How My Sister Who Uses a Wheelchair Wants to Be Treated

My sister has cerebral palsy, even though she has a disability, she is just like anybody else to me, except for the fact that she uses a wheelchair. Recently we talked about how she would like to be treated by other people. The following are her feelings and thoughts.

My sister told me that it bothers her when she is with another person or persons and somebody comes along and has a question for her, but instead of asking her the question they ask a person with her that question. She said that people should ask her the question and if she can answer it she will answer it. She feels bad when people assume or think that she cannot answer for herself because of her disability.

My sister wishes that when engaging in a conversation with other people it would be nice if they could sit down and talk with her. This way they are at her eye level, which eliminates the need for my sister to constantly look up and strain her neck to look at the person or persons talking with her.

My sister does not like it when someone leans on her wheelchair or when someone stands very close to it. She feels this way because someone leaning on her wheelchair or standing very close to it could accidentally shake the wheelchair. This accidental shaking of her wheelchair causes her to feel like she is going to fall out of her wheelchair.

She also said that she does not want people to automatically suppose that she needs or wants help. Most likely my sister will say yes and thank you if someone offers to assist in pushing her wheelchair, picking up an item from the floor, etc. She would just like others to remember to ask first.

We spoke about people saying, "Do you want to go for a walk?" to her. She told me that people using this expression or any similar ones when they talk with her does not upset her.

Sometimes you might see someone patting the head of a person in a wheelchair. My sister does not feel that it is appropriate for someone to pat her on the head. She believes that this action is not nice and it is not the right thing to do.

My sister correctly feels that she is a person, not a disability (cerebral palsy). She wishes that people would see her the same way. She is a wonderful sister!