My Journey begins

 Disability is like Greatness, Some are born disabled, some become disabled, and some have disability thrust upon them. In my case it began with a traffic accident. 

It was a warm sunny day on a charity ride to Brighton. I love cycling, with the wind in my hair and the joy of the countryside. I was pedalling along a narrow country road enjoying the scenery when a car approached me at speed blasting at me with his hooter. I had no option but to pull to the side of the road.

There was a deep ditch hidden in the grass and I went into it, tumbled and landed hard. I lay there shocked and stunned, alone, scared and badly hurt, until finally a small group of other cyclists on the charity ride turned up and emergency services were called. First a police woman came and then the paramedics arrived in an ambulance some time later. More cyclists arrived and asked me how it happened and sympathised with me.

The policewoman stayed with me until the ambulance came and took me to hospital. She was very helpful and soothed my concerns. On arrival I was admitted, and I was met by a team of specialists who discussed my condition and after examination and x-rays I was sent to the ward and my journey began.

The x-rays showed that my right knee was damaged as was my spine. I also took damage to my face, needing eleven stitches. My bike suffered equally but was easily repaired by replacing the front forks and wheel when my stay at the hospital ended. Fortunately it was insured and didn’t cost me anything.

Hospitals have their own difficulties with nursing shortages, and they often fail to give good feedback, if any, about how your medical needs will be addressed. The nursing staff were very supportive but said I would have to talk to the doctors who told me that my injuries were probably lifechanging. 

I have always enjoyed cycling, from riding 20 miles each way to work every day, rain or shine, to days out just for the joy of riding, but found it very painful when I tried to ride again. Not having owned a car for about eight years, my choices became limited because I cannot walk more than about twenty metres or stand more than ten seconds without pain. 

I bought a small motor bike to use instead of my bicycles but barely managed a few weeks and had to give it up because my balance was affected by the crash and I fell off twice because of this, but fortunately only my pride suffered. I realised that my options had become limited but I was determined to find a solution. Because of my issues with balance even an electric bicycle was out of the question.

Discussing this with my Physio and Occupational Therapist,  I settled on a walking stick and walking frame for home and garden use and electrically powered mobility aids for shopping and outings. These are discussed in my blog Mobility Aids and Accessories.

                                         

My life has been a medical merry go round with my Doctor, Physio, District Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Radiologist giving me consultation, medicine, therapy, X-Rays etc.

  

I had to get a permit from Tfl for carrying my Power Chair on public transport in London. My large Mobility Scooter was not permitted on much of the TfL network and my lightweight folding mobility scooter didn’t have the range for a day out. Every trip or outing must be carefully planned and provided  for.

Public transport carries liabilities for disabled people. Often stations and platforms are inaccessible, ramps unavailable even when they are booked. On the buses I have often been refused access because there are baby buggies in the wheelchair space. Sometimes the bus ramp hasn’t worked, leaving me in the rain for twenty minutes or so. 

Many pavements don't have dropped kerbs or they are blocked by inconsiderately parked cars. Motorists often park onto the pavement obstructing passage. Shops are often inaccessible.

.

Out of desperation I bought and carry a portable folding ramp to use, for when the building is not step free, and when there is no dropped kerb or the bus ramp fails. I also have a friend who has a van with a powered ramp who has rescued me from time to time when my strength or battery power fails.

Accessible Public toilets are often unsuitable, too confined, cluttered and misused with the emergency cord tied back or even out of reach. Or the key is unavailable creating a stressful situation for people who have no alternative means to deal with their needs. I have had to buy and carry a disabled toilet key so as to never be denied access.

Driving on the pavement can also be tricky at times with phone zombies and road crossing. Having had several missed collisions I have resorted to fitting a truck horn to attract the attention of phone drones and motor vehicles.

 If the traffic is light it’s often better to drive on the road and ignore hooting and insults from motorists. In order to do this legally I was required to install a beacon light above my seat back. I don’t hoot at cyclists because it can alarm them and cause them to crash. I’ve been there.

Dropped kerbs are often blocked by vehicles parked in front of them. Having to plan for overcoming inaccessible streets, shops, public buildings and public transport is irritating and not everyone can or even wants to engage with this. Pavements blocked by vehicles encroaching on the pavement means having to move onto the middle of the road.

For aged or disabled people this is both frightening and perilous. There is similar abuse of the Blue Badge parking bays by inconsiderate motorists.

Blue badge parking is also often abused with fraudulent badges, but for using one you can be fined £400. I was always aware of this problem but travelling with my friend who has a Blue Badge I have also experienced the frustration of finding the bay occupied by someone parked without a badge.

 

Another problem with Blue Badge parking highlights the difference between visible and invisible disabilities. Invisible disabilities can include:

Psychiatric Disabilities

Some examples of these are major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Epilepsy

HIV/AIDS

Diabetes

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Cystic Fibrosis

Attention Deficit-Disrorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADD/ADHD)Learning Disabilities (LD)

Medical conditions associated with hidden disabilities. Examples include short or long term, stable or progress, constant or unpredictable and fluctuating, controlled by medication and remain untreatable.

This means that sometimes people with invisible disabilities are challenged by people with visible disabilities, both having Blue Badges legitimacy, calling them abusers. Alternately when people transition from a disability device and it involves standing and walking they may be called fakers.  They are actually Ambulatory Wheelchair Users, people who can stand and walk but need mobility aids to function properly. 

Many disabled people have invisible disabilities and do not need a wheelchair or walking aids. For instance many autistic people won’t travel abroad because airports are so autistic unfriendly that air travel is a just a dream. Don’t  label buildings and other places as accessible when you really mean they only have step free access. That still isn’t accessible for many people with this and other invisible disabilities.

Is my disability bigger than yours? I haven’t discussed visible disabilities because, well, they are visible. There are many different types of disabilities, but different isn’t wrong it’s just different. I may look quite ordinary but I have ADHD and some invisible physical trauma. Would that make me more or less disabled than someone else? 

Everyone has to deal with life in their own way, using the cards they are dealt, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health.