If you live with a disability, you’re well aware how the abled community can make life more difficult for you than it needs to be. The lack of access and accommodations is one thing, though at least laws can do something about that. But the ignorance many display can be even more frustrating because no law can govern that.
Recently, the hashtag #AbledsAreWeird popped up on Twitter so the disabled could share their bizarre encounters with those who are seemingly oblivious and…well, weird about disability.
“Thanks, I’ve got it.”
Neurotypical person when theyre being nice: Just say something when you need help, I’m here for you
NT Person when its not convenient: CANT YOU STOP WITH YOUR STUPID QUIRKS#AbledsAreWeird
— phia (@mockingjaei) March 18, 2019
Yeah, that doesn’t work.
i once was told, by someone who i thought was a friend, that: “i wish i had conditions like yours, i’d use so many excuses & get out of so much stuff!” & proceeded to laugh & joke about the things she’d say/do for a long, long ass time #AbledsAreWeird
— sarah (@smithrsarah) March 18, 2019
Wait… what?!? I hope that @$$hole was reported!
Got an F on paper I worked very hard on. My teacher said even though he couldn’t prove it was plagiarism he knew I had not written it because he had never seen a deaf person write in English like that. #AbledsAreWeird
— Shoshannah Stern (@Shoshannah7) March 17, 2019
I don’t think they know what words mean…
Me: I have multiple mental illnesses Other people: that doesn’t make you disabled…You’re just lazy and looking for an excuse….
Me:…Do you know the definition of disabled!?! #AbledsAreWeird— Theresa (@xoTheresaLynnxo) March 18, 2019
“Oh, so you’re not lying about having a life-threatening condition. Got it.”
My childhood:
Teacher: do this thing (run, go outside in certain conditions, use cleaning products, etc.)
Me: I will have an asthma attack if I do that thing
Teacher: liar, do it
Me: *tries to do it and has asthma attack*
Teacher: #AbledsAreWeird— Christina (@raspberryotter) March 16, 2019
What is the deal with these teachers?!?
Me: *has chronic migraines and has to wear sunglasses to avoid light when they are about to hit*
Teacher: *fucking rips them off my face* stop trying to be cool and wear sunglasses in class
Me: *TRIES TO EXPLAIN*
Teacher: *sends me to the office* #AbledsAreWeird— Nick a sad man (@Nick_Ya_Dingus) March 18, 2019
Well, she’s not wrong.
Bringing this back for #AbledsAreWeird pic.twitter.com/3UfOO6gWHK
— Momo ✨ (@momoxmia) March 17, 2019
Yeah, that is a thing. People say they have ADHD and they don’t. Ugh.
Neurotypical person: “Lol, I’m sorry I forgot, I’m so ADHD”
Me, a human with ADHD: No worriesMe: “Sorry, I forgot, I have been really overwhelmed and didn’t put it in my calendar.”
Same neurotypical person: “Stop using your ADHD as an excuse.”#AbledsAreWeird— Andrew (@lAndrewh98) March 16, 2019
When somebody finally understands
Abled people: “I have difficulty hearing in loud places too!” “you’re just being dramatic, your hearing can’t be that bad because you can hear me” etc etc
Audiologist when I finally went: “I don’t know how you’ve been coping. Why did you leave it this long?”#AbledsAreWeird
— Jake (@jk_tylr) March 18, 2019
YES! All of this.
Stop saying “You don’t look disabled”
Light travels faster than sound, so you look smart until you’re heard.Many are not visible. Unless I run around with my MRI scans stapled to my head…#AbledsAreWeird
— Dhani Rose (@DhaniRose) March 18, 2019
And when it comes to people in wheelchairs, they seem to run into a particularly strange kind of stupid…
THIS. WAS. A. NURSE.
That one time a nurse repeatedly ran into my chair, kicked it, just grabbed it and moved me, etc and finally I asked her to stop, she responded with, “If you don’t like it, you should walk like everyone else.” (Yes, you read correctly, this was a nurse.)#AbledsAreWeird
— Marybeth♿♀️ ️ (@poeticdiction) March 16, 2019
Seriously people… MOVE!
People standing on the sidewalk curb ramps and just staring at the incoming wheelchair. “Excuse me!” Does not move. Keeps staring. #AbledsAREWeird
— BuckyHermit (@BuckyHermit) March 18, 2019
OMFG…
Lady on train: why is your wheelchair pink?
Me: because I like pink.
LoT: But you shouldn’t make a wheelchair pretty.
Me: why not?
LoT: Because then people might think it’s okay to have one.
#AbledsAreWeird— Pilgrim (@PilgrimKitty) March 18, 2019
Many things still work!
Had a pretty lady in a wheelchair flirt with me on the train and I flirted back. When she got to her stop she handed me her number. Some lady across the aisle asked me “Why would lead her on like that they can’t have sex!” #AbledsAreWeird
— Spoony Bard of Trap music (@Tastycakes17) March 18, 2019
Yeah, whoever asked this is gross. Completely.
At a grocery store, a woman made a beeline to me and, w/ no introduction, asked, “Can you have sex?”
It wasn’t the 1st time I’ve been asked this, so I said flirtatiously, “Why, you offering?”
She literally jumped back in disgust and told me I was gross. #AbledsAreWeird
— Kathryne Husk ♿ ️ (@KathryneHusk) March 17, 2019
It would have been funny if you did…
Approaching a man walking toward me in a hallway. Suddenly he flattens himself along the wall, even though the hall is wide enough for 3 wheelchairs. Like I might suddenly go for his feet or something. #AbledsAreWeird
— Denise DiNoto (@deescribes) March 18, 2019
Oh Ableds… you have such a long way to go…
Ableds: Crowd around me in elevator. Stand in exactly the wrong place. Don’t allow me to turn my chair around.
Me: Tries to maneuver my way out backwards w/o running over their feet
Ableds (patronizingly): “Don’t worry sweetie, you’ll get the hang of it eventually #AbledsAreWeird— Phoenix on Wheels (@phoenixonwheels) March 18, 2019
Hopefully these tweets will help people gain some insight into how people with disabilities should be treated: like everybody else.
