Rolling around...
@dragonokiefly (862)
United States
May 21, 2007 9:38am CST
Yesterday while at the store I saw something that was kind of upset.
While walking around picking up food I noticed a young man, somewhere near 25 years old or so, in a power wheelchair also shopping. Several times he asked for help to reach things on a high shelf, everyone rushed to help him, including me.
I just happened to be behind him in the checkout lane, I helped him get his small lap-basket onto the belt and started to put my stuff up. As the cashier was scanning the guy's products, I watched in amazement this guy who was in the power wheelchair stand up, walk behind the chair and grab a big bag to carry his purchases in, then walk to the end of the belt and pack up the bag. He then walked back around the chair, placed the filled bag in place and walk to the credit card scanner to pay. He did not appear to have any difficulty walking and was actually bouncing on his toes waiting for his receipt. At this point I felt like shouting some to that fact what a lazy so-n-so he was making people come to his beck and call because we thought he was really having problems. But I did nothing but fume the whole way home. I personally feel that because of people like him some people won't help a true disabled person or look down upon them.
Why would someone fake this? It just doesn't make sense! Would you have said something or just kept silent like I did?
11 people like this
18 responses
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
21 May 07
Thats terrible. People should have to show there handi cap stickers to use those chairs. Just like you need for the parking spots. I probably wouldnt have said anything either. I'm pretty shy.
4 people like this
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
21 May 07
This wasn't one of the powerchairs you can use in the store, this was a personal chair. Not a scooter chair either but the kind that can either be wheeled manually or with the little lever that is like a joystick.
3 people like this
@MrsWickham1 (464)
• United States
21 May 07
That is horrible. I can't .. well I can believe it. People are just so lazy. When I was pregnant there were close parking spaces for expectant moms and I never used it unless I was really tired and just needed to run in and out. I think people who abuse things like this and pretend are the reason why people are skeptical about if they should help or not.
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
21 May 07
I have never seen parking spot made just for pregnant women, that is so neat because Lord knows when you have a big old belly and a bad back walking great distances is a big effort.
2 people like this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
21 May 07
We have those here in Ireland and I think you also get to use them if you have squeeling babies and mischevious toddlers :-)
1 person likes this
@sweetsue (758)
• Philippines
22 May 07
He's pathetic. Yeah, It didn't made sense at all. Faking everybody for helping him because he seemed to be disabled but apparently not. He's a total j__!. Maybe, he was trying to make a silly difference. If he moved fast away I don't think there's a chance to confront him. But if someone dare to, I wish to hear the scenario.
3 people like this
@4cuteboys (4099)
• United States
21 May 07
OMG I would have LIKED to have said something, but I might have been in shock so I probably wouldn't have. YUCK. That is discusting! I can't even believe it. It stinks that people are so manipulative like that. To me that's excatly what it is, manipulating people. I wish someone would have screamed at him, but in all reality it wouldn't have even fazed him if he was brazen enough to act like that.
3 people like this
@brothertuck (1257)
• United States
22 May 07
I need the power cart to do my shopping, I can make it from my car to the store, but the walking the aisles is too much for my legs. Mostly though I will get up and reach for something if I have to.
I think that for some people helping others they think needs the help makes them feel good. I wouldn't use the cart if I didn't need it, but as long as he wasn't hurting anyone and all of the carts weren't being used I see no problem. I have seen teens and college aged kids use them at night in 24 hour groceries and it doesn't bother me them. It's just someone playing around.
I wouldn't say anything but then I wouldn't have a problem with someone else who did say something. Me saying something may get the boy yelled at but nothing more, so why not just let it go. But that is just my opinion about how I would react, and I don't mean that everyone should react the same way I do.
