Sir, – The biggest patronising, gimmick, stunt, joke was enacted yesterday – the Day in My Wheels campaign – all thought up by a charity for people with spinal cord injuries.
Only a charity could offer this humiliating game – for walkers, politicians and celebrities – of “let’s all pretend we are wheelchair users” and bring out the media to watch.
Will they learn that if your wheelchair breaks down you wait weeks/months for repairs; if the lift breaks down you are stranded (I was once lifted three floors down by firemen)
,
that the HSE will accuse you of damaging your own wheelchair if broken
,
that the cushion you are given to sit on hurts like hell
,
that a complete stranger will “tuck you in
’
” when your blanket falls off, or givae
s
you a pat on the head,
...
no,
...
the
Spinal Injuries Ireland will get money, the stars will be applauded and nothing will change. It never
,
does.
We disabled – real wheelchair users – have done this for years, protested lack of access lack
of
everything, no-one hears, nothing changes, so the “walkers
” will be heard,
or will they?
This is why many disabled people’s campaigners want rights not charity
—
– it prevents us being presented as without a voice, only the “walkers
” can really say how it is.
How disrespectful is that?