As I’ve mentioned, people come to the “sitting disabilities” camp from many different directions. A fellow upright, Linda V., alerted me to this blog post, which she wrote in 2015. I’m impressed by the creative solution she found to the anxiety-inducing ordeal that is air travel. She put herself to work.
This might be my own insecurities speaking, but when I’m in public places I often worry about how my weird behaviors will come across. When I stand to avoid pain or beg flight attendants for a spot in their prep area, I often worry about coming across as demanding and high-maintenance. But Linda found a way to flip her disability and make it benefit the people around her.
She sums her perspective up very well at the end of the article:
There is an expression in social media about the “wisdom of the crowds.” We can’t influence that collective opinion unless we speak up. Individually it is a tough road to manage our disabilities, visible or invisible, but together we represent a powerful voice. If we summon the courage to share what our world is like, the more people will get it.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Linda! And kudos for staying so engaged in the world.
