Things You'll Need:
- Patience, please!
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Step 1
We're using the chair because we need it.Please realize that we don’t want to be in the wheelchair. We know that it is not the fastest, quietest, most convenient way to shop. Obviously, we’re in the chair for some reason; we need the chair, but we don’t want to need it. Whether we are injured (the reason for my necessity at the moment), elderly, special needs, or even overweight, please just accept that we’re in the chair. And yes, we have to shop, too.
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Step 2
Help us if you can.Help us. If you see that we’re struggling while trying to reach an item on the top shelf, it is okay to ask, “Do you need help with that?” We’re not going to assume that you think that we can’t do things on our own. We just may actually be pleasantly surprised that you took the time to help a fellow shopper.
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Step 3
Don’t sigh loudly because we are blocking the display that you need to reach. If you’ve waited for a reasonable amount of time (and 5 seconds is not reasonable), just ask politely if we wouldn’t mind you reaching for the item. More often then not, we will just scoot out of the way—if you’ve asked nicely. The sighing will not work. It’s downright rude and may cause us to linger longer.
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Step 4
Please don’t block the aisle. Also, please don’t block the aisle in such a way that we have to exit the aisle in reverse. When we put the Jazzy in reverse, it makes a loud, dump-truck-going-backwards-sound. It’s embarrassing.
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Step 5
Move slowly when approaching us.Don't cut the person off. By the time we are rolling toward a checkout line, our wheelchair is more than likely starting to run out of juice. Under no circumstances should you speed up to cut in front of us. That’s just wrong! How are you going to cut in front of a person in a wheelchair?!
Comments
karileighk said
on 7/1/2009 I actually experienced this in the parking lot. *5