Crazy Rude Stuff Disabled People Actually Deal With (And You Won’t Believe Some Of It)

So, fun fact: I've lost count how many times random people tried to "pray away" my disability. I'm talking about total strangers - like, Domino's delivery folks stopping mid-delivery to bless me. Oh, and don't forget the random people who just wander up and give me an unexpected shove.

Someone once just grabbed my head, literally shoved their fingers into my ears, and tried to pray away my deafness. Newsflash: grabbing people’s heads and sticking fingers in their ears is 1000% weird and scary. Don't be That Person.

In Canada, with my C-PTSD and service dog in tow, I showed up at Walmart and got yelled at by staff for no real reason. Then a random lady thought I was blind, grabbed my arm (while my dog was pulling me forward), and dragged me over to show my dog’s training papers. Talk about a stress explosion - my adrenaline went through the roof and I hit the floor! People faking service dogs don’t just mess with stores; they make life harder for actual disabled folks.

Here’s one: I’ve been disabled all my life, but even now, my mom keeps bringing up how “slow” I am, depending on her mood. Because that’s super helpful, Mom.

Got knocked over in gym class as a kid, physically struggling while people totally ignored me, and family members calling me lazy for not rocking some crazy "YOLO" lifestyle. Ridiculous and exhausting.

I'm blind, and some people ask the most unbelievable questions - like one roommate literally asked how I manage wiping after using the bathroom and if she'd have to help. Plus, people wanting to pray for my eyes or insist weird oils will cure me. Oh! And I wasn’t allowed to use regular swings as a kid because “I couldn’t handle it.”

Classic rude line: someone telling me I should see a psychologist… because apparently having normal feelings while struggling with a physical disability is abnormal. Newsflash: it’s not.

One time, an old dude in a wheelchair straight-up told me that whenever I feel my tics coming on, I should pray to scare the demons out. Spoiler: tics are NOT demons, buddy.

The absolute rudest? People wanting to pray over me or asking if they can lay hands on me to “heal” my eye. Um, no thanks - I’m good.

My own family calls me delusional, 17 different specialists can’t seem to help, and urgent care won’t even examine me. I’m bedbound, dealing with untreated pain, and feel like I’m just waiting to check out. The worst insult? Being told it’s all in my head. Life's a blast.

I parked in a disabled spot at work - properly, with my tag clearly hanging - but an employee stopped me and asked if I knew I was parked in a disabled space. Spoiler: yes, I do. Bonus? I was there for an accessibility meeting!

Someone once hit me with this gem: “Why don’t you just go back to work full time? Don’t you want to be a productive member of society?” Newsflash: my self-worth isn’t about capitalism, thanks!

People hover, wait, and want me to move faster, but honestly? I’m lucky none have tried to pray for me yet. I don’t use a wheelchair but a cane, and if someone tried pushing me, they’d get an earful real quick! Worst rude person? My old boss who thought sitting means slow.

Back when I worked at a coroner’s office, my bosses joked I should run a campaign just to 'look like we hire handicapped' people. One co-worker accused me of faking my brain injury because I didn't chat enough. Real nice.

I sometimes use a cheap cane after gout attacks, and someone literally spent minutes explaining why me walking around with it looked stupid. Hey, sorry it offends your fashion sense, but my foot is screaming!

While my grandma was dying in the hospital, a nurse just pushed me into the hallway without even asking. No hello, no excuse me, just shoved me away like a piece of furniture.

People often ask me how a blind person like me can browse the internet or how I could possibly have dating preferences. Because apparently, blind people are a total mystery to some folks.

Once, while visiting my aunt’s cottage in Maine, a kid screamed “Look mommy, a monster!” about me (in my wheelchair). The mother rushed them away, basically agreeing. I still get chills thinking about it.

Got my right foot amputated, and a kid jokingly challenged me to a toe counting contest. Spoiler: I was done at 5 toes while he still had 5 to go. Who’s the winner now?

I’ve had my wheelchair and other mobility aids kicked out from under me way more times than I can count - including as a kid. People seem to think it’s funny or no big deal, but it’s the worst.

This one time, an older woman using a walker scolded me for sitting in an accessible cart instead of walking with everyone else. Also, a stranger once yelled at my grandma for carrying me instead of unloading my wheelchair. Ah, kindness.

At lunch one day in high school, someone stole my cane and hid it in the library. I freaked out, yelling “WHO STOLE MY CANE?!” I ran around panicked, had a full-on anxiety attack, and needed a staff member to calm me down with breathing exercises. Not my finest moment, but understandable.

Had a coworker once say I should run an ad just to show we hire people with disabilities, and the secretary accused me of faking my brain injury. Also, random jerks love pushing my wheelchair without warning - super scary and not cool.

People love telling me that being fat isn’t a disability. Except, my disabilities and meds caused my weight gain, not the other way around. Oh, and I get physically blocked in parking spots and shoved in my wheelchair just because someone didn’t bother to check my tag!

1) I’m rude for snapping back to “What’s wrong with you?” 2) Someone said, ‘God doesn’t punish the ones he loves,’ then hit me with ‘That’s why you’ll die alone.’ Ouch. 3) I faint, but people still yell at me for not explaining as I’m about to pass out. Ridiculous.

I fell after hitting something while leaving the hospital. This grown man just strolled by and said "sup." If I wasn’t disabled, I’d have given him a piece of my mind. But no one takes a person shouting from the ground seriously.