Rolling with Sarah

So a bit of a traumatizing experience. I went to a shopping mall with my sister, brother, and his girlfriend. I was in my electric chair with my sister beside me and my brother and his girlfriend right behind us. Suddenly, a man came up and cut my brother off, purposely getting between us. He got closer and closer to us. We assumed he was just in a hurry and would pass us too. Before I knew it, I felt a lurch. He had grabbed the back of my chair and was trying to push me! Thank goodness my sister put her hand across and said a loud “NO THANK YOU” in her best teacher voice. He gave her a weird look and shuffled away quickly without saying a word. This experience really scared me. I have no idea what his intentions were. He could have been trying to help me, but this is unlikely as I was in a power chair zooming along at a good speed talking to my sister, so it was obvious I wasn’t alone anyway.

For the rest of the shopping trip, I didn’t want to be left alone. I was scared. As a person in a chair, I often feel vulnerable. This experience really shook my confidence. It is sad that moments like this can rob me of my independence. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened had I been alone without my siblings. I shouldn’t have to worry about things like this.  I have said this again and again, but I will repeat myself once more: NEVER touch someone’s mobility device without their permission. If they need help, they will ask. If they are in your way, politely ask them to move and they will. You wouldn’t grab someone by the shoulder’s and physically move them, so don’t do it to someone in a chair. That is an extension of my body and touching it without my ok is physical assault. ALWAYS ASK!!