this post is part of Blogging Against Disablism Day it is the first one of two
while staring is a debatable form of discrimination it can affect anybody with any sort of visible disability or condition. So that's why I decided to post this as part of Blogging Against Disablism Day I wrote this article a while ago when I was much younger however it's one of the first times I put my feelings about having a disability on paper (or on the computer in my case) I hope that some people find the way that I deal with this issue useful
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Since I was very young I have had to deal with people
staring at me. This seems to be a common problem amongst people with
disabilities. As I have grown my way of dealing with this problem has
changed. When I was younger it would upset me and make me feel very self-conscious. Now I have grown to realize that people do not
stare out of spite and they are not intentionally trying to be rude
but they may not have seen a person in a wheelchair before. It is
just human nature to look and wonder about someone who is different.
Sometimes people stare because they admire the fact that you are able
to be mobile and productive in spite of your disability. For example;
I am a very energetic and happy go lucky person and I have been told
several times, at my college, by people who see me in the halls and are
amazed at my ability to move around the campus with such a positive
attitude.
If you are a disabled person who finds someone
staring at you, and it really drives you nuts, turn to the person,
smile, and or say hello. This serves two purposes, first it wakes the
person up and lets them know that they are staring at you and, it
brakes the ice easing the atmosphere for both you and the other
person.