When I first went out in my wheelchair, it was an eye-opening experience for me. I found out that it is true when many of my fellow wheelchair community members say, "We only have two major challenges - stairs and stares."
I understood the part about stairs even before I actually went out in my wheelchair. I and my parents probably spent hours deciding where to go because so few places in Vadodara are accessible to people like me! Wherever there are two or more steps, a wheelchair has to be carried, as also the person in it. Sometimes if there is a lift, there is a short staircase before we can reach it. Other times there is no issue in reaching the lift but the entrance to it is too small for a wheelchair to fit through. And sometimes when there are good ramps, not too steep and not too slippery,
there are vehicles parked in front of them. So if I can’t enter a place, how am
I going to enjoy it? Luckily because of the “Accessible India” movement along with growing awareness, more
and more places are becoming equipped with better infrastructure and thus open
for the community to enjoy.
Coming to the stares part, I believe it is more of a
curiosity – filled mindset problem than anything else. Most people tend to
underestimate every person in a wheelchair. They underestimate our ability to
move around on our own, to pick out things that we like, even the ability of
our companions in supporting us whenever few times we need. I have seen
strangers gaping when I transfer myself from a wheelchair into a car. I have
seen them gaping when I sit in the food court and place orders when with my
friends. I have seen them gaping when I collide into someone and then apologise
with a smile instead of falling off my wheelchair. Often there are kids who
smile at me while their parents frown and pull them away, maybe because of some
stigma they have attached to this condition, to wheelchairs, out of a
completely bizarre belief which I fail to understand.
To be honest, it feels encouraging to see someone smile at
me and acknowledge my presence and not just that of my wheelchair. It feels
like magic exists when little kids come up to me and say you’ll be alright with
their sweet little laughs and then run away to their happily waiting parents.
It feels empowering to know that I rebuild people’s mindsets each time I
interact with them. I feel strength in knowing that I am complete, with or
without my wheelchair. Also, I do not feel ashamed to ask for help although
unwanted help feels annoying. I do not hate stares although receiving smiles
are way better. Getting acceptance from the society for being the way I am is a
blessing that most of us in the community struggle for. Let us all make the
world a better place – a more accessible and accepting place.