I was at a end-of-summer BBQ recently and there was one attendee who may have been an amputee or born without his limb. He arrived late and I asked the person beside me to offer him a plate (something we do out of courtesy in my culture). This person responded with, “poor guy, doesn’t have one hand. If he holds a plate, how will he eat?”
Aside from the fact that this man can put his plate down to fill it up at the food stations, carry it to the patio table, set his plate down, sit down, and eat comfortably, why would it be any able-bodied person’s business as to how he will do it? If he cannot do it, he will decline. Instead of withholding *pun intended* an opportunity, why not make it available and let THAT person decide based on their needs and abilities (which they know far better than anyone else) what they want to use to enjoy the food, setting, and gathering.
I think many able-bodied folks try so hard to mean well, to the point of reiterating that they mean well, but they miss the mark. Let people choose. Let choices be made available to them (unless it’s in-your-face obvious that they’re unable to do it). This one is less obvious and that’s simply because the general public isn’t aware.
In solidarity,
- A