Why Would A “Person Without Disabilities” Be Jealous Of “Disabled PWDs”?
Posted: January 11th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Common Questions | Tags: Disabilities, Disabled, Jealous, person, PWDs, without, would | 14 Comments »The reason why I am asking because I seen an posted response which is this: “I have seen non-disabled people being jealous of disabled people. That’s more common than you might think.”.
The only reasons I can come up with are these:
1. Parking in Handicapped Parking Spaces.
2. Getting SSI/SSDI which means that a PWD is not forced to work for a living.
3. Getting Medicaid/Medicare which means that a PWD get free health care.
4. Getting “free and/or discounted admission passes” at various places.
5. Getting a “free college education” due to being a PWD.
6. Using Manual Wheelchairs, Electric Power-Chairs, and Electric Power-Scooters which means a PWD does not walks but always rides in their mobility assistive device to where the PWD wants to go.
7. Getting PWD VIP Treatment at airports in terms of going straight through the security checkpoint in a wheelchair without having to wait in line and being allowed to board first on planes.
8. PWD Cut-In-Line Privileges at various places.
The question that I am asking is this:
Why would “Non-PWDs” (Outsiders) be jealous of “Disabled PWDs”?
Please give reasons.
Thank you.
*Both me and my only child are SSA Registered-Certified Disabled PWDs.* I am also a Registered Member of the Ectodermal Dysplasias International Registry.*
*Wowasakeikcup!* — *PWDRHIP*
To Hihihi: To answer your question, the maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) monthly payment for 2010 is $674 for a qualified single PWD and $1,011 for a qualified married PWD that has an eligible spouse. If a PWD lives in a HUD subsidized apartment/housing or lives in a section 8 apartment/housing and get food stamps, or lives with a roommate, then the PWD’s financial situation will be fine. If a PWD is on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), the SSDI monthly payment will be bigger. The SSA financial rules for SSDI is better than the SSA financial rules for SSI.
To Susan: Where I live, I have 12 free doctor Medicaid visits per year, free inpatient hospital Medicaid coverage for 20 days, limited free Dental Medicaid services (1 free Dental Medicaid visit monthly), and 3 free monthly medicine Medicaid prescriptions. My only child gets SSI and SSDI including Medicaid and Medicare. My child’s Medicare premiums is being by the state. There was a poster on the PWD board that mentioned that they knew of a local college that had a program that would pay for tuition and books if the person was a legitimate Disabled PWD.
***CORRECTION: My child’s Medicare premiums is being paid by the state.***
To Hihihi: You are quite mistaken that PWDs do not get discounts. For example: The U.S. National Park System (NPS) does offer discounted fees for Disabled PWDs for park entry, camping, and various other activities. I received free admission to the local county fair because I have a permanent Handicapped Parking state permit for my automobile.
To James Alex: Where I live at, there is a free health clinic for low income people. I do have an automobile with a Scooter Powerlift attached so I can transport my electric scooter wherever I go. I have a permanent Handicapped Parking state permit. Originally I was not a wheelchair user when I got my Handicapped Parking state permit 22 years ago due to my deformed feet and deformed ankles. I am now forced to use mobility assistive devices. I have used PWD Cut-In-Line Privileges (Pulling PWD Rank) (Disabilities Perks) at airport security checkpoints and I have been forced to use PWD Cut-In-Line Privileges (Pulling PWD Rank) (Disabilities Perks) elsewhere at public places several times.
To James Alex: I have LEGITIMATE physical mobility issues which has FORCED me to buy a manual wheelchair and a 4-wheel electric scooter and a scooter power-lift for my motor vehicle. I have SEVERE chronic pain in the lower part of my body which has greatly affected my ability to walk and to stand for long periods of time. I also have deformed ankles and deformed feet. Due to LEGITIMATE physical mobility issues, my body IS FORCING me to use assisted mobility devices (wheelchair, power-chair, electric scooter). I have NO CHOICE but to use assisted mobility devices (wheelchair, power-chair, electric scooter). The reason why I call “PWD Cut-In-Line Privileges” the term “Pulling PWD Rank” is due to the fact that there are “Disability Perks” (Disabilities Accommodations) that are ONLY available to PWDs and NOT available to people without Disabilities. (For example: if a person is in the Army, there are privileges available to an Army Sergeant and NOT to an Army Private.)
