Rant....

LeiahDrake — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:34:00 GMT

Mike likes to go into a bookstore that is really well known. Everytime we go in there, the isles are blocked with chairs and such. I have moved them and told managers about it. We always get "I'm sorry", but it happens everytime. Mike does not like me to make a fuss and says that he is not special and wishes that things like that would not bother me. Well, it does. He is in a chair and hard for him to get around all the obsticles without me moving them. I think this place, along with other places, should be a lot more caring. Then, the magazine rack is up so high that it is hard for him to see what he wants. I get the magazines down for him and then will put them back if he does not want it. How do places expect people in chairs to be able to see things? It is hard for me to reach the top of the shelves, how about someone in a chair? Then, we get to the checkout counter, where, they have one lower counter for people in chairs. Well, that counter was not open, so, I put the books and magazines on that counter. Again, Mike told me not to start a fuss...but, it just angers me. I told the lady that these were Mikes purchases and he needs to use this counter. The registers are all together, all she had to do was ring them up, place the receipt down on the counter where he could sign it and be done with it....it was not putting her out at all. She did not even have to take but one step in order to assist Mike in being independent with his purchase. Well, she told me that I could take care of the purchas for him and there was nothing she could do. I called the manager over, they did open the register.....again, that did not even have to happen, and rung Mike up. If this was not my husbands favorite place, I would not go there!!! He is so much of a person who does not want special treatment just because he is in a chair, but, again, it really ticks me off!!! Places need to be more user friendly when it comes to people with disabilites.

Thank you for letting me vent! Do you all have a rant that you want to talk about.....or, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Leiah

What???

LeiahDrake — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:47:00 GMT

I am a new member here and have been accepted very well. I am not the one with the disability, my husband is. He lost his legs above the knee to too much radiation exposure.

Anyway, to get on with my experience: I often hear, wow, this must be hard on you...you are a real hero to stay with Mike (my husband) after the amputations. I want to scream when I hear this. I married my husband because I love him. We have been married for 18 years, why now, after he lost his legs, would I leave him? I am not the hero, I am not a good person for staying with him. We live as we always have, as husband and wife who love each other with all of our hearts!

My question is this, do any of you experience this, or, had experience with this? I really do hate it...I am not the one going through all the day to day obsticles that someone who had to wake up without legs had to go through..and, yet, I am the one that always hears how strong I am. Mike is incrediable. I would not be like him...at least, I don't think so. He is not bitter, we don't talk about it because he really is a non issue. He is like he has always been...outgoing, strong, a family man, confident, etc. Why, I ask, does a disability all of a sudden become a death sentence? It is not.

Our friends don't treat our family any different than we have always been treated, but, people that don't know us act like we should win some accademy award!

Thanks for listening to my rant and please, feel free to comment on this...I would love to hear what you all have experierenced.