You may have heard about a survey that was published in the
week and concluded that 2 out of 3 members of the British public admit feeling
uncomfortable around disabled people. I can’t say I am surprised and in all
honesty, the percentage is probably higher than the results suggest. I’ve said
on this blog before that this is down to ignorance in my opinion, backed up by
the statistic that an incredible 43% of the population do not know anyone with
a disability. An article looking at these recent findings and Scope’s advertising campaign to
eliminate this daily awkwardness is available to read online: http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/08/two-thirds-of-britons-are-uncomfortable-around-disabled-people-its-time-to-end-the-awkward-4720862/
Even ‘Wheelchair Boy’, who bemoans these patronising or awkward
people, will sometimes meet a fellow disabled person and not know how to behave
around them. I guess I’m as bad as everyone else. Not because I’m ignorant.
It’s because of human nature when it comes to seeing someone who is different
from the norm. As T.V. presenter (from The
Last Leg) and fellow disabled person Alex Brooker admits, “I get curious as well, and I do a double take. It’s just curiosity, that’s
all.” I know how I would like to be spoken to so I start overthinking the
situation and I ending up acting just like every other muppet that I’ve slagged
off on here.
The fact that only 7% out of the 2000
asked in the survey had been on a date with a disabled person is again not a
shock. I’ve been single since time began
and I’ve always moaned about girls not looking past the disability (although my
horrible personality probably counts against me as well) and giving me a
chance. However, I must admit to having double standards so I cannot criticize
women who reject me. This sounds awful but I probably wouldn’t go out with
another disabled person so I can understand why most able-bodied women wouldn’t
touch me with a barge pole.
Bye for now!
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