Personal Space...

Google defines personal space as a noun. The definition is: the physical space immediately surrounding someone, into which any encroachment feels threatening to or uncomfortable for them. Normal people respect this understanding most of the time. There are many situations where personal space is not respected. Sometimes this can be do to violence or just plain accidental. Which ever this might be most people do not think of just violating someones personal space. Now I want you to think of what you would do if you saw a disabled person minding their own business walking or going in their wheelchair to some destination. If it looks like that disabled person needs help would you go over and ask if they need help. Or would you just assume and grab them to steer them where you think they want to go. This is what most of society does actually. they see a disabled person and assume they can help and so they do. This is an extreme violation of personal space. You may not think so as the helper but just think for a moment. Would you like some random person coming up to you and grabbing your arm or wheelchair. How does the disabled person know that you are trying to help them not hurt them. THEY DO NOT!!! Why does society constantly think that they can just grab someone to help them. This is very very wrong. the right way to approach someone with a disability is to walk with in a few feet and ask if they need help with something. If you are on a bus, train, or subway maybe this is not possible but you should not just drag the disabled person to where you think they are going. Most of the time you will actually be wrong and can cause safety problems without realizing it. If you grab a blind person they may not see that you are pulling them towards a drop off and they will trip and all that is your fault. If you just start pushing a wheelchair in a direction where you think they want to go you can actually cause the chair to malfunction. you do not know how that specific chair may work for the individual person. It may cost thousands of dollars for that chair to help that person. With one disrespectful gesture and violation of personal space you have damaged that chair. Now how will that person who uses it get around safely and afford a replacement. If you simply ask if the disabled person needs help and they say yes they will most likely direct you how to help them and where they are going.If the disabled person says no they do not need help then do not force help on them they know what they are doing. People with disabilities are people too and they should have the same rights to personal space as any other person.