Hotel Kicks out BLIND Woman?!

‪@MollyBurkeOfficial‬ is raising awareness for people who are blind! She is an amazing woman who loves to educate people on what exactly it means to be blind, what her days look like, and to show the world that she is still just a person. There are so many underrepresented communities in the world, many including disabilities, and Molly is putting in the world to help fill that gap and help the world become a more inclusive place for people with blindness everywhere.

[@phyllismartin674]

I had a friend in a wheelchair. I made sure every place we attended was w/c accessible. I have a gluten allergy. He made sure every place we might eat had GF options.

[@tkat921]

That's what friendship should be!

[@motionless_horizon]

As someone in a wheelchair, thank you. It’s exhausting to think about accessibility all the time. I’m sure your friend appreciated it more than you know

[@pittiebaby]

Amazing!! I understand

[@lemuryellowtail4819]

as someone with family needing WA when going out, i find the most disheartening is when a place advertises as WA and you get there and 90% of it is but you wanted to do the 10% that is not. like sure all the gardens and outdoor stairs have ramps but i can't go to the viewpoint at the top of the tower because it is a steep staircase with no elevator.

[@So_long_london_boy_13_22]

As someone who is Visualy impaired and under eighteen, it makes me so happy and greatful to know that i will be able to work in a world were these things are discussed, thank you so much Rebecca for this episode it literally made my day.

[@sirrudy1233]

same here! im also visually impaired and believe that disability awareness is so important especially when that disability is very twisted by hollywood.

[@Yourbudstar]

@@So_long_london_boy_13_22 I'm sorry and this is stupid but how do you type?

[@So_long_london_boy_13_22]

@@Yourbudstar it’s not stupid 😂 I can still sEE the keyboard and type on it with not that much trouble, but it’s a pretty common misconception that all visually impaired people are blind which is far from the trut. There are many different types of visual impairments, I have colaboma which effects my rods and cones (Aka by ability to intake light and color,) it is less severe in my left eye and more severe on my right, if I tried typing with my left eye well… I wouldn’t be able to! However for those who in fact cannot see you later the keyboard, you can type using voiceover or.Siri!! Happy to help answer any more questions you have!!

[@So_long_london_boy_13_22]

Btw I mean I could not type in my right eye if I wanted to

[@Yourbudstar]

@@So_long_london_boy_13_22 that makes way more sense! Thank you!

[@joannetompkins7833]

When I was teaching I had a student with 2 blind parents. I had them visit the classroom with their guide dogs and talk to the kids about the dogs etc. I realize now how important that was.

[@kimberlybrinkhuis]

Thank you for that!

[@dragonfly_closet]

ZZZ​@@kimberlybrinkhuis

[@almccormick85]

I have always taught the kids i nannied, and then my own kids that we never touch a dog, ANY dog, without permission. But especially a dog wearing a vest. And if they're told 'no,' they have to accept that 'no'. The entitlement of some people is wild to me!

[@lindamoulton1560]

The worst is when parents walk into an establishment with their kiddos, see a dog and just shout "OH LOOK! There's a puppy go say hi! Don't worry they're used to dogs!"

[@almccormick85]

@lindamoulton1560 Oh, for sure! That makes me nervous. And I don't even currently own a dog+

[@Ariplaygames]

THIS! I dont know why people touch ANY dog at all without permission. Having a rescue has made me so aware of how many people have zero awareness of personal space, consent, and the very fact that dogs, while domesticated, are still animals. So many people try to touch my super nervous girl cause she is cute, even if I tell them not to. She has always been nice but she is a dog and a traumatized one from her past, if you spook a nervous animal they could always bite. The chance is never zero. I had one lady in my building that refused to use the elevator later and crammed herself and her two kids into the small space before I could close it and my dog got nervous cause its a lot of strangers really close to her in a space she cannot escape from. Her kid asked I he could pet her but then didnt wait and immediately went for it. I had to say no 3 TIMES while explaining why before the lady corrected him. My dog could have been put down if she bit the kid even tho it wasnt at all her fault and both kid and adult should have known better and I said no multiple times (kid was like 10).

[@cathleenc6943]

This is not just a courtesy, though, it's also about safety! I've worked with animals my whole career and many dogs or other animals can seem 100% well behaved with their owners, but are not comfortable being touched, reached for, or approached by a stranger or in a way they are unfamiliar with. This is especially important with children, because dogs who have been raised in families with no small children may be a bit fearful of children. I am very good with animals and have had to handle all kind of animals that didn't necessarily want me to in the course of my jobs, but even with all my experience, out of courtesy and also out of caution, I never touch another person's dog without getting permission.

