[Image: 8 photos of
a green-haired woman varying between sitting, standing, using a
walking stick or a wheelchair. Photos also include her awesome merle Great
Dane and constant furry companion, Freyja. The woman is smiling and
happy and frocked up in each picture.]
My mobility varies.
Day-to-day.
Sometimes
hour-to-hour.
Some days I can stand unaided.
I can walk
around my house, furniture and wall-walking. Using my strategically
placed chairs. Or Freyja makes a handy Great Dane sized stabiliser by
my side.
Some days I
need my walking stick. It allows me to cover short distances. To get
in and out of the car. Out in the backyard or out to the mail box. I
like to use my legs when I can but some days even the best Can Do
attitude wont make the muscles work.
So
Some days I
need my wheelchair, especially if there's distance to be covered, my
legs are particularly weak, the pain is too much, my blood pressure
is playing up or the exhaustion overwhelming.
Some days I'll
use my wheelchair to go out, say to a cafe, AND will then use my
walking stick to traverse a short distance to a non accessible loo.
Often further exhausting myself in the process.
Some days I'll
use my wheelchair but manage to take an unaided step in and out of
the car.
Some days I'll
mix it up as my body decides to be finicky or I push my piddly
boundaries.
Hell, some
days I can't get out of bed or crawl to the loo.
And while I'm at it, 99% of the
time I'll frock up because I enjoy it. Because disabled people can
enjoy can enjoy fashion. And we can dress however we like and don't
have to conform to a narrow and false idea of how we should look or
act.
It seems to not only confuse but anger many people
when they see people standing from a wheelchair or alternating the
mobility devices they use. But it's really not that hard. Not
everyone in a wheelchair is paralysed or uses it 100% of the time.
They are a mobility aid for a whole host of disorders.
Mobility can vary
for many people. We use the best tool for the task on the day.
My wheelchair allows
me to leave my house and gives me independence and freedom that I
would otherwise be denied.
My walking stick
allows me to make my way to my car in the driveway or pick grab the
eggs from my chook house.
My legs let me do, well not a
lot these days, but when they decide to get their shit together for a
little while I make the most of it.
Disability is
diverse.
Open your eyes and
your mind.
Michelle
Today's musical accompaniment is dedicated to a now blocked individual on Instagram. If you see someone using multiple
aides, or standing from their wheelchair, don't show yourself to be
an uneducated, small-minded, judgemental arsehole. It's not really
flattering for you and has to be an exhausting way to go through life.
Sing it Babs!
Day-to-day.
Sometimes hour-to-hour.
Some days I can stand unaided.
I can walk around my house, furniture and wall-walking. Using my strategically placed chairs. Or Freyja makes a handy Great Dane sized stabiliser by my side.
Some days I need my walking stick. It allows me to cover short distances. To get in and out of the car. Out in the backyard or out to the mail box. I like to use my legs when I can but some days even the best Can Do attitude wont make the muscles work.
Some days I need my wheelchair, especially if there's distance to be covered, my legs are particularly weak, the pain is too much, my blood pressure is playing up or the exhaustion overwhelming.
Some days I'll use my wheelchair to go out, say to a cafe, AND will then use my walking stick to traverse a short distance to a non accessible loo. Often further exhausting myself in the process.
Some days I'll use my wheelchair but manage to take an unaided step in and out of the car.
Some days I'll mix it up as my body decides to be finicky or I push my piddly boundaries.
Hell, some days I can't get out of bed or crawl to the loo.
And while I'm at it, 99% of the time I'll frock up because I enjoy it. Because disabled people can enjoy can enjoy fashion. And we can dress however we like and don't have to conform to a narrow and false idea of how we should look or act.
It seems to not only confuse but anger many people when they see people standing from a wheelchair or alternating the mobility devices they use. But it's really not that hard. Not everyone in a wheelchair is paralysed or uses it 100% of the time. They are a mobility aid for a whole host of disorders.
My legs let me do, well not a lot these days, but when they decide to get their shit together for a little while I make the most of it.
