Guest guest Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 A great message! please read Carded She walked with real purpose. Looking straight ahead. Though she was in a mall, she didn't browse, stop to look at things in the stores or the people flowing around her. She looked like she had a destination and the mall was an obstacle in her path. Forgive me for saying this but even after all these years I sometimes find it really hard to tell how old someone with Down Syndrome is - beyond childhood, teenager, adult that is. I would guess that she may have been thirty. I was waiting out side the dollar store where Joe was in a lineup buying me 4 new pairs of glasses and I was people watching. Just before she got to me, I saw a woman come up to her and bring her up short with a conversation, the woman with Down Syndrome, looking annoyed, stopped, listened to what the woman had to say, dug in her purse and handed her a card. Then, without waiting for the woman to move out of her way, or saying a single word, she just pushed past and then there she was striding past me. The woman read the card and then got visibly angry. I heard her mumbling something as she walked away. Joe came out and I said, " Follow that woman " so we meanandered behind her. I hoped, and my hope was rewarded. Finally, about halfway down the mall, she tossed out the card in a trash bin. I broke away from Joe to go to the bin, when he saw what I was doing - I hadn't had time to explain, when he came out of the store we immediately gave chase - " you aren't rummaging around in the garbage. " But by then I'd pulled the lid off and could see that the can had been recently emptied and the card was resting on the bottom. It was a real reach but I got it. I put the lid back on and then realized that I had an audience of at least twenty people, all stopped, all with tears of pity in their eyes. Screw'em, I got the card. I tucked it quickly behind me in my bag. Joe was desperate to get out of the mall. We got into the car and he handed me the wheelchair bag right away. I had explained to him on the way what I had seen and why I went into the garbage bin. So, he was curious now too. I held the bag in my lap and waited until he got back in the car after loading our shopping and the chair into the car. I found the note. And read it. It was the size of a business card and on one side it said: People with disabilities don't need tolerance, acceptance or pity instead we need equality, opportuntiy and respect. On the other side it said: Pick the one that applies to you: I am not lost and do not need your assistance. I am not a little child and do not need your help. I am going somewhere, I am not wandering around. I do not talk to strangers - you should follow that advice yourself. There was no sign that this had been printed by an agency, it looked like something you'd get printed up at one of those business stores printing kiosks. I loved it. Still got it. I've decided that I'm going to hand this out the next time I have someone intrude on my life with assistance. I think it is a cool way to deal with it. I still picture her in the mall walking along with such determination. I'm glad that she has a way of dealing with intrusion but hope that she hasn't lost the joy of the walk because of the regularity of interuption. But more power to her. Although she didn't look like she needed much more. ************** Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch " Cooking with Tyler Florence " on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4 & amp; ?NCID=aolfod00030000000002) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Hmmm...I guess I would like to see a little more civility. I don't consider polite conversation an interruption worthy of such a rebuke. The majority of folks mean well and are just trying to be kind, not " tolerant or pitiful. " I guess ten years in Texas tends to put the " friendly " back in your attitude! Karla in Texas A great message -story >A great message! > please read > > Carded > > > She walked with real purpose. Looking straight ahead. Though she was in a > mall, she didn't browse, stop to look at things in the stores or the > people > flowing around her. She looked like she had a destination and the mall was > an > obstacle in her path. Forgive me for saying this but even after all these > years I > sometimes find it really hard to tell how old someone with Down Syndrome > is - > beyond childhood, teenager, adult that is. I would guess that she may have > been > thirty. I was waiting out side the dollar store where Joe was in a lineup > buying me 4 new pairs of glasses and I was people watching. > > Just before she got to me, I saw a woman come up to her and bring her up > short with a conversation, the woman with Down Syndrome, looking annoyed, > stopped, > listened to what the woman had to say, dug in her purse and handed her a > card. Then, without waiting for the woman to move out of her way, or > saying a > single word, she just pushed past and then there she was striding past me. > > The woman read the card and then got visibly angry. I heard her mumbling > something as she walked away. Joe came out and I said, " Follow that woman " > so we > meanandered behind her. I hoped, and my hope was rewarded. Finally, about > halfway down the mall, she tossed out the card in a trash bin. > > I broke away from Joe to go to the bin, when he saw what I was doing - I > hadn't had time to explain, when he came out of the store we immediately > gave > chase - " you aren't rummaging around in the garbage. " But by then I'd > pulled the > lid off and could see that the can had been recently emptied and the card > was > resting on the bottom. It was a real reach but I got it. I put the lid > back on > and then realized that I had an audience of at least twenty people, all > stopped, all with tears of pity in their eyes. > > Screw'em, I got the card. > > I tucked it quickly behind me in my bag. Joe was desperate to get out of > the > mall. We got into the car and he handed me the wheelchair bag right away. > I > had explained to him on the way what I had seen and why I went into the > garbage > bin. So, he was curious now too. I held the bag in my lap and waited until > he > got back in the car after loading our shopping and the chair into the car. > I > found the note. > > And read it. It was the size of a business card and on one side it said: > > People with disabilities don't need tolerance, acceptance or pity instead > we > need equality, opportuntiy and respect. > > On the other side it said: > > Pick the one that applies to you: > > I am not lost and do not need your assistance. > > I am not a little child and do not need your help. > > I am going somewhere, I am not wandering around. > > I do not talk to strangers - you should follow that advice yourself. > > There was no sign that this had been printed by an agency, it looked like > something you'd get printed up at one of those business stores printing > kiosks. I > loved it. Still got it. I've decided that I'm going to hand this out the > next > time I have someone intrude on my life with assistance. I think it is a > cool > way to deal with it. > > I still picture her in the mall walking along with such determination. I'm > glad that she has a way of dealing with intrusion but hope that she hasn't > lost > the joy of the walk because of the regularity of interuption. > > But more power to her. > > Although she didn't look like she needed much more. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 HI Karla I'm with you ............. here in Tennessee we try to put the " friendly " back in the tude Sara was on a mission today too at the property my oldest manages ...... a 1980, 6 story building. Sara was off to find her sister when she got away from me. I wish someone would have stopped her or at least followed her to her destination, even at age 16 I was panicked when she snuck off. I may not stop a teen or an adult but I sure would keep my eye on them Kathy mom to Sara 16 From: K Gain Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:24 AM Subject: Re: A great message -story Hmmm...I guess I would like to see a little more civility. I don't consider polite conversation an interruption worthy of such a rebuke. The majority of folks mean well and are just trying to be kind, not " tolerant or pitiful. " I guess ten years in Texas tends to put the " friendly " back in your attitude! Karla in Texas A great message -story >A great message! > please read > > Carded > > > She walked with real purpose. Looking straight ahead. Though she was in a > mall, she didn't browse, stop to look at things in the stores or the > people > flowing around her. She looked like she had a destination and the mall was > an > obstacle in her path. Forgive me for saying this but even after all these > years I > sometimes find it really hard to tell how old someone with Down Syndrome > is - > beyond childhood, teenager, adult that is. I would guess that she may have > been > thirty. I was waiting out side the dollar store where Joe was in a lineup > buying me 4 new pairs of glasses and I was people watching. > > Just before she got to me, I saw a woman come up to her and bring her up > short with a conversation, the woman with Down Syndrome, looking annoyed, > stopped, > listened to what the woman had to say, dug in her purse and handed her a > card. Then, without waiting for the woman to move out of her way, or > saying a > single word, she just pushed past and then there she was striding past me. > > The woman read the card and then got visibly angry. I heard her mumbling > something as she walked away. Joe came out and I said, " Follow that woman " > so we > meanandered behind her. I hoped, and my hope was rewarded. Finally, about > halfway down the mall, she tossed out the card in a trash bin. > > I broke away from Joe to go to the bin, when he saw what I was doing - I > hadn't had time to explain, when he came out of the store we immediately > gave > chase - " you aren't rummaging around in the garbage. " But by then I'd > pulled the > lid off and could see that the can had been recently emptied and the card > was > resting on the bottom. It was a real reach but I got it. I put the lid > back on > and then realized that I had an audience of at least twenty people, all > stopped, all with tears of pity in their eyes. > > Screw'em, I got the card. > > I tucked it quickly behind me in my bag. Joe was desperate to get out of > the > mall. We got into the car and he handed me the wheelchair bag right away. > I > had explained to him on the way what I had seen and why I went into the > garbage > bin. So, he was curious now too. I held the bag in my lap and waited until > he > got back in the car after loading our shopping and the chair into the car. > I > found the note. > > And read it. It was the size of a business card and on one side it said: > > People with disabilities don't need tolerance, acceptance or pity instead > we > need equality, opportuntiy and respect. > > On the other side it said: > > Pick the one that applies to you: > > I am not lost and do not need your assistance. > > I am not a little child and do not need your help. > > I am going somewhere, I am not wandering around. > > I do not talk to strangers - you should follow that advice yourself. > > There was no sign that this had been printed by an agency, it looked like > something you'd get printed up at one of those business stores printing > kiosks. I > loved it. Still got it. I've decided that I'm going to hand this out the > next > time I have someone intrude on my life with assistance. I think it is a > cool > way to deal with it. > > I still picture her in the mall walking along with such determination. I'm > glad that she has a way of dealing with intrusion but hope that she hasn't > lost > the joy of the walk because of the regularity of interuption. > > But more power to her. > > Although she didn't look like she needed much more. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Well, from time to time, I post about my young adult, Jan, and sometimes about her hikes. I live down the street from the entrance to the Almaden Quicksilver County Park which has a big ridge on which mining was done for many years. The trails go up and down steeply, but the views are great and you get to see all sorts of things from deer and bobcats to rattlesnakes along with flowers and plants in season. When Jan was first out here, we took family hikes in the park and she began to learn some of the trails. Now that she is around regularly and I'm trying to keep her weight in control, or at a minimm keep her fit, she hikes the park a lot, often alone by her choice. So people enjoying the park come across the short young woman with down syndrome with earphones on (like lots of others) and perhaps talking to herself. As soon as they get around the corner, these good hearted people call 911 to report someone lost in the park. That gets them to the park rangers, who listen and then tell the nice people that they know about this young woman and that she is OK. The rangers did advise Jan to say " hello " to everyone she meets which helps. We just have to quietly lead by example. Jan is OK in the park by herself. Sometimes her parent panic and check when she isn't down at dusk, but we don't pass that panic to her .. only encourage her to hike earlier in the day. Today's hike was only four miles. That beat me, who did only three ... but yesterday I was at six or seven. I'd make up a card for Jan, but I'm afraid she might hand it out. Rick .... dad to 35 year old Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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