[@almccormick85]

@cathleenc6943 absolutely! I have always taught it for both the safety of my kids, and the common courtesy for the dog and owner.

[@jessicapadron7886]

I do uber/lyft and I know that people with service animals are allowed. I have not gotten the opportunity to give someone a ride who has a service animal or guide dog, but I would, of course, give them a ride.

[@nogames8982]

Unfortunately, there are many People Who Dr., Uber and Lyft, who do not follow the rules. I have friends with guide dogs who are turned down on a weekly basis. They follow all the channels to file a complaint, etc., but it doesn’t help.

[@danimoore5343]

There is also discrimination within the disabled community! I had Service Rats for 12 years (Before the laws were changed in 2011) they alerted me to spasms that I could not feel when they were just starting and easier to treat. At Disneyland a nurse who had a Blind Husband who used a guide dog, screamed at me that I had no right to a service animal, only guide dogs are true service animals, that I was disgusting, she went on and on. It was horrible. Most people would take 20 or 30 minutes to notice them because they were quietly laying on my shoulder, not moving.

[@aspidistraeliator]

The worst thing about having a disability is when people stop asking you to go places because you may need a ride, or some other type of accommodation. And then start talking about how much fun whatever said event was that you didn't get to go to.

[@estherlouisamay]

@@aspidistraeliator the same thing happens to me because I have an intellectual disability and autism and in process of ADHD diagnosis too I see totally where you are coming from.

[@estherlouisamay]

I totally understand because this happens to me

[@rebeccawiens4224]

This almost happened to me at work when my boss didn't choose me for an education day because I didn't drive. I had been told about this education day and she said that I would go with my coworker K. I didn't drive at the time because I didn't have access to a vehicle that accommodated my disability. She told my other coworker A that she was going for the education day with K. I confronted her about it and she eventually found a spot for me. She outright said that the reason she didn't send me was because I didn't drive.

[@aspidistraeliator]

@@rebeccawiens4224 that is against the ada

[@rebeccawiens4224]

@@aspidistraeliator I don't live in the United States, we have a different set of rules than the ADA although they are very much influenced by it. It's a bit of a grey area because she didn't necessarily make the connection between my disability and not driving. Although it still is discriminatory in some way to deprive someone of professional development opportunities solely because they do not drive.

[@knesell]

That last part with Molly speaking about being good enough had me choked up. I struggle with that all the time being a person with invisible disabilities. ❤thank you for having molly on

[@schaladresdan1847]

24:10 I started teaching my niece about service animals from a very young age. Basically ‘see that dog? How he’s wearing a vest? He’s working, so we can’t pet him and we need to leave him alone.’ And she totally got it without issues.

[@doravalencia2214]

@schaladresdan1847 I had that conversation with my 3yo this weekend.. its a vest we don't touch him and we don't talk to them... she gets it, we have been working on, no touching dogs we don't know in general..

[@jenna739]

It's so much easier for me to advocate for others than for myself. I could totally see my nuerodivergent friends advocating for each other. The advice on helping is so nice. I recently found out that I'm autistic and ADHD, and I love hearing disabled prospectives to reframe things and understand my own disabilities better

[@RiverWoods111]

This AuDHD sees you and validates you. Your disability is caused by society's beliefs, and misinformation that we are broken, but just the opposite is true. We just learn differently. and it is society's responsibility to teach us the way we learn. The medical model is absolutely wrong.

[@amymoorehead7185]

"NO", is a very important word for children to learn. The word means something.

[@user-gj3zi5ws9b]

I'm an autistic minor, and it's really clear which kids have been told "being autistic is different yes, but not bad" because the amount of hate me and kids like me get for going to a skatepark or similar is genuinely disappointing

[@pittiebaby]

Same!!! It's strange. Alot of my family is autistic or something similar, calculexia (I can't remember if that's the name) disabilities where your brain (this isnt me so I don't understand completely) if someone says "the big dog barked really loud." You may hear, "the ****h dog basged really loud" Yk? It's almost one am I need to sleep

[@KarolinaBernolak]

omg User-gj3z5ws9d im an 35 autistic adult and school was hard for me and got picked on its so disapionting that when people like us are trying to get jobs we get told that the employers say they dont need people like uss at there bisness its hard for me to get work saddly while i was growing up the specailists didnt know how to diagnose me so i could not get help with founds im saddly dependent on my parents and i had trouble making friends im sorry your going through hate

[@havahart123review]

YES disability pride. Finally!!!!! I have been waiting for a topic like this!

