Follow up to yesterday.

[jackandahat]

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.

Comments

[jackandahat]

However it was written, it was brilliant - and it was the kind of thing I've been dying to see, something where Life Happens to someone who is disabled, not Disability Happens to someone, if you see what I mean? And all the little things - I'm not as badly off as him, but it's nice to recognise the little things in a story like having to think twice about going out on ice/snow, and dealing with the kitchen, and people looking, and stuff like that.

Anyway. Ahem. I shall stop fanboying now. *sits on hands*

[synecdochic]

Oh please, do you think I object to people fanboying me? *G*

And yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to do: portray that Cam is living with this disability, and it sucks, but hey, whatcha gonna do, except send your hot young partner out to the supermarket for you (my own hot young partner comes in girl-flavor rather than boy-flavor, but still) and grit your teeth and take the damn pain meds. It's like he said in one piece: his injuries don't cripple him. All they do is make it harder to walk. Or something like that.

I hate stories with PWD protags that are Disability Happens stories. It's like how every queer character in the movies is either the comic relief, the villain, or the dead guy at the end.

[jackandahat]

*Grins* Well that's OK then!

Clearly, I need me a hot boy/girl/one of each to do my shopping. *Nods* It's A Plan. Think I could get one down the supermarket?

(If you don't mind me asking - because I'm clueless and haven't picked up - are you male, female, other option, etc? I'm just wondering how to refer to you.)

And yeah - the "Disability happens" is OK for one chapter, after that it just gets ridiculous - because that's how life is. You can't wallow, or you don't get to have a life. So it's nice to see a queer disabled guy having himself a life - with stuff like work and sex and family being family, and troubles with all of the above, and realistic (Um. Well. If you discount the alients...)

Heh. I was going to apologise for going off-topic. Wait. I'm the OP!

[synecdochic]

I am standard issue female! Well, queer issue female, at least. :)

And yeah, part of teh fun of writing Cam is that you get to figure out how he deals with all this plus the disability...

[jackandahat]

I'm a dude. Which was one of the other things I liked with the fic. *points up* Men knitting!