To James Alex: Whenever I “Pull PWD Rank”, I am making use of “Disability Perks” (Disabilities Accommodations) that are ONLY available to PWDs and NOT available to people without Disabilities. “Pulling PWD Rank” has NOTHING to do about me thinking that I am above people without Disabilities. “Pulling PWD Rank” has EVERYTHING to do with me making use of “Disability Perks” (Disabilities Accommodations) wherever they are offered and when it is NEEDED AND NECESSARY for me to use such “Disability Perks” (Disabilities Accommodations).
To James Alex: The acronym
“PWDRHIP” means “Person With Disabilities Rank Has Its Privileges” The acronym “PWDRHIP” serves to remind me that I have the LEGAL-MEDICAL label of “Person With Disabilities” (PWD) and that “Disability Perks” (Disabilities Accommodations) are available to me to use whenever they are offered and and when it is NEEDED AND NECESSARY for me to use such “Disability Perks” (Disabilities Accommodations).
To James Alex: I am an Adult Survivor of extreme Teasing and extreme Bullying (Peer Abuse) and various other types of abuses up to this present date. All of this led to lifelong emotional and lifelong psychological problems including chronic low self-esteem issues and Psychogenic Amnesia (Dissociative Amnesia) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) due to various types of vicious abuse that I have experienced from Non-PWDs (Outsiders). All of this led to my self esteem being completely shattered and also led me to attempt bullycide (suicide) when I was in my early 20′s. The reason why I have “KING” as part of my screen name is to see myself as “Royalty” and to see myself as a “King” and to imagine myself in wearing a “Royal Monarch’s Crown”. All of this is to help me gain good self esteem, and to give myself positive self-affirmation.
To James Alex: My screen ame “KING” serves as a reminder to myself that it is extremely important to have good self esteem about myself and to have confidence in myself and that it is my God-given right to be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy from other persons that I meet in life and that I also need to take control and make my own life happen.
To fodaddy19: Even though I do “Pull PWD Rank” when it is NEEDED AND NECESSARY, that does not force me to give up the right of being a NORMAL person because I am still a NORMAL person who just so happen to have Disabilities.
To fodaddy19: Trust me, if you had SEVERE CHRONIC PAIN in the lower part of your body which has GREATLY AFFECTED your ability to walk and to stand for long periods of time, you WILL WANT to “Pull PWD Rank” AND you WILL BE FORCED to “Pull PWD Rank” because of the SEVERE pain that you are in if you are NOT using any assistive mobility devices. I am a NORMAL person who just so happen to have Disabilities even though I have been FORCED to “Pull PWD Rank” at various times.
To susie lou: The reason why is to let people know that I am an actual legitimate PWD and that I am not a member of the A-DPW (Admirers, Devotees, Pretenders, Wannabes) Community. The A-DPW Community are FAKE / PRETEND PWDs that pretend to be PWDs and that also try to pass themselves as actual legitimate PWDs. And yes, I am extremely proud that me and my only child are Disabled PWDs due to the “Disability Pride Movement” within the PWD Community.
To susie lou: I am not Mentally Disabled due to the fact that I have medical training and I lacked 1/2 of a point in making the Dean’s Honor List in college but I was on the 1st Honor List at college.
To susie lou: Another reason why I put what I do in all my postings is to raise awareness about Ectodermal Dysplasias Syndromes (EDS).
1. Parking in Handicapped Parking Spaces. : kind of agree with this, but i would rather be able to run and walk instead of getting disabled parking spaces.
2. Getting SSI/SSDI which means that a PWD is not forced to work for a living. : yes, but you don’t get much money either. You can’t buy everything you want, travel the world without any financial worries, savings, etc. I heard a disabled person gets around $635 per month? I can’t imagine how a person is supposed to live on $635 per month. That means you can’t live where you want to live, eat out, drink, go to the theater whenever you want to go, etc. Everything would be depending on the financial budget. I would rather work 10 hours a day if it meant high salary.
3. Getting Medicaid/Medicare which means that a PWD get free health care. :But specialist can refuse to treat Medicaid/Medicare patients. Not all doctors want to treat Medicaid/Medicare patients and that means taking time and effort to look for one who would.
4. Getting “free and/or discounted admission passes” at various places. : Again, I don’t really see why anyone would be jealous of this unless they are going through financial problems. I would rather be able to run, walk, socialize, have jobs, make friends, see, hear, speak, and a lot other things. And you don’t get discounts on everything either.