[@Sadie_preppygirl1126]

MOLLY I’m SO excited!!!!

[@ToughBeifong]

As someone who is blind I really appreciate this collaboration and bringing more awareness to disabled people like us. We really need it.

[@insylem]

I'm legally blind without my glasses! I'm not legally blind

[@eastcoastswiftie]

@@insylem I always use that as a reference to tell people how impaired my vision is lol but it’s definitely not the same as actually being legally blind

[@IceRiver1020]

"I'd rather you ask and know the truth than assume and be wrong," reminds me of something I live by, which is that I would rather understate how much I know about a subject and have it over explained to me, than for someone to assume I know things that I don’t, because that can lead to problems, and you don't know what you don't know.

[@axolotl_chisaki6213]

My little cousin is blind and she loves your videos. This video means a lot to her and it made her happy to hear on of her favorite youtubers talk about blindness and spread some awareness. Thank you so much. You are amazing! 💜💜💜

[@happylittlevibe]

I loved reading this comment, glad she feels seen!

[@Positivekitten]

Something else that a lot of people don’t consider is, if you have a friend who is visually impaired, or cannot drive for whatever reason, try to invite them to go with you. it’s so frustrating to see people you know posting things about going to this great new wine bar or restaurant or whatever that you would’ve loved to go with them, but they never asked you to come along.

[@idkwhatimdoing3275]

Thank you so much Rebecca for having Molly speak on your channel. I have been following her for years, but as a disabled person I am so grateful for what she does. She has taught me to believe in myself and fight for the world I deserve. She also gave me the strength to get a service dog, and fight the battles that come with it. Thank you both so much for this video ❤❤❤

[@AshleysAdvice]

Two of my favourite creators talking about disability and the struggles we faces to say with people, so cool to see you guys chatting about this. I've been watching Molly for years and started watching Rebecca within the past year or so, while I may not always agree with everything that you say, I think It's great you have disabled people coming onto your podcast to discuss this type of content. I am visually impaired and have cerebral palsy, which definitely makes things a lot more challenging than just having one disability, I always found it massively difficult to make friends or found it challenging when it came to education in school, we all have different experiences though, but I can definitely say school is difficult when you're disabled, making friends is difficult, and you often get bullied all the time for random or dumb things because people aren't properly educated. Molly was actually the reason that I started talking about my disability on my channel, as I loved the idea of actually making a difference when I couldn't see it anywhere else, especially when my disabilities are so unique being combined together, I to make fashion and beauty related content while also discussing disability and talking about the struggles we face trying to spread awareness to show that disabled people are people too. It's really important to Have a community to talk to and to find others who are going through the same thing as you or to just watch different creators and educate yourself on different disabilities that exist out there in the world and debunk some misconceptions that the media places in front of you when it comes towhat disability is and what it's like to be disabled, so that we can share this with our kids and help a younger generation to be more inclusive and more aware of different people especially especially those within the disability community.

[@melissacoviello2886]

This is such a powerful episode. Thank you. I just was telling my daughter (that I adopted as an adult/kinda) that if her kids ask about a disabled person, to please answer and don’t shush them. It’s so important. As a hard of hearing person and the parent to two deaf kids(one who is also visually impaired) I always went to their classroom and gave a mini presentation or asked the DHH teacher to do it, discussing hearing loss and what it means and doesn’t mean, also encouraging ASL as much as possible and now I am the districts DHH assistant.

[@JaniceLHz]

Does DHH in this context mean 'Deaf or Hard of Hearing'?

[@stephnonyx]

I love this. My husband is quadriplegic and it's so frustrating how there is so much lack of information and availability for hotels, airbnb, car's to travel for disabilities. People need to learn to be respectful and and I think this was a great learning tool for those who are disable or with a love one with a disability to see what we deal with on a day to day basis and to speak up to advocate.

