The Wheelchair Chronicles #13
To all my people with disabilities…..do you get upset if you’re offered assistance when you’re patronizing a business?
I went to Starbucks one early Saturday morning while running an errand. The first problem that posed itself was that the doors were not accessible nor was the store in general.
There were no accessible seats but one and there was a man sleeping there and not purchasing anything.
But the cashier went well above and beyond her duty. She was very courteous to me, she knew that I couldn’t reach the drink counter so she brought my drink to me. She pulled the chair from the table so that my wheelchair would fit, AND she put me by the window sill so that I could “people watch”.
I thought it was very cute and endearing. She had a very pleasant demeanor and was nice to everyone she met….even the guy sleeping in the corner. (He still didn’t move but her manager took care of the problem.) I don’t think she paid me more attention because of the obvious handicap. Frankly the world needs more people like her.
But I can’t help but wonder if someone else in my position would have been offended.
Sure all disabled people can’t be cut from the same cloth. We have varying degrees of disability and skill levels. I still can’t maneuver doors as well or judge distances while others are pros and can navigate quite well without any help.
That leaves me to ask the question.
Do you get offended when people go out of their way to offer assistance to you? Or do you appreciate when someone goes above and beyond their duty?
I don’t get offended and I really resent people who do because they give all of us a bad reputation.
In a situation like a place of business that is not very accessible I absolutely appreciate when the people who work there try their best to make it usable for me. To do any less would be virtually saying “you’re not welcome here.” The only time I get upset is when people make things harder for me not easier. This rarely happens in a place of business but happens more often by random people out and about. I like help if it’s helpful. If they’re making things worse I have no problem saying I don’t want help.
