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Video: Sh*t people say to the disabled

Feb 11 02:56

When you use a wheelchair, one of the first things you’ll notice is how differently people treat you. The moment your wheel leaves your front door get ready, because people will inundate you with crazy questions everywhere you go. And the questions they ask range from offensive and laughably ridiculous to downright rude. It’s a crazy world out there when you use a wheelchair, and having thick skin to rebuff all these things is essential.

That’s why I’m so excited about a very funny video just produced by Push (a project by students at Stanford University with the mission of addressing the needs of people who use wheelchairs and their assistants). Their video, “Sh*t People Say to People with Disabilities,” is 2:24 minutes long and features several actors playing the part of the questioning stranger, asking an ignorant question to someone who uses a wheelchair.

The project definitely did their homework and interviewed people with disabilities. If you use a wheelchair, you’ll love every line because it’s taken from an actual quote. Some of the sh*t people say in the video includes, “Can you have sex?” “Can you get a DUI in that thing?” “Does that thing have snow tires?” “But you‘re so pretty!” “How fast does that thing go?” “Are you ok? Can I help you?” “What happened to you anyways?”

Videos like this are important on so many levels. It’s funny without question, but is also has the power to enlighten at least person out there and prevent them from getting foot-in-mouth disease when they meet someone in a wheelchair. And even more importantly, the video makes fun of people’s ignorance regarding disability and that is awesome. We’re subjected to offensive one-liners all the time; the least we can do is make fun of these dweebs to hopefully make a point and change a few minds in the process.

What crazy things have people said to you?

- Watch: Sh*t People Say to People with Disabilities

- Visit: The Push project’s official site

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1. Audacity Filmworks | Feb 11 03:32

"You're going to get a speeding ticket on that thing?" is the most overused (and least funny) line I've heard. The most shocking one was, "How do you go to the bathroom?" I was tempted to show him my catheter just to teach him a lesson about nosiness. (I'm so twisted sometimes.)

2. D | Feb 11 04:16

Funny, one person wrote back in the reply section below the video: "Jus a lil disappointed, I thought you were all gonna be in wheelchair's. I am." That right there shows some stupidity on what ppl say. Just because its a short on what ppl say to ppl in chairs, why would THEY (the questioners) be in chairs? Think maybe I better call a "time out", if I got one left.....

3. Tiffiny | Feb 11 05:41

@Audacity "You're going to get a speeding ticket on that thing?" is DEFINITELY the most overused, unfunny line used without question. We need to come up with a twisted response to this one. @ D: LOL really? Stupid commenters on YouTube are as frequent as cockroach outbreaks in Texas.

4. Justine | Feb 12 03:45

One of the most annoying things I've heard is " don't run me over", when I am simply focused in doing my thing and not even paying attention to said person. If I'm in a good mood I'll simply say" it's my night off"

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By Tiffiny Carlson

Tiffiny Carlson Disability buzz, travel, fashion and dating — fun things to amp up everyday wheeling life.

Tiffiny Carlson is freelance writer and writes the “SCI Life” column for New Mobility. She's also a C6 quad from a diving accident that occurred when she was 14 years old. A lifelong resident of Minneapolis, Tiffiny has been a writer in the disability community for over 10 years and writes for several publications and blogs, as well as her personal blog BeautyAbility. Her work has also appeared in mainstream publications such as Nerve.com and Playgirl.