[@sarahbrennan545]

I was kicked out of the hotel buffet because of my service dog. I was told by the worker that that there were no pets allowed in the buffet area

[@airib3rry]

I am so happy to have stumbled upon this video. I am not visually impaired, but I am hearing impaired. Going through school was so rough. Since I had a hidden disability, people don’t realize I have a disability and often get frustrated if I asked them to repeat what they said. My teachers didn’t help either because they hated having to accommodate me and told me that they shouldn’t have to accommodate me because “the world isn’t going to accommodate you for your disability, you have to learn to deal with it”. I even had a teacher refuse to let me stand where I could hear and told me to ask my peers what I missed, then when I did, the peers would respond with “well if you actually listened, then you would know what is going on”. Like… I DID listen, I just can’t HEAR. Being someone with anxiety as well, that was stressful and humiliating. I loved my teachers like Rebecca who took the time to find ways to accommodate me and help me be successful. Hearing the story about the best friend at the wedding melted my heart. It reminds me some of my favorite coworkers we went out of their way to stand on my good side to ensure I can hear them. I love people who go out of their way to make like easier for people with disabilities, and I am happy I learned stuff from this video so I can hopefully be one of those people too. Thank you both for sharing your thought and stories in this video!! Your last statement left me in tears. ❤️

[@tkat921]

Wow that must have been so infuriating in school! What A-holes!! Love to hear that you have people now who accommodate you and work with you to make things more accessible ❤

[@kristyvailencour6456]

My niece lost her leg to cancer. My son was meeting her for the 1st time. I talked with him about what he was going to see and don't treat her different. That was literally the only thing I needed to say they were best friends. And to date my kids don't treat people different. Bless you for this pod cast

[@bellamee2775]

With blindness, deafness and wheelchair users, there's a huge with people not realising that there's spectrum. Legally blind doesn't always mean no vision whatsoever. Some wheelchair users don't need to use them full time etc.

[@monicabender3943]

As a parent of a disabled child, I fully understand the grief upon diagnosis. But also the guilt. Because I must have done something wrong, and even if I didn't I should have known sooner, or I should have fought harder for her when I saw things that were "weird" and the doc told me she'd grow out of it. I made this human and she's bound to suffer the rest of her life (bullies, and physical pain) because I made her. She's almost 22 now and is thriving but grief and guilt still catch me sometimes.

[@captsparrowslady]

My mom had some of those same feelings with me when I was a baby... I was born with a collapsed blood vessel in my brain (they called it an infarct... basically a stroke) and it caused grand mal seizures (I eventually grew out of the seizures when I was 3 yrs old). My mom and I had an extended stay in the hospital because I was born blue & she had to recover from a c-section... The nurses wouldn't believe my mom when she told them I was having seizures... they were like "Oh babies are just wiggly." 🙄 My dad finally saw me have a seizure and he was a nurse so he went into full nurse mode and leapt across the room, into the hallway calling out all kinds of nurse codes to get people running to our room... When my mom was first told about the collapsed blood vessel in my brain she blamed herself and thought it was her fault for all the spicy Chinese Mustard she craved during her pregnancy with me...

[@lynnrenee8369]

Love listening to Molly talk about her life experiences and how the world looks at the disabled.

[@vaidahk]

Aww yay! Love Molly! My older sister was born with Spina Bifida. She's paralyzed and has a developmental delay and it's so mind boggling how even cousins in our own family never understand the things we can and cannot do. Even when we go away, I need to call hotels to find out the height of their beds because otherwise my sister cannot transfer onto the bed. Was in a hotel at Disney in a handicapped accessible room and there was barely any walking room and the beds were so high that even we had to crawl onto them. Thankfully my brother was there to lift my sister onto the bed. The lack of enough wheelchair van accessible parking is another rant for another time. So many times we park in the middle of nowhere and then come back to someone randomly RIGHT on the ramp side of our car when there are a bajillion other open spots.

[@Positivekitten]

I see the argument so many times with Uber and Lyft drivers denying service dogs where they make the excuse of having allergies, or saying that it is their personal vehicle and they shouldn’t have to transport service animals if they don’t want to. It is literally part of the paperwork they sign when they contract to be an Uber or Lyft driver that they cannot deny a service animal. if they cannot or do not want to transport someone with a service animal, they should not sign up for these services. Allergies are not an excuse. If you have a particular food allergy, you would not apply to work where this food is prepared and served. There are plenty of other ways that you can contract with your vehicle if you do not want to potentially transport someone who needs a service animal. You can deliver groceries, food, office, supplies, etc.

[@JaniceLHz]

How can we hold Uber and Lyft drivers accountable? Another commenter said that their friends with service animals follow the official complaint procedures and get nowhere.

[@magicofshootingstar5825]

@JaniceLHz I think they mean that it doesn't help if that specific driver gets reprimanded and/or taken the permit away because then they might have the same problem with the next driver again. If you live in a big city there is so many drivers. If you live in a small place then those complaints probably work better since there won't be many individuals driving and if the "bad apples" get vetted of then the rest will just take you to places.

