I read an article on yahoo that talks about people requesting wheelchairs at the airport. They're finding more and more that able bodied people are abusing the service because it gets them through the security check much quicker than if they just got in line and waited their turn as they should.
It also stated that some people do it so they can board the plane first and get the best seat options, or if they arrive late, that wheelchair will get them through security in time to catch their flight. The employees assisting these people say they can generally tell when the request is legit because a lot of the people will just hop on up out of that wheelchair like there's nothing wrong.
Most people commenting on the situation are in agreement that anyone who is fat and requests a wheelchair needs to get off their lazy behind and walk to the terminal because being fat is not a disability. Some also think that airports should charge for the service to weed out the people who really aren't disabled. They're also mad that disabled people don't have to wait in the long lines like everyone else (even though they may have to wait up to a half hour just to get that wheelchair).
As someone who is new to being disabled, I am completely offended by this. It is sickening that people would abuse such a service when they are causing even more problems for the people who actually are disabled. Honestly though, I think the worst part about it is people's reception to the disability accommodations that are available.
If I were at the airport, I'd much rather wait in line and walk through the entire airport than to be stuck with the gimp leg that I have. When I first start walking though, nobody can tell there's anything wrong with me. Plus, I'm overweight and young. I guarantee if I requested the service, everyone (staff included) would look at me and judge me as one of the abusers, even though I'm far from it.
If someone were to push me around in a wheelchair, I would have no problem hopping up from it as if nothing was wrong, unless I happen to lose my balance, which happens quite a bit too, but far from all the time. I actually may be flying later this year, and I expect that I'd completely run myself out of energy, causing my gait to be very unsteady and limp through the airports rather than ask for help just to avoid being judged as some lazy abuser of the system.
It's bad enough to have to live with a disability, and when you have all of these abusers and judgmental idiots, it makes a bad situation 10 times worse.
It also stated that some people do it so they can board the plane first and get the best seat options, or if they arrive late, that wheelchair will get them through security in time to catch their flight. The employees assisting these people say they can generally tell when the request is legit because a lot of the people will just hop on up out of that wheelchair like there's nothing wrong.
Most people commenting on the situation are in agreement that anyone who is fat and requests a wheelchair needs to get off their lazy behind and walk to the terminal because being fat is not a disability. Some also think that airports should charge for the service to weed out the people who really aren't disabled. They're also mad that disabled people don't have to wait in the long lines like everyone else (even though they may have to wait up to a half hour just to get that wheelchair).
As someone who is new to being disabled, I am completely offended by this. It is sickening that people would abuse such a service when they are causing even more problems for the people who actually are disabled. Honestly though, I think the worst part about it is people's reception to the disability accommodations that are available.
If I were at the airport, I'd much rather wait in line and walk through the entire airport than to be stuck with the gimp leg that I have. When I first start walking though, nobody can tell there's anything wrong with me. Plus, I'm overweight and young. I guarantee if I requested the service, everyone (staff included) would look at me and judge me as one of the abusers, even though I'm far from it.
If someone were to push me around in a wheelchair, I would have no problem hopping up from it as if nothing was wrong, unless I happen to lose my balance, which happens quite a bit too, but far from all the time. I actually may be flying later this year, and I expect that I'd completely run myself out of energy, causing my gait to be very unsteady and limp through the airports rather than ask for help just to avoid being judged as some lazy abuser of the system.
It's bad enough to have to live with a disability, and when you have all of these abusers and judgmental idiots, it makes a bad situation 10 times worse.
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