Good, Susan. Make them work! They might even learn something.

I had a rare opportunity a few years ago to see things from a wheelchair-bound point of view. I had just broken my ankle and was at a folk festival. I had also hurt my shoulder shortly before the break, so I couldn't use crutches for long without aggravating that injury so I opted for hiring a wheelchair.

Some of the members of my choir had offered to take turns pushing me around because the ground was a bit uneven to allow too much of my own pushing. It was 'fun' getting up on stage for the performances! I would stand for short periods with my crutches, then take a rest and sit down. Certain songs really required standing - it's no good singing the Internationale and Solidarity Forever sitting down!

"Arise, arise, oh Jenny on your crutches....."

Anyway, what was really enlightening was when I was watching other performances from the edge of the venue - you couldn't get the wheelchair in because there was a ridge at the doorway. People stood in front of me like I wasn't even there, completely blocking my view. It was like because I wasn't eyeball to eyeball with them, I didn't exist. These are folkies, who I would have hoped were a bit more socially aware than the average. Not in that case.

Even on another occasion one night when I went out with friends, at one stage they stood in a circle talking and didn't seem to notice I was excluded. Probably a good thing I have different friends now.

Not a pleasant feeling, and I feel sad for people who have to cope with this kind of ignorance on a daily basis.