[@UnboundedArtandCrafts]

As a person who has been bullied her whole life and I'm now almost 42 and it's still going, I understand how much impact it has on your mental and physical self. Children should be able to ask questions and be taught how to interact with disabilities. I have been very lucky to be around disability my whole life and it has shown me how much they still could achieve no matter what challenges they came against.

[@GJ11266]

It's so funny that I reached out to Mrs. Rodgers about doing an episode about disability just a few weeks ago... I'm so glad someone is shining light on it! :)

[@Swiftie641]

YESS MOLLY BURKE❤❤❤

[@irina-ty1336]

Hooo !! Molly !!! I see her all the time on my Shorts, so happy to see her here

[@sciondb7152]

I too have RP and was discovered around 4 years old as well. What got my parents to take me in was I was walking around with my head tilted to one side. I still have vision but the night blindness sucks. Its hard to tell someone how my vision works. I feel my online friends have a better idea about my vision than my own family since they play games like Valorant and when they are dead they see the same thing as me and have learned what I miss alot. lol. I had to have cataract surgery in my left eye two weeks ago and I am having my right eye done tomorrow. I am currently 20/70 corrected. When i was younger I drove and wanted to get a guide dog for night use since I cant see shit at night. But was told the only way I could get it was to give up my drivers license. When I went to the visually impaired school during the day I would guide the totals around and at night they would guide me around lol.

[@sarahgump8225]

I appreciate you having this conversation and using your platform to help more people understand service dogs and disability rights. When she says how can I uplift this person and talk about going with friends, advocate for your friend if you can, teach your friends how to explain the law and the 2 questions you can ask just in case you need them. Taking an sd somewhere you never know who may cause issues and it can cause serious anxiety for the disabled person and it is huge when someone has your back.

[@car17yn71]

I grew up in the 70s & 80s (graduated in 1990). I was drawn to shows that had characters with disabilities that were played by actors with those disabilities. From 1989 to 1993, there was a tv show called "Life Goes On" and one of the main characters had Down Syndrome. He was played by Chris Burke. That was a big step for those with Down Syndrome. And when an actor in the original MacGuyver started losing his sight, it was written into the storyline. I think the current generation needs more of this! Thank you for sharing!!

[@AJDudz12]

Molly!!! Rebecca you got one of my favorite people on.

[@AJDudz12]

We got spicy Molly for this interview and I'm proud and grateful. Molly has help me work through my own disability journey and it was her and her content that got my Dad to finally see the benefits of a guide dog. As a service dog user myself (self trained and 6 months into full PA work!) Molly has helped me work on my confidence as both a disabled woman and a service dog user. When Molly gets spicy she does so with such power and grace and it let's me know it's okay to be direct and speak out. Rebecca I said last week but once again you make me proud to be a part of your corner of the internet

[@gloriannathomas6918]

I’m still watching but I just heard her say “I was an easy target”…. That hit so hard. I was jumped on a school bus in 10tg grade. When we went to court the girl told them “I had a bad day and she was an easy target”. I agree with Molly, school was a nightmare. My school district also denied Braille as my second language but accepted my friends ASL because his parents are deaf. And the bullying came from teachers just as much as the children.

[@MaineCoonMama18]

No one realized I wasn't seeing out of one of my eyes until my eye test before starting kindergarten. I still remember how frustrating it was trying to learn how to read and write for the first time with a patch over the only eye I could see out of (that's one of the ways to correct it). I can't believe people expected me to do that stuff when I obviously couldn't see.

[@samanthashipman5218]

It's worth remembering that Molly went to school 10-15 years ago. I have seen massive changes in what kids are taught about disability and how kids with disability are treated in the last few years. I went to school less than 10 years ago, and we had classmates who were deaf and classmates with CP who weren't "popular" per se but had friends. But I also know that Mum (who's been teaching for 40 years) says that as little as 20 years ago was drastically different as far as how disabled kids were treated. And even what we see now could be *a lot* better. (Disclaimer, I'm in Australia)

[@gracemcmillan1317]

As soon as I saw the notification, I was ecstatic to watch! Two of my favorite youtubers in one video!

[@Claireannette77]

I loved this video! Some of what she said is literally the greatest advice I’ve ever heard!💕 definitely sent this to my friends!

[@Barba_Fett]

My best friend who is like a sister to me has CP and uses a wheelchair. I am so blessed she is in my life and after my husband passed away she helped me raise my daughter. Our baby is now 21 and a very well rounded accepting young woman, because she was raised around not only different races but differently abled people. She has a kind loving accepting heart and I could not be more proud.