5. Getting a “free college education” due to being a PWD. : Native people get free college education, too. Not only you guys. Besides, there’s a thing called scholarship.
6. Using Manual Wheelchairs, Electric Power-Chairs, and Electric Power-Scooters which means a PWD does not walks but always rides in their mobility assistive device to where the PWD wants to go. : Again, I would rather be able to walk and run. I would hate to live my life in a wheelchair. Like, hate. I love to swim, go for a run with my friends, bike, and rollerskate. Besides, I would get so fat if I could only move around in a wheelchair.
7. Getting PWD VIP Treatment at airports in terms of going straight through the security checkpoint in a wheelchair without having to wait in line and being allowed to board first on planes. : Meh, I don’t mind waiting. Again, I would rather be not-disabled. Also, if you have a child with you, you get to cut in line and board before anyone else, too.
8. PWD Cut-In-Line Privileges at various places. : Yea, this isn’t enough.
I would never give up my ability to run, walk, speak, hear, see, taste, etc for cut-in-line priviledges and whatnot. Never. Even for $500 BILLION dollars, I would never. I like being independent, and it would hurt to be dependent on people and machines.
EDIT: I never said that disabled people do not get discounts, I said they don’t get discounts on EVERYTHING, which is true.
And it seems like only your town or city is built specifically for disabled people with privileges. Most cities don’t have cut-in-line, discounts, etc. At least where I live, Toronto. I have never seen a disabled person cut through a line or get discounts or even heard of such thing.
Anyway, I don’t care if the government says disabled people can get everything for free, I still wouldn’t give up my ability to do various things. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would be jealous of disabled people. Either they don’t know what they are saying, or they are incredibly lazy.
As a disabled person myself living and functioning alone, I’ll add some commentary to this question:
I’m a lower-leg amputee who receives SSI Disability and doesn’t receive Medicaid, or any other “free-health care.” I cannot afford a prosthesis on my own, so I live with one leg. Those who think “we all” get any health care simply isn’t true. I do not.
I no longer have or can afford an automobile. When I need to go out to get things (from the store, for example) or do things, I get in my wheelchair and go. Pulling hills, crossing streets and navigating traffic. I get no free rides. I can do this for myself, carrying back what I get by myself through two satchel bags.
Parking in handicapped spots? In two years, I’ve seen only two people parked in handicapped spots who used a wheelchair as I do. I’ve seen the majority walk fine– and without any apparent duress — even carrying sacks and bundles seemingly with ease. There’s tremendous abuse and misuse of the disability system, because I see it all the time. It’s ironic that such have an icon of a wheelchair on their license plates, have a placard displaying it, and/or have a handicapped-designated spot outside their apartment — yet don’t use or require a wheelchair?
I do not “cut in line” or receive any favoritism being one-legged in a wheelchair. I do not receive any discounts from anyone. I do not receive home-energy assistance, despite living in a unit having one, older and inefficient window air-conditioning unit in a place where temperatures reach over 100 degrees commonly in summer.
There’s no price you can put on the loss of a limb. If these people think my condition is some “trade-off” to get favoritism or a meager disability, they need to grow up a lot. I’m living on roughly one-third of what I earned during my professional career.
In those days, I would have a luxury called “food.” Now, I often live on a 30-cent pot of soup every day for dinner during the last two weeks of the months. And Food Stamps (SNAPS)? While the average per single-family household and income like myself in Arkansas is $115/mo. (maximum is $200/mo. person, ha!), I receive $40/mo. The disabled getting more? I get one heck of a lot less.
And people unlike me don’t have to deal with constant harassment from numerous people. Such people take their freedoms for granted. I’ve lost a lot of my personal freedoms. Anyone, anytime and at any place can stop me, question me, and basically detain me for being out in the wheelchair by myself. You won’t believe what people have done to me, with their supposed “help” being nothing more than attempts to impose themselves on me. And take command of my life, because they think it’s in “my best interest,” or “for my own good.”
Too many non-disabled people don’t have to be gawked at, stared at and be the center of attention all the time. I do a very good of handling it. I never get rude or defensive with people. I’ll admit I’ve done that on a few occasions, though, when I’ve had people charge me in the street, and attempt to grab my wheelchair in some bogus notion they have of “helping me.” It’s dangerous, and downright ignorant.
Work? I work my tail off just to get across a room. I work my tail off every time I leave my home in my wheelchair. I work my tail off every day behind this keyboard, with my creating and entertainment writing. Not to mention my political and scientific writing. But it never seems to fail that others cheat me and seek to take my intellectual property for themselves — to fuel the fires of their own greed.
