I am not an exhibition!

It'd be nice to be able to go out in public without having stares directed at me, but the reality of being a physically disabled person with mobility aids is that I get stared at...a lot. When I was younger, it got to the point that my parents stuck an ISA sticker (International Symbol of Access) to my pram because people were staring and making comments about how I was 'lazy' and 'too big' to be pushed around.

I've since been told that someone still has to do that with their child's mobility aids. In 2023, parents/guardians still have to stick disability stickers to children's mobility aids to avoid comments and stares. How have we not moved on?

Yesterday, I went to my local shopping outlet. I browsed a few shops, stopped for a hot chocolate and even had a chat with a shop clerk who has a young son with cerebral palsy who is just learning to walk and was asking questions about my walking frame. It was a nice experience, being able to pass on knowledge through lived experiences, although it was frustrating to hear their experiences with medical professionals.

It was all great...except for the person who decided to stare at me through the shop window. You may say, 'but Mel, they could've been looking at the display', and I would've been inclined to agree, until they walked into the shop to openly gape at my mobility aid and stare at my legs, stare at me. As I made eye contact, the person left, looking incredibly embarrassed.

Today, I had my walking stick - yes, my amazing new Neo Walk - and a woman sat beside me. She looked at the stick, looked me up and down, at my legs, back at me and made a face as she scoffed. Yes, my disability isn't as noticeable when I'm sat because it mainly affects my legs, but there are young disabled people, ma'am!

If you see anyone in public with a mobility aid, please don't call attention to it, especially if the person is a stranger. Your jokes about 'speeding tickets' and the Grand Prix are old, and frankly, boring. Telling me 'keep going, you're doing a great job!' or 'good on you!' is condescending to tell me when I'm just walking down the street minding my own business.

Yes, I know I'm young, but I was born with my disability and mobility aids are a necessary part of my daily life. They are not for you to stare at or to invoke pity. They are tools, an extension of my body. On that note, please don't touch them without permission!

I've noticed there's a difference to the treatment I receive with different mobility aids, but that's for another blog post.

To make a long rant short, don't touch mobility aids without permission, don't call attention to it, don't judge someone for having one - you have no idea why they are using one - and let disabled people go out in public in peace!