[@Call_Me_Cedar]

I heard a story of a mom and son at a store and they little boy (7or8 I think) asked his mom while pointing to this woman in a wheelchair and the mom responded saying “Don’t point. I don’t know why she’s in a wheelchair, if you want and she’s willing to talk abt it you can go up to her politely and ask” and the woman in the wheelchair explained to the boy about hey disability

[@deannatreat6819]

My husband was born with one leg shorter than the other. He has to wear a lift in his boot...he LOVES when kids ask him about his boot. He LOVES educating people about it. It used to bother me cause I grew up being bullied and I didn't want my husband to be bullied...but he explained that it doesn't bother him, he actually ENCOURAGES people to ask.

[@jennifermiller1246]

Thank you for having Molly on your channel!! ❤ Because I follow her on Instagram, and have learned so much, I feel more confident speaking up when I see ignorant people be stupid to those you have service dogs!!

[@JessyDupre]

No, people in wheelchairs can play basketball. Now, hiking on the other hand...

[@SierraNight]

Never say never It's not easy, but also...not impossible Outdoor wheelchairs *are* a thing :)

[@XJtheman2008]

My friend goes hiking in her wheelchair

[@JessyDupre]

Yeah, I started thinking about it after I said it and suddenly remembered that I've seen mountain bike grade tread on the tires of people's wheelchairs. It occurred to me that it more depends on the path you're taking and how *extreme* your friend is willing to be with their wheelchair. I've seen footage of people in wheelchairs rock climbing. So yeah, the subtext of "Not easy, but not impossible" does apply there. Honestly, it applies in a lot of places.

[@rebeccaernette1749]

Yay! Yalls outfits are so stylish and fun, i love this podcast

[@abee523]

I absolutely LOVE this video, I have watched you and Molly both for a few years now and this conversation is coming at the most perfect time for me as a mom trying to navigate my children's questions when they ask about other children on the playground who may have needs. I hope more people see videos like this and feel more confident in answering or allowing their child to ask questions instead of silencing them. ❤ let's raise a generation of allies!

[@hope_is_freedom]

I have a guide dog and someone has called him a "sight dog" and a "seeing-eye guide dog."

[@BritBout]

I've loved this video so much. I have dwarfism, which is a disability that makes the person who has it much shorter than most other people. For me personally, I have 4ft short (4'1 on a good day :P), and whenever I'm out and about doing my errands or just doing anything in public, I notice a lot of kids staring at me. And I know it's because they're probably thinking "This person looks much older than me, but they're the same height as me. Why?" And I want those kids to come up to me and actually ask me "Why are you so short?" but their parents always pull them away and tell them not to stare. I did have 1 kid while I was at I think a Walmart to shop for clothing. And I hear this kid behind me ask their mom "Mommy, why is that woman so short?" And hearing that question, my response was to turn around and greet them. When I did, I saw the mother kneel down in front of her kid and explain to them "Some people are just born shorter than others. It doesn't make them any different to you, it just means they're special" and both my mother, who was with me, and I wanted to cry. Neither of us never heard someone actually explain to their child what my (or any other) disability is and tell them that it's normal. The kid ended up asking me how old I was. I think I was around 14 or 15 at the time, but I told them how old I was and they looked so shocked and came up to me. I vaguely remember their forehead coming up to my nose and they looked almost excited at the similarity of our height, it was adorable. During our shopping, we kept bumping into the kid and their mom, and the kid waved and said hi to me each time. I really wish more parents would do that, or at least allow their kids to talk to me so I can try to educate them about why I'm the same height as them despite being in my 20s. But unfortunately, when the kid looks at me and looks like they're about to ask a question about me, their parent/guardian shushes them and tries to bring their attention to something else that isn't me.

[@kassandragillard2933]

I worked at a large retailer years ago, and it was drilled thru our head, we were only allowed to ask when someone walked thru the front doors, never anywhere else in the store, and the only question we were allowed to ask was "is that a service animal" verbatim, absolutely nothing else. It should never have to be a fight for anyone with an animal, and I'm so sorry so many put y'all through that.

[@makson8143]

Such a good/fun teacher!

