Learnings from an airport wheelchair

Since our book “World Without Truth” published September last year, I have travelled to sixteen countries to present and discuss disinformation security topics with governments and companies. It has been and continues to be an incredible privilege and source of fascinating learning. I had an accident which hurt my back before my last few countries, and asked for assistance at the airports, which took the form of wheelchairs. Thankfully my back is much better now. Although I was very grateful for the help, I had some salutary experiences, which gave me pause. I wanted to share them here. 1. It felt like once I was perceived as visibly ‘disabled’, the only thing people could see about me was my disability. I became one-dimensional. That became my only feature. 2. It felt like the people wheeling those of us in wheelchairs treated us and talked about us like objects. It felt like not being at eye level made a big difference. 3. Trying to make polite conversation with those helping me was difficult at best. Several of the helpers seemed shocked, like they had come across a talking dog. 4. The unwritten rule of not staring at strangers seemed not to hold when I was in the chair. 5. One more lightweight observation. I was very nervous and unsure about the appropriateness of tipping and amount to tip the helpers in each country. This reminded me of the lawyer in “My Cousin Vinny” tipping the prison guard. (Please watch that movie if you haven’t.) As well as the specific learnings about disability, this experience reminded me that there is so much one doesn’t realize until one walks a mile in the shoes of the other. (Perhaps not the best metaphor under the circumstances.) I didn’t want to come to some high-falutin’ conclusion here, just wanted to share my experiences. (Apologies if, by any chance, I have said anything or used language here that upsets anyone with more permanent or severe disabilities.) #unthink #unask #unlearn