To me, having been a physically active person my entire life, being disabled as I am today is hardly something to either be jealous of, or hold sympathy for. I made my own choices in life, and my rigorous activities as a younger man damaged my body. I lived, and when you do things like this may happen.
Also, people who aren’t amputees may not have any grasp of phantom feeling and phantom pain. It happens, as I found out. I have the full feeling, sensation, and sense of weight with my “missing” lower leg. Strange, but true. It feels like it’s still there, all the time, every day. I can “move” my toes and my foot, and still get muscle cramps (Charley horses) in a calf muscle that no longer exists.
Again, it’s nothing to be jealous about Some things aren’t good enough for people. They have to find something to gripe about. Such still have all their limbs, and their eyesight, yet aren’t content in life? It’s called perspective, and it took trying and painful life lessons to teach me about that.
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Added 07/21/10; 4:30 PM CST, USA:
Referring to a reply to my answer:
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I don’t understand this. Where does it say that disabled persons like myself in a wheelchair have some “rank” over non-disabled persons? And what does “being forced” mean? “Forced” by what or who? I don’t get this.
One reason I feel people without disabilities often can resent people with disabilities is because there are those disabled people who impose their condition on others. I’ve never felt any rank above anyone. I don’t use my disability in this way. Ever.
If disabled people don’t want to be singled out as some claim they are, they shouldn’t feel the world owes them something. I don’t. Or self-anoint themselves at any give place where all non-disabled people present suddenly become their subordinates. Rank is something earned through merit and respect, and should never be simply handed out.
In all due respect to the Asker, please note your use of the title “KING.” What does that mean? Is that some disability designation set by the government that I’m unaware of?
I’ve never cut in line anywhere, nor would I. People often offer me this, but I always instead let people go ahead of me. After all, folks, I’m in a wheelchair and I’m already sitting down. Besides, is a minor wait going to harm a disabled person? After living with a disability, can’t they “gut it out” in some so minor as waiting an extra few minutes? I don’t get that.
Again, there are good reasons why the non-disabled can have negative feelings against the disabled. I can see scenarios where some disabled person enters a store, then expects everyone to clear out their way and put them in some position of command. I’d bet the disabled can get obnoxious with this rank-pulling nonsense. It’s those that do that that create a image of the disabled overall, I feel, in which they feel “superior” as some “sufferers.”
And I conclude that if such a disabled person conducted themselves in that manner, they’d be quick to threaten to sue anyone in the store — or any other place — who dared give him or her such as a dirty look for their rudeness. I know human nature, and such a situation is quite plausible to me.
Again, consider the “rank” issue when debating why some non-disabled people resent the disabled. I’ve never done this to anyone, nor would I. My trying life experiences made be bigger than that. Please consider that those who constantly invoke privileges are no doubt bringing resentment down upon themselves.
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Added 07/22/10; 3:00 PM CST, USA:
Referring to recent answers:
L.K.:>
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Good answer. I’m a one-legged person in a wheelchair, and I can assure you I neither feel sorry for myself, or attempt to use my disability to get things.
With the stress on my intact right knee and leg, and the complications from numerous blood clots caused by the non-use of my remaining upper left leg. Sure, I’m in pain a lot. What do I do? I suck it up, and do things. Regardless.
There’s so much abuse and misuse of the disability system. You won’t believe how many people I’ve encountered who have some “disabled” status, yet can walk around, bound up and down flights of stairs, and do many things I cannot. Such claim their disabilities aren’t obvious, but they’re obvious to me: How to get government money, some handout job (in which they can foul up or be lazy at every turn, then claim their disability caused it and threaten to sue someone if they’re disciplined or terminated), and take advantage of the system..
I’ve see so many who can’t suck it up. And society doesn’t pay for those people — I do, all. I don’t gripe, complain or make excuses. The loudest baby gets the attention, all, and spend anytime in some disabled circles, and you see it firsthand.
I have to have courage and wits for so many of them. And what the answerer said in this case is right. But no one can walk in my shoes, because I cannot walk and have only one shoe. I say this in respect to the answerer, because the idea of transcendent is correct. In my view.
That which is outside of one’s own experiences is therefore unknowable to them. Agreed.
