Sally's World

Seeing as we are blogging against disablism today, I will share something that makes me laugh a lot…although you may not agree.

Now I am sick of people looking at me like I am the cruellest mother on the planet if I tell Deion off. Deion may be a wheelchair user, but my goodness, he has a cheeky streak equal to none…and as I believe in equality, I believe I should treat him just as badly as I treat my other children….I’m JOKING!! Of course I’m joking, but if Deion does something wrong, he’s going to get told off just like Jordan or Robyn would. If we are in a shop and he asks for something, I get looked at like I’m evil if I say ‘no’…if I have to tell hi to hurry up, its even worse… but for goodness sake, he’s in a turbo charged wheelchair, why should he need to dawdle, and if I tell him off for running into me or not looking where he’s going, people have actually threatened to call social services…

Aaron too, no special treatment form me I’m afraid…telling him off got me even worse looks, because he looked more limited and couldn’t talk…but he still bloody well knew when he was being naughty.

One day he saw the van but turned the other way (to run away as it were) cos he was sulking with me. I raised my voice and told him to come back, but he ignored me, so I ran after him, stood in front of him and told him to go to the car and stop being so stroppy, he threw me a dirty look and reluctantly turned towards the car.

Two ladies happened to be walking past and muttered what a cruel woman I was for telling the ‘poor little thing’ off….okay…’poor little thing!’ don’t make me laugh. I had to respond, because it is this kind of ignorance, this false sympathy that drives us mad. So I yelled “oh, so just because he’s in a wheelchair, you don’t think he knows how to be naughty?”

Of course, Aaron was laughing by now…he loved a good row…

I went on to explain how ignorant her attitude was, and how she should not presume that disability equals stupidity, how dare she suggest my child does not have the intelligence to be naughty….of course he did, he got up to mischief all the time…ask some of his friends and teachers!!!

It’s as important for Deion to grow up, not expecting to get his own way, as it is all children. What kind of mum would I be if I spoilt him rotten. It’s not that I like him being in a wheelchair, but the easy thing would be to give him is won way, and I’m not in it for the easy life, I am raising three children into strong, independent self sufficient adults.
Deion is keen not to be treated differently form everyone else, if someone goes to give in because of the wheelchair he’ll tell them straight…”it’s okay, I’m not going to play the disability card!” he is perfectly comfortable with his disability, and its important that everyone else is too…that’s how we stop the negative attitude…

Acceptance, embracing, education!!!!

Follow this link to find out how to join in Blogging Against Disablism Day
This is so important, Blogging Against Disablism Day is on 1st May...please join in....it is only by standing together and standing up to prejudice that we can really make a difference.

I for one am sick of people looking at my child like he is a lesser human being because of the wheelchair, I'm sick of people presuming he's stupid, and so is he. Isn't it about time we educated people so that kids like Deion don't have to put up with negative attitudes and discrimination, just because they are differently abled...