Yes, I Know Where I Live

Dear Readers,

The other day, I was riding the transit for people with disabilities in town. It's kind of my go-to solution when the weather is gross or when the city bus doesn't accommodate my travel needs. I'e been using this system for nearly a year now.

I was heading home from an elementary school where I teacher aid twice a week as part of a class requirement at Calvin. For the entire 20 minute trip, my driver argued with me about where my apartment was located. He began by saying that he knew where my street is but that there were no houses that could have my address because there were new houses on that side of the street. I proceeded to explain that I'm in an apartment building, which did not help at all. He continued to treat me like an idiot, as if I didn't know my own address or how to get there.

I find this interesting, because he had no knowledge of why I ride his transit system. Obviously, since it's a system for people with disabilities, he knew I had something that kept me from driving a car home. But my visual impairment is never listed on the drivers' information. He treated me as if I was just some dumb quack. And I thought about my students who have cognitive impairments, and I realized even they, in elementary school, know their own addresses.

Of course, my driver had no idea that I actually have a wonderful gift of direction and location. (I got that from my dad!) Nor did he stop to think that I, his client, could possibly be right. We don't run disability services like businesses where the client is always right; we so often see this kind of service as pity or sympathy. This model for how we treat others has no room for dignity, something that should be give not every person, different or not. Dignity comes when others see you as equal or at least not as inferior, as someone with a mind, heart, and perception.

Don't look down on anyone. Whether they are labeled as disabled or not, never make someone feel inferior. If you do, you'll end up being like my driver, who didn't say a single word once I guided him the last few miles to my apartment complex (which was indeed the correct address).

Singing as one, (and still rolling my eyes at such ignorance),
SJC