Now, I spent 45 years being both able-bodied and physically active. I’ve had the advantage of living both sides of the disabled/non-disabled lifestyle. I’ve had to adapt to something, and I admit it wasn’t and still isn’t easy.
But I try. And yes, it’s work. That it is.
I hardly sit around. I do not have or watch television or view motion-pictures anymore. Unusual for an entertainment writer. I work my tail off behind this keyboard almost 16 hours a day. It’s not easy to get established all.
As a person with a disability the only reason on your list which I think is true of many able bodied people is abuse of handicapped parking placards. SSI/SSDI benefits provide only a subsistence level of financial support. Medicare and Medicaid cover some aspects of medical care but not everything. For example, I have had to pay out several hundred dollars recently for necessary dental work which Medicare does not cover. Free college education, that’s a new one to me. When I went to college in the1980′s state vocational rehabilitation paid for my textbooks only. Everything else was paid for out of pocket or by student loans which had to be repaid with interest.
Well I don’t think they are really jealous of us for having disabilities or impairments. But I do think many are jealous of the “perks”. I think it is because humans seem to be lazy by nature and many see our perks or accommodations because they see it as a shortcut or something that requires less effort. They do this without realizing that for many of us the effort put into anything is twice that of an able bodied person. I just think that when people see our perks they fail to see the downside or trade offs we endure to have/need these perks.
Basically for those reasons. They want a free pass but what some may not realize is that a PWD may not want all these free passes. God knows I’d rather work than have to go on SSI. I feel like I’m in high school again because I’m sort career planning in hopes for better success in the future and looking into transferring colleges.
I can’t really think of any reasons why a person with out a disability would be jealous of someone who dose have one but here are my thoughts on the subject:
I think some people want it all. They are able to do anything they want to do and they want to do any thing they want to do. What they don’t understand is that some people aren’t able to do what they want and need to do and they choose to use the services they have available to get the things they want and need to do.
People who can walk unassisted and without pain may look at someone in a wheelchair and think it must be fun to use a wheelchair and not get tired. The person in the wheelchair looks at every one else and think I wish I could walk. I need this wheelchair to get from point a to point b, otherwise I’d have stay in one place all the time.
Someone who works for a living may see someone who collects SSI or SSDI and think “It must be nice to stay home and loaf around all day”. While the person who collects SSI lives in poverty and the person who collects SSDI usually isn’t any better off (I think it is a job in itself to make my money last all month). The person who collects SSI or SSDI could choose not to collect them and could live on the streets and beg for money.
Some one who has to park in the space that is the farthest from the door they are using might look at a person who uses handicapped parking spaces and think man I wish I could be that person and park there. What that person doesn’t understand is the person who parked there wishes they could walk good enough to park in the last space.They could choose to park in a regular parking space and possibly fall, get tired, get hit by a car or something like that or they could just stay at home
People without disabilities may think “Man I’ll be paying off my education till I’m 100 years old. I wish I could be disabled and get a free education”. They don’t understand that the person with a disability that gets an education is more likely to get entirely off of SSI and SSDI because they will be able to get higher paying jobs then if they didn’t. The person could choose not to go to school and remain unemployed which ends up costing the tax payers more then funding an education.
I think that people who are jealous of other people just don’t understand what it is like being someone else.
So untill that person can walk a mile in another persons shoes they never will.
I don’t see how anyone would be jealous of reaping the benefits of other’s work. The way I was brought up, if you had to rely on another person or entity to live your life, you were a loser who can’t hack it. Certainly there are people who genuinely need SSI or welfare, but I pity such people. I don’t know if my ego could take it, if I were in a situation where I had to rely on such programs. I know I would feel quite worthless.
I also maintain that if you take advantage of perks like cutting in line, discounts, airport perks. Then you forfeit your title of “normal” Because guess what sunshine, “normal” people don’t get those same perks.
Edit: I get that some accomodations are indeed “needed”, however, I don’t see how it’s *needed* to cut in line. One would think if you fancied yourself a “nomal” person then you would be game to wait in line like a “normal” person.
I wrote that comment because I have often come across non-disabled people being jealous of people with disabilities. They are usually not jealous of the actual disability, but of certain things that some people with disabilities can get, like accommodations, assistance etc. In nearly all cases the jealous people would not want the disability that comes with those accommodations, they just want them as privileges and often just think of them as nice extra privileges rather than accommodations that are necessary to provide equal access for people with disabilities.
