#an untrained twenty-three year old should not be a more conscientous guide for a blind teenager than her professional school aide yknow?

[tmae3114]

most days I feel like most of what I do in terms of trying to accommodate other disabled people is just. the bare minimum. even though I know that I do stuff that other people don’t, it doesn’t feel like I’m putting in any particular effort beyond just... basic decency and compassion. it feels like the people who don’t are failing to perform basic decency and compassion, y’know?

and most of the time the responses I get feel in line with that. just other people recognising basic decency when performed. a nod, a “thank you”, where appropriate, mostly just unacknowledged because it’s not something that needs acknowledged. it’s the same kind of response I tend to give

but sometimes I get a response that’s just heartbreaking and that always pushes me to keep paying attention and keep trying to do more because if so many other people are going to fail at basic kindness then somebody’s got to pick up the slack and if I don’t, who will?

#this is mostly a vent post but you can reblog if you want #if I get bothered by reblogs I now have the option to Simply Turn Them Off #this post was prompted by the fact that a couple of weeks ago #I asked one of my volunteer teammates what his preference was for when I did the written version of the interview we're going to do together #would he prefer I transcribe his speech exactly as he said it with his stammer included #or would he prefer I write it as the questions are written in our notes? #and he gave me the WIDEST eyed look and went ''you can DO that?'' #before saying he ABSOLUTELY wants it written exactly as he says it on the day ''if that's okay'' #and I just. that should NOT have been the response. that should NOT be such a surprise to him #writing a transcript of his speech exactly as he said it should be the STANDARD EXPECTATION #I knew it wasn't that's why I ASKED but it should not have been such a shock to BE asked #and I think about when I was in college and got accomodation for my auditory processing issues for the first time #and the way I felt when I realised that this was me FINALLY for the FIRST TIME on even footing #and just. the way that that felt. #and I'm not saying that every single form of accomodation is simple or basic or easy #some is difficult and requires significant effort and not everyone is in a position to do it #but being patient and respectful and /ASKING PEOPLE/ THEIR NEEDS AND PREFERENCES #should not be something that so often seems to be a rare treat for the recipient #an untrained twenty-three year old should not be a more conscientous guide for a blind teenager than her professional school aide yknow? #hhhhhhhhh it's two am and I'm having Feelings