[@riseuprxns]

I have a fairly rare birth effect. Goldenhar Syndrome. I have always told people that I would rather them ask and get any questions out of the way as opposed to stare and wonder why I look different. I love the talk that normal is a state of mind. everyone’s normal is different. Now that I’m in the medical world, though, I will say that there is an objective normal, and there are things that deviate from it, but the individual still experience since their day today as their nirmal

[@kendrasmokeywinnieriggs6654]

Amen Molly preach, I love your content as a disabled person, Rebecca thank you for doing this video me as a disabled person appreciates it

[@Ielleofearth]

This one hit me hard. My mother has mild cerebral palsy and has all her life. My grandfather is completely blind. As my mother's child growing up it was hard to always have my young friends asking me what was "wrong" with her. She always had patience and explained what was different about her body and why. She never thought it was rude. As an older child, teenager, and adult ive always been able to breeze through explanations and not be embarrassed by questions and be very understanding. Because of having her as my mom I have the privilege of being able to help people and children in the world see her, and others like her, as the beautiful people they are. I also have many times been able to explain to children and my own daughter about how everyone is different and some people's bodies dont work like you'd expect them to, but they still are just as human as everyone else and worthy of respect and kindness. I am grateful for my mother and I wouldnt trade her for the world. I am grateful that it seems my generation is teaching their children better about disabilities.

[@steven.sp0hn]

As a fellow blind person, I absolutely loved hearing this episode!! we definitely need more representation that is genuinely from blind people in the media. I’ve made some TikTok’s here and there about about being blind and how I do the same same things as everybody else else just a little differently. While I myself did not have a guide dog, one of my best friends who is also blind has one. While traveling together, we have been denied so many rides on Uber and Lyft. It feels so crushing sometimes because we’re treated like that so often that it’s hard to show any sort of empathy for the people who deny you a simple right. I agree that we need to educate people, but it can be exhausting and I’m not always 100% the most kind. It’s something that I think people people by nature struggle with. And don’t get me wrong I absolutely love educating people, but in the moment it’s so hard to approach explicit discrimination nicely.

[@natashamcglynn1995]

Thanks!

[@melissahendrick5966]

I love that you and Molly got together for this video! As a special education teacher it warms my heart to see the collaboration yall had together. Thank you so much for sharing this video.

[@mama2pokemon]

Most people around here are great about my service dog. I've had a couple of bad encounters, and someone I need to meet with is allergic to her. One place grabbed the manager, gave me the third degree, and wanted registration papers (legit ones don't exist). One place insisted I tell her what the dog alerts on, thinking "medical alert" wasn't a sufficient answer. Those things are illegal to ask of me. Businesses can ask 2 questions. I'm usually happy to tell everything about her, my health, etc... to people who are curious, not to people who are threatening to kick me out.

[@lily-if8ir]

Molly burke love this lady she and Elton john are amazing

[@rainbowbear871]

As someone who has adhd the part about school made me realize that it is possible and plausible for me to get acomadations, for example I can not take notes because the way my brain works is that I either can actually pay attention to what is being taught OR write it down and my parents know this my teachers know this and yet they do nothing note taking is done for grades and on stuff we need to know. And the end really hit home thank you for recognizing disability in this series💜💜💜💜

[@thnkfrtheVenom]

@@rainbowbear871 I wonder if you can talk to your school about allowing you to audio record lessons so you can have that to go back to instead of physical notes.

[@TheWildsaiyan]

I'm SO EXCITED that Molly is on today!!!

[@jsomebody2289]

My son is autistic and I'm so grateful that he had the most amazing kindergarten teacher with prior experience in special ed. She introduced him to the class with some of his amazing abilities and then explained that he would need help in some other areas such as coloring, or staying with the class when they went places. The kids would argue over who got to be his buddy for the day; so every day when they walked to lunch or music a buddy would hold his hand. It was amazing seeing how the school kids bonded with him compared to dealing with the outside world.

[@kamrynh7688]

my fiancé is blind in one eye and it's wild how many people don't realize that blindness isn't seeing complete darkness in most cases.

[@jillianharrisdesigne]

The collab we didn't know we needed!! Love this. ❤

[@hope_is_freedom]

I have wanted you guys to meet for so long!! This is amazing!! I love both of you and thought you would love talking to each other. This is awesome!!!

[@heatherschall6470]

I'm disabled I became disabled in 2015 i have what they call achalasia and need a feeding tube cuz it's hard for me to swallow and Im also what they call an ambulatory wheelchair user and I also have epilepsy and what they call p n e s which is psychogenic non-epileptic seizures ending school I was bullied and I was pushed down the stairs and I broke my ankle cuz of that girl pushing me down the stairs and then somebody else punch me in the nose right after that and broke my nose

[@PrincessofEllabur]

As a disabled woman, I was SO Happy to see that one of Asha's friends from Wish was using a crutch. With the exception of Nemo in Finding Nemo (and that's a Pixar movie)- that the only "disablity" represetnive in movies since the 1937 was glasses.