Below are some examples of things that I’ve often seen non-disabled people get jealous of people with disabilities over. I have seen people get jealous of people with disabilities for other reasons, but the examples below are the most common ones I’ve seen.
- Disabled parking spaces. Some non-disabled people think it’s neat to get to park close to the entrance and have a wide space and to “always” have an empty, perfectly located space waiting for you. What they don’t usually fully comprehend is that the space needs to be wide so that people with disabilities can get in and out of their car (the space may feel wide when an able-body gets out of a regular car, but it doesn’t always feel that wide when a wheelchair user gets out of their converted van, or when a parent gets out of the car and has to take out a wheelchair and move their disabled child from the car seat to a wheelchair etc.), and that they need to be close to the entrance for both safety reasons and because certain disabilities make it hard to go long distances. They also don’t realize that sometimes people with disabilities have to wait for a space, often while someone is illegally parked in the disabled space, and are not able to use any other parking spaces and need to wait for that particular one to become vacant. People notice the disabled spaces when they are empty because they stick out, but they don’t notice them as much when they are full.
- SSI/SSDI and other similar financial assistance. Some people are jealous that some people with disabilities don’t have to work and just get “free money”. What they don’t always realize is that this “free money” is barely enough to live on and that it keeps you in poverty and leaves you with practically no legal way of increasing your income. They also don’t always realize that some people literally cannot work even if they want to and that they would give anything to be able to work like everyone else. And of course while some people are jealous of this “free money”, practically none want the disabling disabilities that make people qualify for this assistance.
- “Free time”. Some people are jealous of all the “free time” people on SSI/SSDI have for not having to go to work every day. They imagine that they get to have fun all day long and do a lot of fun stuff and go where they want to and do whatever they want to, since they have plenty of spare time. They don’t realize that in many cases people with disabilities are unable to go out, be active and have all that fun, either because of the limitations their disability or lack of disability access puts on them or because their income is so meager that they simply cannot afford to do much. They also don’t realize that with certain disabilities, many basic daily tasks can take a lot longer to do and that many people with disabilities need to spend a lot of time on medical treatment, therapy, rehabilitation and such, so all things considered, the person may not really have as much spare time as one might think.
- Financial assistance for buying a car, mobility devices or other assisting devices or for medical bills and other extra costs related to disabilities. Again, people just see the “free money” and not what it needs to be spent on and how being without those things would impact the person’s life.
- Disabled toilets. People think it’s comfortable to have a large toilet stall where you can easily move around, where there is plenty of space to put your stuff while you do your thing etc. and which is often cleaner than the regular stalls and for which you may not have to wait in line for. They rarely think of how this space may not feel so big for a person who is in a wheelchair or uses a walker or has to have an aide in there assisting them. They rarely know what the grab bars are for and how important they are for people with various types of disabilities.
- Not having to wait in line (for example at amusement parks or other places where lines can get very long). Many people think it’s convenient and a privilege to get to jump to the front of the line and not wait like others. What they don’t understand is that certain disabilities make it practically impossible for the person to wait in such long lines and still get the chance to actually enjoy the ride or use the service like others. Some people are overwhelmed with pain, exhaustion, fatigue, sensory issues etc. by the time their turn comes if they wait in line like everyone else.
- Electric scooters in places like supermarkets. Some people think they are fun and convenient for not having to spend energy on walking around the shop or standing in line. They rarely think of or understand that for the people who need those scooters they can be a deciding factor in whether the person is able to shop there like everyone else. They’re not just a fun thing to drive around, they are a necessary mobility device for people whose mobility is limited due to disabilities.
- Discounts and reserved seats in public transport. Many people don’t know or understand why people with disabilities can get a lower fare in public transport. And many people think it would be nice to have a seat reserved for them and not have to stand on public transport. What not so many of them think of is how it can be dangerous, difficult or impossible for certain people with disabilities to use public transport if they can’t get a seat.
- Accommodations in exams. Non-disabled students are often jealous of the extra time that some students with disabilities get in exams. Students in general wish they had more time on tests and they think it’s convenient to get extra time. They don’t always understand that the reason why some students with disabilities get the extra time is because their disability slows them down substantially, so this extra time is not just some nice extra time to read over things one more time or add some extra details to improve their answers, but time that the disabled students literally need to be able to finish the exam. Non-disabled students sometimes get jealous of other accommodations too, like when a student with disabilities gets to answer the exam on a computer while other students have to handwrite their answers, or when a student gets to take more breaks than is generally allowed in the exams.
