Thanks (from a seated position)
Sep. 11th, 2009 06:52 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
inkandchaos.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
dragoncon_lj_archiveThis year was my first time using a mobility scooter to get around the con, and frankly, after previous postings on this comm by disability-hostile people, I was more than a little apprehensive about it. I'm pleased to report that my worries were, largely, unjustified.
I'd like to thank the people who yielded the right of way to me in crowds, whether it was from courtesy or a fear of being run over by the scooter; either way, it was much appreciated! I'd like to thank the vendors in the dealers' room and art show who were only too happy to provide a little extra assistance, all the people in all the elevators who crowded together and made room for me to board. The staffers who held open a stretch of space on Peachtree for wheelchair and scooter-bound parade viewers. The congoer in the Disability Services line on Thursday who took it upon himself to help con staff by finding chairs, distributing line numbers and keeping us all posted on registration progress. In short, everyone who saw someone with a disability, be it me or someone else, and did their best to make things a little easier for us. Believe me - it makes a huge difference!
In return for that goodwill, I did my best to be a "good congoer" myself - to keep moving with the flow of traffic and not obstruct anyone, and avoid knocking into anyone DESPITE the fact that rented mobility scooters are not always the easiest things to control, and certainly do not stop on a dime. Y'know, common courtesy. What goes around comes around...
It's good to know that even if my current poor health continues to decline, I don't have to give up Dragoncon the way I've had to give up so many other things in my life, and it's really good to know that the hostility and resentment toward the disabled as voiced by a few is NOT the prevailing attitude amongst DCers. Thanks for that. :)
I'd like to thank the people who yielded the right of way to me in crowds, whether it was from courtesy or a fear of being run over by the scooter; either way, it was much appreciated! I'd like to thank the vendors in the dealers' room and art show who were only too happy to provide a little extra assistance, all the people in all the elevators who crowded together and made room for me to board. The staffers who held open a stretch of space on Peachtree for wheelchair and scooter-bound parade viewers. The congoer in the Disability Services line on Thursday who took it upon himself to help con staff by finding chairs, distributing line numbers and keeping us all posted on registration progress. In short, everyone who saw someone with a disability, be it me or someone else, and did their best to make things a little easier for us. Believe me - it makes a huge difference!
In return for that goodwill, I did my best to be a "good congoer" myself - to keep moving with the flow of traffic and not obstruct anyone, and avoid knocking into anyone DESPITE the fact that rented mobility scooters are not always the easiest things to control, and certainly do not stop on a dime. Y'know, common courtesy. What goes around comes around...
It's good to know that even if my current poor health continues to decline, I don't have to give up Dragoncon the way I've had to give up so many other things in my life, and it's really good to know that the hostility and resentment toward the disabled as voiced by a few is NOT the prevailing attitude amongst DCers. Thanks for that. :)
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