Jack (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jackandahat) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
accessibility_fail2010-02-05 04:10 pm
jackandahat) wrote in accessibility_fail2010-02-05 04:10 pm
Follow up to yesterday.
Went back in to Remploy, turned out my adviser had had a word with the guy about the cane-snatching after I left. I told him if it happens again, I'm walking and there will be a serious complaint put in. Cane-snatcher apologised then spent the rest of the afternoon ignoring me and refusing to look at me while in the same room. (Yes, he is in fact a grown man and not a six year old. Allegedly.)
So that was sorted... and then my adviser promptly started lecturing me again on how he was sure I could use a phone if it was "Just a bit". Thing is, I know how "Just a bit" works - you start off with a little, then they go "he's coping fine, see?" and give you more, then they ask how why you're not doing your job. He also doesn't seem to understand that I'm not used to phones and I actually don't respond to them. You know how if someone calls someone else's name, you don't look up or respond because it doesn't apply to you? That's me - I'm just not used to phones, so I tend not to register they're ringing. It's a habit rather than a disability but it's due to my disability. It's not me "being awkward"
I don't get it. I'm hard of hearing, why are they the ones not hearing what I say? Why is it so hard to understand that no, I can't hear/understand you if I'm not looking at you? I've told the adviser a few times - get my attention, then when I'm looking at you, talk. Saying "But I called your name" when I had my back to you working on a computer isn't helpful.
And yes. These are the people whose entire job is to help with disability issues.
So that was sorted... and then my adviser promptly started lecturing me again on how he was sure I could use a phone if it was "Just a bit". Thing is, I know how "Just a bit" works - you start off with a little, then they go "he's coping fine, see?" and give you more, then they ask how why you're not doing your job. He also doesn't seem to understand that I'm not used to phones and I actually don't respond to them. You know how if someone calls someone else's name, you don't look up or respond because it doesn't apply to you? That's me - I'm just not used to phones, so I tend not to register they're ringing. It's a habit rather than a disability but it's due to my disability. It's not me "being awkward"
I don't get it. I'm hard of hearing, why are they the ones not hearing what I say? Why is it so hard to understand that no, I can't hear/understand you if I'm not looking at you? I've told the adviser a few times - get my attention, then when I'm looking at you, talk. Saying "But I called your name" when I had my back to you working on a computer isn't helpful.
And yes. These are the people whose entire job is to help with disability issues.
Re: Uhm
And they always make it all about them. I've had situations where people make a suggestion, and I say "Won't work because [extra bit of information]" and they go "Well I didn't know that!" No, because... you didn't need to. My medical history is my property, I don't see why I should spell out everything from the state of my joints to the damaged big toe from childhood football to the inability to eat certain things. (That's another one - I have food problems. EVERYONE comes out with "Is it celiacs?" Let me see, I've been getting poked at because of it for about 17 years now, and somehow 17 years worth of doctors and dieticians have managed to miss one of the most common food issues in the history of food issues...Yeah. Right.)