to physically abled people, from a guy in a wheelchair

cardboardghoul:

let me spell this out for you

i don’t expect your houses to be accessible. i wish i could make that assumption, but i know that most houses are not built to accommodate wheelchairs. i don’t expect you to make your house accessible just so i can visit.

i do expect you to know this. i do expect you to think about whether i can get in your house before you invite me. i expect you not to look surprised when i come to your house at your invitation and then can’t get up your front steps.

i do expect you, if you’re organising an event that you’re inviting me to, to think about whether the venue is accessible. i don’t necessarily expect you to scout the place out in person, but i do expect you at least to check the website. if this is a professional event, your failure to do this reflects negatively upon your business ethics. if it’s a personal event, it reflects negatively upon our friendship.

what i need you to understand is that the first thing wheelchair users lose is the ability to be spontaneous. we cannot go out on a whim, assuming we can get in whichever pub or bar or club we want to. we cannot jump on a train, or on a bus, without thinking about it first. we have to think about everything. 

please take some of that burden off us, when you can.