I Didn’t Notice Until It Was Me
Written by Christianna~~
You know what no one tells you? That the world is built like an exclusive club for able-bodied people. And here’s the kicker: I didn’t even notice. Not really. Not until I needed access and was suddendly smacked in the face with how unaccessible the world truly is.
Before I became disabled, I coasted through life with the kind of oblivious privilege that lets you walk past every broken elevator, every narrow hallway, every step with no ramp, and think nothing of it. Because it didn’t affect me. It didn’t slow me down. It didn’t stop me from existing in public like a normal human being.
But now? Now, it’s a battlefield just to go out for coffee. Now, I have to plan every trip like a military operation. Is there a ramp? Is it going to be an obstacle course? Is it even worth going?
The worst part? It’s not even just the buildings. It’s the attitudes. The way people talk to me slower, louder, like I am somehow mentally handicapped. The way strangers talk to whoever I’m with like I’m luggage. Or worse, they just ignore me completely, like I’ve turned invisible because I’m disabled.
I didn’t ask for this body. I didn’t sign up for this reality. But I sure as hell shouldn’t have to fight this hard just to exist in public space! Just to get in the door. And I can’t believe how many years I lived without noticing any of it. How easy it was to miss. How easy it is to keep walking—until one day, you can’t.
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This says a lot that so many people with disabilities want others to understand. Sometimes we just can’t think up the right words, they come out all wrong or not at all. This is so spot on! Thank you Cristianna! 😘🤗
Here is her introduction and a link to her page. We have an opportunity to support someone who is willing to speak for those who can’t. So we should support her right back.
“Hi, I’m Christianna, the voice behind Wheel Life Crisis. Life threw me a curveball when I had peripheral nerve damage due to having stage 4 Hogkins lymphoma, which left me a complete quadriplegic, but that hasn’t stopped me from rolling forward. Through this blog, I share the raw, real, and sometimes ridiculous moments of navigating the world on wheels—whether it’s the daily challenges, unexpected victories, or the fight for accessibility and inclusion.
Wheel Life Crisis is more than just my story; it’s a space for advocacy, awareness, and the occasional rant about the absurdities of inaccessibility. My goal? To inform, inspire, and maybe even make you laugh along the way.
Let’s break barriers together—one post at a time.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1FZrv7YUSi
Here is a video I saw recently. Just remember~the things people say has had to change over the years but that doesn’t mean some people don’t feel that way anymore. Trust me, it’s noticable and it hurts.
