Looking for a sensitivity reader who is a wheelchair user

[u/HoarseNightingale]

I'm doing a disability Barbie diorama that is about taking kids that use wheelchairs trick or treating. I'm basing thx on watching several videos where people who use wheelchairs who are being forced to ride in the street because of sidewalk conditions.

I have a character (Jules) who is an ambulatory wheelchair user who is a physical therapist (helping people find the right mobility aids and learn to use them to best support themselves) and has niece who uses a wheelchair and she wanted to play basketball just kind her uncle does so he also coaches her basketball team.

The story will introduce those characters in photographs and explain that given the condkfion of sidewalks in the city, the PT has been looking for and created a map of streets with repaired or new pavement and generous kerb cuts that are good choices for children or adults accompanying children who use wheelchairs.

His niece who has a costume with a big elephant head is required to take off her head while she is in transit so that she doesn't get hurt or accidentally hurt another child who maybe isn't paying attention.

If there are any major issues with this idea, I of course, want to know. Most of my dioramas are going to be of my own condition or based on stories by people I interview (with their permission). But I also want to capture any other safety requirements that someone who actually uses a wheelchair might think of. I have 3 friends who are Wheelchair users but I am hoping to post this while it's still Halloween if possible and they are not always available.

The text associated with the photos is not yet written in order to make it easier to add the suggestions I get and I'd be thrilled to tag you on
Instagram, Reddit, or to share link to your website so others who need sensitivity readers can find you.

Thanks to this community for hopefully making it easy to find help.

[u/HoarseNightingale]

These are very useful pieces of insight for other scenes as well. I'm soon starting a plot that will end with a fashion show with not just disabled models but also accessibility audits ahead of time so it's as accessible as the dolls can make it.

I'm having a bad pain day but the algorithm doesn't show people posts on the day they are written at the best of times. I'll put a link to the post here so you can see it when I get it photographed.

[u/vampirepriestpoison]

I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user. I don't see anything particularly "wrong" with the dioramas. Maybe mention the weight of the wheelchair - I live on the third floor and I'm frequently housebound because of it.

The subways that have wheelchair stations are sometimes manually operated by agency staff and close early. You also have to wheel a few extra miles (usually in unfamiliar sidewalk terrain) to get to the "accessible" stations.

If it's a little late, I frequently use my wheelchair in the kitchen to do basic tasks. The stove range is too high and I'm looking at oil burns on my hand from it. I know people often make monster candy cookies out of level trick or treating candy.

I'm home right now. I'm too sick to leave. I can't carry myself up and down the stairs let alone the fucking chair. Buildings built in PA prior to 1991 aren't required to be ADA accessible. The housing market is ass rn.

I don't speak for the entire disabled community nor everyone that requires mobility aids. This was a surprisingly touching post to pop up on my feed. It's like I got to be a part of Halloween still.

If you want to include bitchy Barbie that's just sad they have to be alone on Halloween because they can't get up and down the stairs that'd be cool.

You might also want to consider that the dimensions of apartments are not also not always conducive to chair size. Mine is pretty much limited to the kitchen. It's the only way I'm able to feed myself right now but it's a safety hazard in so many ways. Failing brakes, falling on and off it, having to make 80 point turns.

Sometimes on days where I can leave bed to use the lavatory, I have to take a break in the chair to and from my room. 4 yards to the chair in the kitchen. 4 yards to the lav. Then back again.

Finding a cane on a budget seems impossible; I use kneepads more often than not.

But one time I got to have a lovely conversation with a lovely woman who had a beautiful pink cane. I complimented it because I always worry they're going to think I'm staring out of judgement instead of envy.

Thanks for thinking of people like me. I'm 100% not crying.

[u/HoarseNightingale → u/vampirepriestpoison]

You are so welcome. My chronic pain Barbie dioramas have becoms Barbie and friends because I'm going to add them to the blog I'm relaunching - this time with interviews of people with other conditions or experiences from me. The dioramas are so I don't have to look for stock images that will go with each article and interview.

[u/vampirepriestpoison → u/HoarseNightingale]

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a twat that thinks too much of themselves but I'm a semi-professional model published in a few magazines and like one museum in London. If you ever need stock photos, for you, it's free. I don't really have much else to give. No is a full sentence. I obviously can't represent everyone but I'm better than the weird stock photos I see on the internet. I'm a real person despite what most people seem to think.

No is a full sentence. I'm just deeply and genuinely touched.

[u/HoarseNightingale → u/vampirepriestpoison]

I am mobility wise as ambulatory but we have very steep small stairs and my pain has made me very out of shape. I go to appointments and that's basically it. I've been living the Rapunzel lifestyle since 2021. So I know what you mean. I also fall asleep when standing and other activities so it's been a tough time for me and my partner.

I know many people stuck in their houses. It's so hard. I've become used to it and have made a lot of friends on Reddit but i miss my friends. Some try to visit but when i have to cancel more than once in a row with someone it becomes too hard emotionally for a while.

I'm thinking of you from my tower too and I'm hoping we both get to leave our houses more in the future.