I think anyone who is jealous or envies people who have disabilities are ignorant. People in wheelchairs don’t get as much exercise because they can’t walk. I can’t imagine having to be in one and not walk. I like the exercise.
People who live on SSI or SSDI or SSD not only just get free time, they also can’t afford to buy a car or afford to rent a nice apartment or buy a house or go on vacations. They don’t get much money and they have to have things like food stamps or section 8 just to make it or live in housing for low income. I would rather work and get more money. If I have too much time on my hands I get bored. I wouldn’t want to live jobless.
I would rather park further away from the store just for the exercise. I think people who want to park in handicap parking spots and abuse the permits are lazy. My husband who probably qualifies for one refuses to use one or even get one. Instead I just try and park closer to the store for him and if all the close spaces are filled, then he doesn’t mind walking further to get to the store.
I am not jealous or envious of people with disabilities. I have disabilities myself and anyone who envies me because I got accommodations in school is ignorant. I do not like having learning difficulties because it makes my life harder and limits what jobs I can have because it creates roadblocks in my life such as going to college. Who would want to live that way?
And actually some people do have to pay for medicare, money gets taken out of their disability check for it. I think it depends on the state.
It is mainly the work issue, they think disabled people live high off the hog on their tax dollars. What they fail to realize is the majority of disabled people worked and paid into S.S. and if they didn’t their parents did. It is ignorance and greed. I think it is great if a disabled person chooses to work and put themselves out their so everyone else can gawk and speculate, but I also think it should be a choice. People with disabilities aren’t even granted enough money to make it independently, and I think that is sickening, as if their disability isn’t enough, they have to live way below the poverty line and in the most crime stricken areas.
Some of these answers are making me laugh and some of them are making me scratch my head….people are all over the place with their misconceptions of PWD…I don’t even know where to begin. Such comments as ” I’d hate to be in a wheelchair” and the one about wheelchair users looking at walkies, wishing they could walk made me chuckle. I couldn’t take that seriously. Some PWD were born with their disabilities and do not know anything else. I have yet to meet anyone who has ever said ” I wish I could walk, sniff sniff” Getting on with life and not being hurt by people’s ignorance is of higher importance. (Of course, I can’t speak for those who’ve acquired their disabilities later in life. But from what I’ve seen they don’t do much brooding about no longer being able to put one foot in front of the other.) Also, I get a lot of good exercise and keep my weight down better than most of the people I know. I could get more but so could a lot of other people. Saying “I’d hate to be in a wheelchair and get fat” makes you sound ignorant when I’m sure your intent was to be helpful. Look up competitive wheelchair sports and try to find someone fat.
The financial aspects that were mentioned are all true, though. No one wants to get the measly amounts that SSI provides and to be at the mercy of the government to get by. That sucks and being jealous of that is insane. People don’t understand how hard it is to break free of it either.
Someone else pointed to the fact that most accessible parking spots are occupied illegally. SO TRUE, as well as accessible stalls. Ladies there are FOUR more for you to use, as opposed to my ONE. Use one of those, please.
1 – 8, I wouldn’t say jealous but angry. It’s what my husband and I see by people’s reaction.
We’re deaf, we don’t use handicap parking spaces but I do when my spinal stenosis gives out.
*parking lot is getting larger these days! People complian about walking far in cold and hot seasons.
Unfortunately, but of course fortunately we live on the SSI/SSD and use Medicaid/Medicare.
*Can’t find jobs, why be jealous!?
Sometimes we use camping passes.
College education because no one hires me –hoping to work for the deaf in the future.
*I still have some loans though.
No electric power chair and special treatments yet.
To me it seems people are so angry because they believe we are lazy!
Lazy my ***!
It is hard finding jobs and keep it!
Employers whine about keeping us up to date, provide interpreters for meetins/trainings that’s expensive –they don’t even acknowledge that they get their money back after taxes!
Some co-workers are tired of repeating things to us if we didn’t get the information we should know. Sorry, I could go on.
So why they’re angry… they want to be like us, they think we’re lazy so they want to be lazy. Heck, lazy -not us!
dude ….i can see that your disabled….but i think maybe mentally..why do you always have to put this in all your postings…Both me and my only child are SSA Registered-Certified Disabled PWDs.* I am also a Registered Member of the Ectodermal Dysplasias International Registry.*
are you that proud you and your child are disabled?
Because these people get free money. People who envy disabled people are usually lazy.