Attidues towards disabled/disability in Ireland

[john40]

Having had a physical disability since birth, I often wondered about attitudes towards the disabled in Ireland.

Thankfully my disability is mild (I have mild cerebral palsy which requires me to walk with crutches). I'm so lucky to be able to say I've had a fantastic life. I've travelled a lot of the world. I had a 25 year career in the HSE until 2016 when I had to have major spinal surgery as a result of using the crutches (all the spaces between all my discs in my neck were closing in) which resulted in having to have 2 discs removed.

I often think people think I'm weird when I say this, but I'm glad I'm the way I am since birth because I've known no different and just got on with it. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have to adjust to life after having a major accident or event in life that leaves you without the use of your limbs.
I've never ever said "why me" and I'm not looking for any plaudits for not doing so. My attitude is, there is always someone worse off than me.

On my travels around the world I've had people say to me that I'm great for what I do. Don't get me wrong, I know what they mean and I know they mean well. I just always feel, why wouldn't I do what I'm able to. I know my limits and have no time for anyone sitting around looking for sympathy. I also never wanted to have a regret that I didn't do something that I wanted to.

So, on to what I mean about attitudes towards disabled people/disabilities. I think a lot of it is ignorance and I don't mean ignorant people, I mean lack of understanding.


I know I've got those looks when I used to walk into a bar or nightclub as if I've 10 heads. I've heard people say to others when I worked in the hospital "he works here". Oh and I've had the classic line while out for dinner with a friend "does he eat mushrooms "? Fair play to my friend who said "I don't know, you'll have to ask him" 🤣 I've had encounters where all that's missing is a pat on the head. I do feel some people think if you have a physical disability you must also have a mental disability. I often feel like telling people to try talking to me or others like me for a while before they judge.

If I do have a regret it's that I never had a relationship. Nobody to share those amazing experiences while travelling or to come to all the concerts I go to every year. I've had lots of female friends and fallen for quite a few but never anyone who was more than a good friend. I've had amazing experiences with some beautiful ladies whom I met through EI and had great friendships with a few of them. I'm 50 now and quite content with life but often thought, what might have been but I don't get hung up on it either. I'm still enjoying life to the full and even more so since retirement 😀

I do think though things are changing thankfully. I always had a saying "we all have a disability of some kind, you don't always have to see it".

[PhilPhilPhil]

Good stuff, ''does he eat mushrooms?'' had me laughing, people can be clueless.

On a side note you may want to edit your post to remove your exact age and when you left your job etc as it could make you easily identifiable? Or you may not care.

[Rooney2808]

You're still a fairly young man, don't rule out meeting someone yet.
And if you don't it sounds like you're quite content with your lot in life and that's as much as any of us can hope for.

[Billygoatgruff]

Good post, you’re obviously a decent guy.
The title about attitudes towards disabilities, well, I always feel like I shouldn’t be complaining as there are so many folks worse off.

I get mad when I see obstacles (like a car parked halfway on a path) and I think what if a wheelchair needs to pass?, or a visually impaired person comes along?

It’s very hard not to come across condescending, but I feel privileged, and feel it’s so unfair when people
are born with disabilities.

Kudos to escorts that are “disabled -friendly“…….but does that mean they have an accessible apartment? Or they welcome punters with disabilities?

glad ur contented, maybe an inspiration for other guys.

[Noregrets]

Fair play to you, your an amazing person, the world definitely needs more of you about.

[Barney Rubble]

It pisses me off big time when you see drivers of big SUV's parking in disabled parking places.

Don't scratch my car but tough shit for the people these parking spaces are supplied for.

[john40]

Fair play to you, your an amazing person, the world definitely needs more of you about.

Thank you very much for your kind words. I don't regard myself as anything special, just telling it as it is 😀

[charlie82]

It pisses me off big time when you see drivers of big SUV's parking in disabled parking places.

Don't scratch my car but tough shit for the people these parking spaces are supplied for.

There was a woman who lived near me for couple years who constantly parked in the disabled parking spaces everywhere… traffic warden is a relative of hers.. constantly got away with it…. Well that all came to an end last January when she parked her brand new car in a disabled spot in front of the hardware store… can of expanding foam up the exhaust.. pissed myself laughing at her