Has the disability movement been hijacked by wheelchair users?
Now let me say first of all, that i have no problems with people in
wheelchairs or any disabled person at all, what I find really irritating is
tha adoption of the wheelchair as the defacto emblem of disability.
Its a kind of slow brainwashing for the able bodied out there who never give
a thought to other disabilities aor their differing needs. Its the power of
imagery at work.

I feel the blind need a symbol and it sound be adopted world wide and
promoted vigorously, and indeed maybe other disabilities too. However, with
hindsight, it would have been better to have had an abstract symbol not
allied to one group. Its done wonders for wheelchair users , but a
dis-service to almost everyone else with any impairment whatsoever.

I recently had an argument with a bullet headed fascist, otherwise known as
a thicko, when I got out of a car as the passenger with a disabled badge
which as you may know has the wheelchair insignia on it. He said, You are
not disabled, you have no wheelchair, those spaces are meant for
wheelchairs.

I nearly poked him with my cane.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email: briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brian Gaff wrote:
> Has the disability movement been hijacked by wheelchair users?
> Now let me say first of all, that i have no problems with people in
> wheelchairs or any disabled person at all, what I find really irritating is
> tha adoption of the wheelchair as the defacto emblem of disability.
> Its a kind of slow brainwashing for the able bodied out there who never give
> a thought to other disabilities aor their differing needs. Its the power of
> imagery at work.
>
>
> I feel the blind need a symbol and it sound be adopted world wide and
> promoted vigorously, and indeed maybe other disabilities too. However, with
> hindsight, it would have been better to have had an abstract symbol not
> allied to one group. Its done wonders for wheelchair users , but a
> dis-service to almost everyone else with any impairment whatsoever.
>
> I recently had an argument with a bullet headed fascist, otherwise known as
> a thicko, when I got out of a car as the passenger with a disabled badge
> which as you may know has the wheelchair insignia on it. He said, You are
> not disabled, you have no wheelchair, those spaces are meant for
> wheelchairs.
>
> I nearly poked him with my cane.
>
> Brian
>
No idea what else they could have come up with, but I agree, for many
the wheelchair symbol does not work.

My partner has a problem sitting. And standing. And with hyperacusis.
And all sorts of other differing things from time to time. But
(generally) not with walking.

If you're not in a wheelchair, you're not disabled.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

In soc.support.vision-impaired, Brian Gaff <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> I feel the blind need a symbol and it sound be adopted world wide

A bat might do the trick.

--
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so
certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
-- Bertrand Russell

Yes, but bats are not actually blind, at least not all of them.

My point as I'm sure you are aware is that making the international symbol
for disability, a wheelchair is tying it to one kind of impairment, and
subconciously affecting the public's mental picture of disabled people.
It should have been obvious, but like most things in hindsight....
Some kind of stylised letter D or something. However, maybe we should have
that combined with the symbol for the disability in question if its
specific, like online if its blindness we are overcoming with audio, then
the D and a shaded eye is best, if its the built environment and a low
counter for those in a wheelchair, then its a D with a wheelchair.

A loop system could have a D with the standard ear symbol etc.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff - briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
<EskWIRED@spamblock.panix.com> wrote in message
news:gok3ih$ndo$2@reader1.panix.com...
> In soc.support.vision-impaired, Brian Gaff <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>> I feel the blind need a symbol and it sound be adopted world wide
>
> A bat might do the trick.
>
> --
> The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so
> certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.
> -- Bertrand Russell
>

Yes, I know about those problems, I have met a few people at both Hyper and
Hypo ends.

With regard to disability, I think with blindness people often forget the
invisible side of things. Before about 8 years ago, I could manage as my
spatial awareness and ability to walk straight were reasonable, but since
the visual disturbances started, all that went south, and I need a person to
guide me especially in difficult or changing areas, and this is why I like
my temporary guide to be near where I'm going as they may not be good at the
sighted guiding, and thus I feel nervous, but its better than blundering
into things and people.
Brian

--
Brian Gaff - briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Rod" <polygonum@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:70t8aeFi111iU1@mid.individual.net...
> Brian Gaff wrote:
>> Has the disability movement been hijacked by wheelchair users?
>> Now let me say first of all, that i have no problems with people in
>> wheelchairs or any disabled person at all, what I find really irritating
>> is tha adoption of the wheelchair as the defacto emblem of disability.
>> Its a kind of slow brainwashing for the able bodied out there who never
>> give a thought to other disabilities aor their differing needs. Its the
>> power of imagery at work.
>>
>>
>> I feel the blind need a symbol and it sound be adopted world wide and
>> promoted vigorously, and indeed maybe other disabilities too. However,
>> with hindsight, it would have been better to have had an abstract symbol
>> not allied to one group. Its done wonders for wheelchair users , but a
>> dis-service to almost everyone else with any impairment whatsoever.
>>
>> I recently had an argument with a bullet headed fascist, otherwise known
>> as a thicko, when I got out of a car as the passenger with a disabled
>> badge which as you may know has the wheelchair insignia on it. He said,
>> You are not disabled, you have no wheelchair, those spaces are meant for
>> wheelchairs.
>>
>> I nearly poked him with my cane.
>>
>> Brian
>>
> No idea what else they could have come up with, but I agree, for many the
> wheelchair symbol does not work.
>
> My partner has a problem sitting. And standing. And with hyperacusis. And
> all sorts of other differing things from time to time. But (generally) not
> with walking.
>
> If you're not in a wheelchair, you're not disabled.
>
> --
> Rod
>
> Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
> onset.
> Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
> <www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>