The CripTonight performance was a very eye opening experience for me that prompted a lot of discussion with my peers after. I was surprised that the guest speakers had multitudes of instances of having physical barriers when it comes to getting seen in the doctor’s office where they have been a patient for many years. The major barrier that surprised me was the lack of rooms and wheelchair accessible weighing scales available at a major healthcare organization. It wasn’t my own experience but I was shocked and understood why it felt alienating.
As a healthcare worker, it is common to feel like every disease process or problem needs a fix, even if that fix isn’t something the patient actually wants. It is uncomfortable for healthcare workers to start that conversation mostly because it feels like we are failing. However, it is not about us, and how we feel we can make someone’s quality of life better. We are not the ones living with the disability. It is important to turn to patience for guidance on what they want to do, and what they prioritize in their care because ultimately, it is their decision on how they want to live their life.
I have never considered how truly difficult it would be for a person to walk around a busy street blind. No matter how hard I think about it is true that I can’t put myself in the shoes of someone who is blind. With that being said, it is important for a seeing person to have awareness of their own space and not distract those who are out there just trying to live their lives and run errands. Every interaction with a disabled person should not be made a spectacle and we, as a society, should have the mindfulness to accommodate those who need it. Equity, not equality.
