The NIC Sentinel

Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Life

Spending four days in a wheelchair wasn't what I was expecting. It was an educational experience. I've always considered myself to be a sympathetic person. I always try to relate to other's situations.

But imagination can only take you so far.

I couldn't imagine, for instance, feeling short. Just one of those little things you don't think about.

But that's what I noticed. I was physically shorter than those around me.

The other thing that was hard for me was the attention. I'm not one to draw attention to myself. I like blending into a crowd. I don't like people noticing me. But when you're in a wheelchair, regardless of whether or not you're truly disabled, you're noticed. It can't be helped. You are different. You are outside of the norm.

Another thing, no matter how good the accommodations or how helpful those around me, the world we live in is designed around the assumption that you can walk.

For four days I couldn't walk. Automatically, this gave me a different perspective on life. A perspective I hope I never forget. So, instead of just writing a chronology of events, I'm going to focus on the ones that stick in my memory.

The first day I decided to go downtown to Calypso's and get a coffee. I started out ready for anything. Up until that point, being in a wheelchair hadn't been too bad. In fact, it was kind of fun. Popping wheelies and zipping around my classroom was fun.

Long distances are a different matter.

I only made it halfway. Using my arms as my sole means of transportation isn't a cakewalk. On top of that, most sidewalks aren't even. Any slight slant in the terrain sent my chair careening off course. The only way to compensate was to use one arm. This wore out my arm quickly, leaving me exhausted.

I was profoundly aware of how people looked or didn't look at me. Some would seek out eye contact. Usually they smiled. The majority of people wouldn't. They avoided my eyes. This I'm sure was done out of respect. However, it made me feel like a ghost.

The hardest thing for me was interacting with people who actually are disabled. They appreciated what I was doing. For a time we were able to talk about our shared condition. But they knew, just as I knew, that for me it was just an experiment. It wouldn't last. In four days I would be walking and they wouldn't.

When the four days were up, I felt like a traitor. For me it was done. I could jump out and walk around. They can't.

Continued...

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