MY THOUGHTS ON WHEELCHAIRS-edited

I have to disagree with you I’m afraid!! I know a few people in wheelchairs & they can’t get into restaurants, clubs & even on buses sometimes because of this fact. If they have to wait with the rest of us they should also be able to get into ‘normal’ places like the rest of us x

Have you ever been in a wheelchair? Try being pushed around in one for a while. The looks, the stares, being thought of as being less than anyone else. It is such a huge pain getting around. They also aren’t very comfortable. If you are waiting in a long line people don’t notice you and run into your chair and you get bumped and jostled. Plus your view is of everyone’s tushy. People who tend to bein wheelchairs tend to be rather sick and I bet that every one of those people would love to trade places with you. So I disagree with you, I think they should be able to have priority.

Able-bodied people don’t end up in wheelchairs… (especially frail elderly people). If you’re not strong enough to stand and walk on your own, the odds are that it’s going to be exhausting to sit in line and wait. Nobody gets into a wheelchair for fun. (that said, I’ve only ever used one once in my life – I sprained my ankle badly the night before we had to fly, and when we changed planes they were supposed to have a wheelchair waiting for me to transfer me to the next flight. As it was our first plane was late and there was no chair so we had to wait. Then the attendant pushed me through the airport as fast as humanly possible because the other plane was waiting for us!) (huggles)

well, I guess you shouldn’t have said that….but on the other hand, at least they DO get to sit, whilst you are having to stand there…. so I do see your point pretty much, even though your other noters don’t. I guess that just makes two of us who are old meanies today….heehee! hugs, Nicky

If they were healthy enough to go on a cruise then I think they might also be healthy enough to sit and wait in line. I agree with some of your noters but if these people were able to go on a relaxing cruise then they were probably healthy enough to wait in line in a wheelchair whether or not they would love to trade places with you being able to stand in line for a long time. It’s all relative.

Here is my take on it. I agree with the above noted about the cruise…if you are healthy enough to go, then you should have towait in line with everyone else. I am sorry, you cant tell people that you want to be treated like everyone else and expect equality and then try to get ahead of someone else because you are in a wheelchair. Contd…

If you want special privileges, then you need to admit that there is something about you that is less than the people you are trying to get ahead of. If you can’t walk and want to jump ahead in line, then you need to admit that you are not equal to those that are already waiting ahead of you and you need to be accommodated., but dont wheel past my place in line and try to tell me we are equals.

And yes, I have been in a wheelchair before. Major surgery and a hospital stay rendered me unable to walk and even to sit for ling periods. But guess what…I never once asked for any special treatment. I figured that at least i was able to sit and rest in a situation where everyone else around me had to stand.

I guess I have mixed feeling about it but I would always defer to anyone in a wheelchair, I figured for the grace of God that could be me there someday so I am happy to let them go first. I don’t think just because you are disabled you should not be allowed to enjoy things that other people do, just have to make allowances for it.

Oh geez! I’m glad you reconsidered your statement. Seriously.

I can see your point. But I guess there are so many parts of the world where the disabled get terrible treatment, and they still obviously have so many disadvantages and inequal treatment in many parts of our own society, so if a cruise or a hotel or an airline wants to give them special priority, I think it’s a good thing!

I was in a wheelchair for a short time last year when I broke my ankle — I was SO GRATEFUL for all the kindnesses shown me. I think it is a nice gesture to let the wheelchair go first, and I would be the first to do so now…

I guess it’s all been said…

We took my daughter on a cruise before she died and had to use the wheelchair. If someone is in a wheelchair there is a health reason.