Ask a Wheelchair Girl

You saw it first on PaperLilies' Ask an English Girl... now, you can...

ASK A WHEELCHAIR GIRL!!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• disability
• wheelchair
• language

[IndigoJo]

Way back in college (mid 90s), we were trying to reform the union constitution and some of the exec wanted to replace "students with disabilities" with "students with different abilities", because it "sounds nice". I thought they should ask someone who's paralysed what's nice about that. I got together with the SWD officer (hearing impaired) and got it amended back in the general meeting. He said those guys had no idea what it's like to be disabled.

[josiejose]

I find this is common among progressive folks - I do appreciate the thought, but I'd rather not have people always stumbling over what to label me. PWD is fine.

[wheelieblind]

Ask a Wheelchair Girl, if you really think about it should be Ask a Girl in a Wheelchair :-)

[josiejose]

HA! I can't believe you are the first person to point that out! You are right!

It just doesn't have the same ring to it...

[lindsaybovshow]

hey there! thanks for the video.

I dont mind gimp and cripple at all if they are used in the right context, like my friends call my van the gimp mobile, and my boyfriend calls me his cutie cripple, but that's just our weird relationship!

my advice to anyone is to just ask the person who uses the wheelchair what they prefer! although if someone asked me that i would probably just say "whatever you want!"

check out my profile josiejose!

[josiejose]

I've generally gone with "whatever you want" as well, although I've seen that turn bad as well, when someone thinks that we know each other well enough to whip out the inappropriate minority-specific naughty words. This video (actually the whole series) was more aimed at non-disabled people who don't know anyone in a chair or having a disability who might have questions -t hough it certainly didn't turn out that way!

[coolguy815]

Hay let me know if you would want someone to do an ask a wheelchair guy. Cuz I would so do that; I could give like the dude's perspective while you give the girl's obviously lol. I just want someon to tell me to do it so I actualy have a reason to. ^_^

[IndigoJo]

Particularly when it's a name for a service which people have to find somehow, and someone needing help with their disability might not recognise the "different abilities" label. Actually I was at Aberystwyth and there were no wheelchair users there then because of the steep hills and lack of lifts (there was one amputee). I found the attitude gormless; I thought, "hello, it's not meant to sound nice, it's meant to tell the people it's there to help that it's there!".

[WheelchairDude1990]

Awesome video

[egkg75]

I dont care what term is used, unless of course its being an ignorant ass. I just hate when there is that awkward pause or stutter while saying it. Like instead of letting the conversation flow when they use, handicap, disabled, paralyzed, what ever theres always that pause like should I say that and to me thats awkward.

[jaywheeler08]

hey, thanks for giving us a voice.

peace!

Jay

[mysubsbang]

yeah me and my girl have that to. i love to see her smile i could care less if she is whellchair bound or not myself she is a hell of a woman. we have sooo much fun with it though. i love her so much i wouldnt know what to do without her.

[purplemutantas]

My friend Dave uses the word cripple for himself. When someone is having some difficulties walking do to some temporary thing he uses the term crippleitis. The ragged edge magazine uses the term crip. I personally have the most issues with terms people use to be PC. 2 of my most hated are special and handycapable. I am autistic I am not "special". I have recently started using a wheelchair. I wouldn't mind being called a cripple by the right person, like my friend Dave.