People with Disabilities Doing Stuff

[Image description: image is a photograph of a middle-aged white man sitting at a desktop PC holding a mug. He wears a black t-shirt and jean shorts. He sits in a black, manual wheelchair, resting his legs which were amputated below the knee on the shelf-drawer that holds the computer’s keyboard. The man stares at the camera with a blank expression on his face.]

Wow, this man’s courage inspires me to dick around on the computer, too. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

[Image description: image is a photograph of a white man and woman both in their thirties in front of a white background. The woman wears glasses, a blue blouse, and a jean shirt. She stares down smiling at the men next to her, who uses a manual wheelchair and wears a business suit. The man holds his glasses in his hand while he talks to the woman.]

That man is so brave for networking and creating synergy in public.

[Image description: Image is a photograph of two teenage girls going down a long, graduated ramp in an architecturally modern building. Both girls are tan with black hair. The girl on the right wears pigtails, a tight striped sweater that reveals a strip of her tummy, dark baggy jeans, and clunky black sneakers. She carries a large binder and a bag slung over her shoulder. She looks down at the girl on the left, who uses a manual wheelchair. This girls wears her hair lose, a half-sleeve blouse, and faded blue jeans.]

It’s inspiring to see that even in less tolerant times like the late 1990s disabled people were able to pull themselves up by their Doc Martens bootstraps and venture out in public. I tear up just thinking about it.

[Image description: image is a photograph of a large body of fresh water with reeds growing out of it. The universal symbol of access is photoshopped into the image so that it is ankle-deep in the water, casting off with a fishing pole.]

You see that, Crosswalk Symbol guy? There’s nothing you can’t do. Don’t let that flashing red hand tell you differently.

[Image description: image is a black and white photograph of a little white boy with a developmental disability on tennis court. He wears glasses, long shorts, and a polo shirt. He is about to hit a flying tennis ball with a large racket.]

A child is playing a game; your excuses are invalid.

[Image description: image is a photo of a white man in a wheelchair. He is hunched over, looking away from the camera while a white cat perches on his upper back staring directly at the camera.]

Get out of there, cat. You are not a handicapable cat. You do not have a cart for your hind legs. Your presence in this picture will not let me caption it with a cliched expression about humans’ and animals’ capacity for unconditional love.

Get off of there, cat. You are keeping your human from engaging in a completely mundane activity that able-bodied viewers will nevertheless find completely inspirational. He can’t file paperwork while you’re on his back. That’s ridiculous. Go find a sunbeam to sleep in.

[Image description: Image is a photograph showing a young woman using a wheelchair from behind. She has long brown hair and light brown skin. She wears a grey t-shirt and white shorts. She is on the beach right next to where the waves meet the sand. Her arms are outstretched as if she is embracing the view before her.]

Think of how many things we don’t try because we think they are impossible. Now look at this woman trying with all her might to hug the Pacific Ocean even though she will never succeed… because she is in a wheelchair.

[Image description: Image is a photo of a middle-aged, white man with thinning ginger hair using an electric wheelchair. He wears a light blue polo shirt, blue jeans, black and white sneakers, and a smile. He sits atop an enviable wheelchair cushion next to a row of shelves holding white file folders with brightly colored, numbered labels.]

This man’s filing inspires me to be a better person.

[Image Description: Image is a photo of middle-aged, Black man sitting in a wheelchair while using a large, white, nineties-style PC. He has short black hair and a beard. He wears a white dress shirt, a red tie, black dress pants, and numerous pieces of gold jewelry on his wrists and fingers. He is surrounded by a computer similar to the one he is using and other bulky white office electronics. In the background, two forearm crutches lean against the wall.]

My problems seem so small in comparison to how much data-processing this man accomplishes while disabled.