Out and about today, I again caught myself doing something which I knew instantly had to stop. I’ve noted before how I’m noticing quite a few more people using wheelchairs and powerchairs these days, at least around London. There also seem to be a lot more people walking around with crutches, while not appearing to put any weight on them. The problem is, I seem to now feel a deep sense of suspicion or even rivalry whenever I see a fellow wheelchair user. I find myself trying to figure out whether they actually have a disability. These feelings were obviously brought about by my reflections on what I call cultural intrusion. Sometimes it’s quite clear that they have a disability just as I do; but other times it’s harder to tell.
This obviously has to stop. I have no right to have such doubts or to make such assumptions. Who am I to question anyone’s disability? The thing is, I’m becoming more and more certain that my suspicions are valid: increasing numbers of people are identifying as disabled when they previously might not have. The definition of what constitutes a disability is becoming wider and wider, and the issue is thus becoming more and more politicised. More and more people are appearing online purporting to be disabled, making money by vlogging about issues that they have no actual experience of.
The online and offline worlds are, however, very different spaces, and what might be true on one might not be true on the other. My online suspicions, however certain I am that they are valid, do not give me the right to make judgments and assumptions about people I pass in the street. Even so, it frightens me to realise how acrimonious this issue is becoming for me. Judging people and begrudging them their mobility aids, albeit silently , because of a few twits on the internet, is not healthy.
The Ill-Informed Ramblings of a Cripple 
It’s definitely frustrating to see people faking, however before the wider use of power chairs and crutches etc, what were these people doing instead? I suspect one has to think deeper into this. Were they gaily strolling around on 2 feet or were they simply imprisoned in their own homes? I’ve been battered by the “not all disabilites are visible” stick when I’ve had the “nerve” to complain about disabled bay abuse – completely disregarding the fact that blue badges ARE visible so it’s a moot point.
I want to point out that I am a person that was born with a condition that caused me pain and issues from single figures but, because I didn’t “look” disabled, I was gaslit into being given a depression diagnosis for so long that my body is now useless and I now need a wheelchair to be able to get around anywhere. I was a very active person in my youth but had no idea the long term damage I was doing and eventually it took its toll. For years I’d be struck down, unable to walk for weeks at a time (literally) but, by the time an appointment would get through (6 weeks) it had cleared up and so I was just sent away. That went on for 40 years until I was finally diagnosed, despite even paying for private healthcare out of my own pocket to see what was wrong with me.
There are absolutely varying levels of disability and 100% fakers but, our biggest enemy right now is the rising tide of Reformers and their perception of disabled people. We need to band together, trust each other until proven otherwise and shout loudly.
I am furious at how Motability bowed down to pressure over the BMW/MERC issue and have told them they should have been way more aggressive over this issue in defending both themselves and those of us who quite literally depend on them. After all, those of us with more than half a brain know it’s not bloody free for us and the more needs you have, the more you have to shell out for a bigger car to meet said needs.
Good for you for recognising it in yourself, you’re not alone in being suspicious of others at times but try to remember who the real enemy is. If you do find a fake – make sure you name and shame though!!
LikeLike