girl asked me once why i was ''wearing a wheelchair''. Thats probably one of the cutest i've ever encountered.

[E-DOG]

kdenon01, on Apr 10 2008, 12:41 PM, said:

So yesterday my fiance [c5-c6] and I were at the mall. A little boy yelled across the parking lot "HEY! Who's that guy!?!?" Pointing at my fiance. I started cracking up. We always get the kids staring, or running into things because they are too busy eye balling my Fiance. But I just thought that he had the weirdest response I have heard yet! Like maybe he thought my fiance was REALLY something special! [Which ofcourse he is]

Do any of you have any stories of weird responses to you or your wheelchairs?

Some guy looked at me kinda funny in a 7-11 the other day.....
So I shot him.

any more questions?
E-DOG

[JohnD]

A young girl at a friends house was playing with a toy, the toy stopped working so I told her the batteries must have run out. Later she asked why can’t I walk have my batteries had run out.

[carole338]

My grandchildren were wheeling me around in circles. I told them to stop. They didn’t. I started yelling I’m not a toy!!. (Anyone familiar with the movie Toy Story?) They thought I was angry, but then I yelled “I’m not a toy. I’m a space ranger”. Well, they thought it was funny

As ususal, E-dog, you had a good one.

Carole

[KarenFerguson]

Both my hubby & I are in chairs, so we get a lot of looks pushing around in our day to day lives together. Most of the time, it's rather annoying ... but I have to admit the kids comments can be kind of cute.

At Halloween time, when kids came to our house for candy I had lots of kids who we're leaving our house say to their friends "A wheelchair family lives there!" I thought that was kind of cute. It was true, but I though it was put kind of funny. I could imagine them thinking our kids would be in wheelchairs too and all of our pets.

[pinkziab]

alyssa, on Apr 10 2008, 07:37 PM, said:

A young girl asked me once why i was ''wearing a wheelchair''. Thats probably one of the cutest i've ever encountered.

OMG that is TOO cute!

[Webwych]

I was in a garden centre once around Christmas time and there was a lady discussing Santa's visit with her daughter who was maybe about 6. The little girl really didn't know what to ask Santa for until she turned the corner and saw my wheelchair and without taking her eyes off my chair she called over to her mum who was on the next aisle...'Mummy, I think I know what I want from Santa.....'.

[E-DOG]

Webwych, on Apr 11 2008, 02:25 PM, said:

I was in a garden centre once around Christmas time and there was a lady discussing Santa's visit with her daughter who was maybe about 6. The little girl really didn't know what to ask Santa for until she turned the corner and saw my wheelchair and without taking her eyes off my chair she called over to her mum who was on the next aisle...'Mummy, I think I know what I want from Santa.....'.

Whoa,
The innocence of a child.
Maybe there's hope for us after all.
E

[Webwych]

E-DOG, on Apr 12 2008, 06:15 AM, said:

Webwych, on Apr 11 2008, 02:25 PM, said:

I was in a garden centre once around Christmas time and there was a lady discussing Santa's visit with her daughter who was maybe about 6. The little girl really didn't know what to ask Santa for until she turned the corner and saw my wheelchair and without taking her eyes off my chair she called over to her mum who was on the next aisle...'Mummy, I think I know what I want from Santa.....'.

Whoa,
The innocence of a child.
Maybe there's hope for us after all.
E

Kids are wonderful, I love how their minds work and their total lack of embarassment when asking questions. When I used to wear my calipers, the most popular question was 'Do you wear those in the bath/for bed?'.

Unfortunately their parents are clueless and discourage them from asking me questions in order to be 'polite' - or they just pull their kids away...maybe they think I eat children?

[cdngrl]

me and my hubby were in wa-mart and this kid comes over just stares at me a moment than kicks my tire. i bust a gut laughing

[Mike (c4-5) & Lorena]

kdenon01, on Apr 10 2008, 02:41 PM, said:

So yesterday my fiance [c5-c6] and I were at the mall. A little boy yelled across the parking lot "HEY! Who's that guy!?!?" Pointing at my fiance. I started cracking up. We always get the kids staring, or running into things because they are too busy eye balling my Fiance. But I just thought that he had the weirdest response I have heard yet! Like maybe he thought my fiance was REALLY something special! [Which ofcourse he is]

Do any of you have any stories of weird responses to you or your wheelchairs?

My husband has his own approach. I did read everyone's response, but he dose not mind if people stare at him. If anything, he loves to answer questions. Young kids are the best as they just ask whatever they want. Adults usually have knowledge to not stare but do anyway. It called human curiosity. Mike just will say Hi if it he sees a super gawker.

Here in the US most people dont stare nearly as much as when we travel to the Philippines and Germany/Austria. In the PI a lot more so. You would think Mike walked off a spaceship. Everyone's head turns as he cruises around. Mike seems to enjoy the attention as people will be amassed at what he does and who he is. Mike takes the gawking opportunities, when time permits, to teach others that even if your disabled you can still lead a fulfilling life. Take the opportunity to teach people. Not everyone understands the situation disabled people are in. If more people understood, maybe wheelchair accessible parking spots would not be used by the non-disabled public?

To add a crazy story, a quad friend of ours who uses a e-wc and was/is 6'5" tall was boarding an airplane on the late 80's. Being that he is a big guy, they were having some difficulties getting him to his seat. A very smart and charming flight attendat said "Can't he just walk this one time." Duh!

[wheeliebear75]

I was on an elevator with a young mother with 2 small children a baby about 1 yr old, and a little girl about 3 or so. The little girl turned to her mom and asked "Why is that lady in a stroller?", the Mom turned bright red and said "no honey that's not a stroller it's a wheelchair.......she can't walk".......it got worse the poor mom....the little girl turned to me and said "my little brother is learning to walk........didn't your mom teach you how?" That poor lady was red as a fire truck and speechless. The things kids say.

[Georgia7]

I was once getting on a bus when the bus driver bluntly asked me where he was going to put the 'pram'?Honestly, can't people tell the difference between a pram and a wheelchair???????
Nice!!!

[Webwych]

This is more of a response Mam and I gave to other people (I was in my early 20's when both situations occurred):

First one - We were out shopping, and a man was shaking a tin for the then 'Spastic society'. He asked if Mam would like to make a donation, to which she pushed me in his direction and said 'Yeah, have her! She's a pain in the ar$e!'

Second - I was out with mum again one day and I was wearing a jacket which had a long belt on it. Well, the belt got caught in my wheels and asked Mam to stop while I untangled it. After a few moments I noticed two old ladies standing right in front of me, watching in amazement as I untangled the belt.

Old Lady 1: Aren't you a clever girl!?

Me: Oh, that's nothing! If you follow us to MacDonalds you can watch me feed myself too!

This post has been edited by Webwych: 24 April 2008 - 06:14 PM