3 people like this
@favefive (178)
• United States
22 May 07
I would be fuming mad at the guy who is faking his disabilities. My husband always said my mouth will get me in trouble one of these days, but I sure know how and when to use it. I hate people taking advantage of others and the system. That is just how I am. I have improved lately though, learned to be calmer nowadays...but there are times that I would just lose it because I like to stand up for what is right;)
3 people like this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
21 May 07
That really is disgusting.I think it's actually more offensive to people who are stuck in wheelchairs and would give anything to be able to shop without help.
I don't think I could have resisted venting my spleen and drawing attention to him vie a stream of obscenity.
I need to chill a little though, so I'm off for a cup of tea and a rest in a shaded room!
2 people like this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
21 May 07
I just got a little angry thinking about it!
I really do think I would have to call him some really disgusting, gutter-level, swearing names just to stop myself becoming violent with the prick.
*Returns to shaded room..
NURSE!, more tea please - and could you fluff my pillow?
1 person likes this
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
21 May 07
I agree, it does probably offend the people who are truly disabled. I'm sure they would do just about anything to be able to do everything for themselves.
A cup of tea and a shaded room?, huh maybe I'll have to try that one :-)
2 people like this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
21 May 07
I guess it touched a nerve!
Both of my parents are disabled, but can still walk. My mother can walk around to do her weekly shop, but normally stays in bed the following day, or can't get off the sofa much.
The abuse we've received for parking in disabled spaces and walking into the shop is unreal, so it annoys me even more when people really are faking it.
My wife and I were also shouted at by some delerious woman with 2 kids and a big 4x4 for taking the last "family" car parking space. I think she'd had one-too-many sherries in the afternoon as she didn't notice that my wife was waddling a little due to being 3 days past our daughter's due birth date!
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
22 May 07
As a couple of others pointed out he could have been able to do somethings but not all the walking. I have that problem although I will get things myself I won't ask others to do so. I will though occassionally due to my hips have to use one of the store scooters. I can do some walking but to walk all over Wal-Mart for example is way too much on certain days. I do agree even if that was the case he was milking it for added service. I noticed you said it was his own electric wheelchair and not the stores so there might be something legitimately wrong with him.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
21 May 07
Although I really get irate when folks fake an illness or use services that they do not qualify for, I am reluctant to act in haste in a situation such as the one you saw. He was either just being a lazy good-for-nothing bum, OR perhaps he has a problem whereby although he can walk and move, he has to limit the amount of each that he does.For instance, my hubby had a total hip. He could walk after a bit, but it was quite tiring for him and he was limited in the number of steps he could do per day for a while. He used a motorized cart when shopping at Wally, but after paying, was able to walk to the car. Although, if this dude was bouncing on his toes etc, that sure sounds odd for someone with a disorder that fatigues them. They ususally take measures to conserve energy!
1 person likes this
@vitekfdr (647)
• United States
21 May 07
This article reminded me of one situation where i saw girl who was on a wheelchair asking to help here financially, and i gave her a dollar, she looked so convincing that she really had a problem. But after few minutes i saw her standing up like nothing was wrong and just vanished by carrying the wheelchair near her, that situation had same principal, as previous one told above. Some people are pretending to be handicaped in order to get something in return, they try to assimilate those handicapped people and be a part of them to get ether help financially
1 person likes this
@sassinqueen (710)
• United States
21 May 07
Hahahahahahah:) Pretty much like old women pushing their wheelchairs and toddlers pushing their strollers. You are sucker for me baby.
2 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
22 May 07
I probably would have kept silent just b/c I don't like to make a scene. However, I to hate to see ppl taking advantage of these types of things.
Years ago, my oldest brother's late wife had cancer. She desperately wanted to go to the store to pick out a gift for my nephew (for his first birthday) and a cake and such for him. She was so weak at that point there was no way she could make it through a store. Thankfully, Walmarts had those wheelchairs and we were able to take her and she was able to get all the things she wanted. I made it a point to write a letter to thank Walmarts for having those chairs.
People should think twice before taking advantage of these services...there are others who really do need it.
