In all honesty, Christmas can be a really difficult time for me.
Not only have I lost a parent around this time, but I was also born with a genetic condition, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which causes my bones to break at the slightest knock.
It means I have spent many Christmases with broken bones. This was mostly as a youngster, but as an adult I’m still anxious about the thought of drunk Santa and his elf falling on top of me and giving me a gift I’d rather not have – a trip to A&E.
For many disabled people, Christmas can be a difficult and lonely time. According to the Office of National Statistics, the proportion of disabled people who report feeling lonely ‘often or always’ is almost four times that of non-disabled people.
The leading learning disability charity Mencap has also crucially identified that people with learning disabilities are seven times more likely to feel lonely in comparison to non-disabled peers and this Christmas are calling for urgent action to be taken to tackle the loneliness epidemic faced by people with a learning disability.
I face daily attitudinal and physical barriers as a disabled woman, but these are only intensified around Christmas and new years. It can come about from something as simple as being able to attend work Christmas drinks. We have to think about whether the venue is accessible, who to ask at work about making sure it is, and if it isn’t we can feel like a burden or nuisance to our colleagues.
The bad weather can also mean many have to stay indoors. Have you ever tried to push a wheelchair through snow and ice, or steer an electric wheelchair through wet leaves that haven’t been swept away?
I have and I can only compare it to hitting black ice with your car – terrifying and dangerous.
I’ve personally found the overcrowding of bars, restaurants and Christmas markets excluding, too. People often comment that they ‘didn’t see you down there,’ there’s no chance of you ever reaching the bar, and more often than not you find the disabled bathrooms and lifts being used and abused by non-disabled people because it’s so busy.
And that’s just my experience. People with autism may find the loud sounds of Christmas festivities anxiety inducing; going out for a Christmas roast often means being confronted with a lack of easy read menus; Christmas high street shopping is also a no go due to aisles overloaded with wrapping paper or Christmas knickknacks making it difficult to navigate for anyone in a chair or visual impairment; care facilities often face staff shortages during the Christmas break, leaving some without the care they need and resulting in a lack of independence.
Vijay Patel, who is Campaigns Assistant at Mencap and has a learning disability told me: ‘I was lonely for years. I ended up being stuck at home a lot because I didn’t have anyone to support me to go out. I was beginning to give up hope.
‘Since getting a job, I have made new friends and I am more confident and independent. This year I will be going out with friends.’
I urge everyone to be mindful of those individuals that may feel isolated this festive period. I appreciate we are becoming more environmentally conscious and stopped sending Christmas cards, but make sure you show you care in other ways.
Volunteering in your community is a great way to meet new people and maybe learn from one another.
Feeling awkwardness towards disabled people is no longer a valid excuse to isolate and exclude that colleague, neighbour or person in your class who is part of the disabled community.
I’ve gone all out for Christmas this year. Even though the festive period is hard for me, I love it all. I’m that annoying person who sings Christmas tunes in mid-November, insists you wear a Santa jumper when you come to visit, and even bought a second Christmas tree for my bedroom, it’s pink, glittery and as FABULOUS as you can get.
The happy family, laughter with friends, work parties and Christmas markets, that’s all I ask for.
I appreciate we don’t live in an equal society and there are many physical barriers that people with disabilities face that prevent us participating fully in Christmas activities, but asking someone to a Christmas dinner and researching venues that are accessible doesn’t cost the world and can make a big difference in combating isolation.
It’s important to note that as we approach a new year, disability does not discriminate and each and every one of us could become disabled at any time.
If that were you, how would you want others to treat you?
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/24/at-christmas-the-every-day-barriers-disabled-people-face-seem-impenetrable-11944568/
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