LIVE IN PEACE
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
21 May 07
I would have kept silent for one reason. I don't know why he was using the chair. There are some diseases, such as MS, where the person can walk, but for various reasons (fatigue, balance issues) chooses to save their energy, avoid falls and embarasment or whatever. They make look fine, but that may not be the case at all, even if he did bounce on his toes.
It did sound like he was milking it a bit, and trying to get people to fawn over him. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt, though.
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
21 May 07
I suppose you could be right but it still upset me to think I had been duped. So now I don't feel as mad at myself for not saying anything.. thanks :-)
2 people like this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
22 May 07
You just never know, you know? I got reamed for sitting in a disabled space with three people who were disabled but didn't appear to be. In the car you couldn't tell one had autism, and the other 2 were delayed, 1 of which had low vision and one wore orthopedic splints beneath his socks. Some old lady, who also looked just fine screamed at us, took down my license and threatened to report me for abusing a permit.
Ironically, I was sitting there filling out an incident report at the time which had to be turned in ASAP because the low vision one had just fallen, split her knee and I had only finsished patching her up. I'm just saying, looks can be quite deceptive. I turned the story in with the IR and never heard another thing about it if I was 'reported' for my 'abuse'.
@Graymsqtech (496)
• United States
21 May 07
This is horrible. I had a disabled wife and we couldnt shop in stores without her being able to use the carts. I would have to run inside and ensure one was available for her. This is the kind of abuse that hurts the disabled. The store should have been made aware of it. He should have been denied service and he should have been chastised. I agree with you. I also think the fines should be raised for those who abuse the disabled parking spaces. I believe they should suspend the license of such frauds. They are perpetrating fraud upon society.
2 people like this
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
21 May 07
I probrally would have asked the guy what his problem was. No one should take advantage of a situation like this. There are many people out there that truly need help but don't recieve it because of people like him who abuse such matters. It wouldn't cause me to stop helping others because you never really know who needs your help but it does make me look at a person twice before I do help them.
2 people like this
@mamasan34 (6518)
• United States
21 May 07
I don't think I could have kept my mouth shut in this instance. I would have had to say something. How dare he do this? I know many disabled people, truly disabled people and for him to use these carts just because he is lazy just angers me to no end! Your right, people like him make it more difficult for others to be helped when they truly need the help. We become more hesitant to help someone because "what if they are faking?" Oh, that just makes me so mad!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Apr 08
I would have kept quiet as you did not know for sure that the young man did not have some condition that had put him in a wheelchair. some health problems do not show up on the outside to the casual viewer but are quite real. lung problems, head injuries, ear conditions that upset ones balance the list goes on and on. So do not just assume because the man could walk that he was faking anything.In fact that bouncing on his toes thing is often a sign of M.S.
@Amber4106 (540)
• United States
7 Apr 08
I am awful about speaking my opinion out loud. I'm sure that I would have kept my mouth shut, but ready to explode on the inside. I don't understand it either. People that do this should have to spend one day, just one day, actually in a wheelchair, and have restraints that restrict them from even trying to get out of it. Let them know what it feels like to actually not be able to reach something, or carry something, or even STAND UP in general. Let them go through the emotional hardship of being limited to what they can do. But I've also felt the same way about murderers. If they kill someone, their execution shouldn't be a nice nap, execute them in the way that they committed their crime. Put some fear back into people! Some people just totally take life for granted and don't realize how lucky they are until it's gone. These kinds of things really make me sad, and I can only hope that things will get better. As long as laws don't change and people get what they want, I fear that the next 20 years will only bring more of this awful behavior that we see today.
@carolluvyou (460)
• United States
23 Apr 08
i would have said if you dont mind me asking what is your disabilty and his response would tell you if he is lying or not im truely disabled myself i never want pitty i appreciate any body that helps someone like me that can have a heart and not judge us cause of our disabilty i have to other brothers that is disabled also