[@OfficialAuntMoose]

My mom, born in the late 50’s had a neighbor friend with a disability. I think maybe Down syndrome or something. I think her growing up with him definitely made her a better person and helped her be the advocate when I was diagnosed with ADHD as a young girl.

[@starlightwolfunboxing9615]

I’m under the age of 18 and I was born blind in my left eye, in the way that can never be fixed. As of today’s medical procedures anyway. And this makes me so happy to know that this is being discussed, I also have nystagmus

[@110311DONTWANTCHANNE]

I've been blind in my left eye since I was 5 (accident). Can't compare to be legally blind. I drive. I didn't even know until I was 16 and went to get my drivers license. Eye doctor kept giving me glasses and I thought it was corrected.

[@starlightwolfunboxing9615]

@@110311DONTWANTCHANNE must be nice, I can’t read road signs until they are about to pass and I don’t have time to read it before it’s gone. 😭 I’m literally never gonna be able to drive. I’m sorry about whatever happened though, I have glasses too, but that’s mostly bc of my nystagmus

[@lemuryellowtail4819]

my HS economics teacher has a son that has CP. his son was cool, smart, on the sports teams, school president etc. his senior year of HS he was diagnosed with CP and after graduation lost all his friends because no one knew how to talk to him all of a sudden. his mind was still the same, he was still the same person. my teacher taught seniors and after graduation would pay a few over the summer to play x-box games with his son (who was only 3 years older than us at the time and the graduates were all 18) and i remember thinking how truly sad it was and how sad my teacher was for his son who was once the star of the school. it is a grief very few understand i think, the loss of the future you want your kids to have

[@Claireannette77]

I would love for you to sit down with Tinassee- Tina Tsakonas! I think it’s very important that we hear from people who have been through and overcome addiction! She also has great advice and stories from her time in jail/prison!! The system is VERY broken!! She can help keep people out of jail and inform us so we can help those who end up there… whether deserved or not!!! Too many of these places are truly awful for no valid reason!!! I think bringing awareness would help those in jail, make people on the outside better people (empathetically and so on,) and help keep people out of jail/prison!!!

[@Rebecca.Rogers]

I do have an addiction episode planned with someone later this year!

[@butterflydog1]

Totally love this collaboration! I follow both of you. I'm visually impaired about to get my first guide dog! You both asked and answered questions so eloquently. Molly and Rebecca are spot on! Love you both! What a great chat and heartfelt. 😊

[@nogames8982]

I am blind. But I am also much older than these two ladies. The difference I see and how people with disabilities are treated is that nowadays many of the disabled people feel they are entitled, privileged, and really do not put their best foot forward at all. Also, there’s a lot of people with so-called hidden disabilities that demand special treatment. 20 years ago this was not a thing. and the whole service animal fiasco is getting worse by the minute. we are training people how to make fake service animals and basically encourage it by not stopping it. So just like many other marginalized groups the disabled community is not helping themselves out very much. And a few really bad apples are making it hard for everybody else.

[@IsidoraSage]

This was great! Thank you both

[@katiehanson6253]

Molly!!! So glad you came to this channel, i follow you both but this collab made me so happy the audience that it is reaching. Much love.

[@tangledcharlotte]

I love seeing you two together!

[@liv9598]

2 of my favorite creators together, IM SOO EXCITED, I LOVE YALL!!!

[@sherrypuckett5507]

I would lobe to come tell you about living daily life with ptsd. How I have to navigate being a mother, wife, and a manager of restaurant.😊

[@eleanorgrace4192]

I love this episode so much it really heals my heart as a deaf individual. I appreciate you guys creating content that educates others about disabilities!

[@ndlamont01]

The school experience was very real. I was born hearing and woke up deaf in both ears as a child. My friends in school suddenly turned on me and started bullying me. I developed selective mutism from about 7th-9th grade from both the trauma of overnight deafness (neurosarcoidosis was the cause) and bullying in school. I even got bullied at WORK as an adult. I do sign language videos on my KZbin and social media and try to give tips on what to and what not to do to deaf people (#1 screaming at us is not helpful), #2 Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) are the only acceptable terms. "Hearing impaired" implies that we are broken and need to be fixed and is not a respectful term to use. I had been yelled at in TSA at the airport (No I do not have to remove a hearing device going through TSA) and ON the plane by a flight attendant who snatched my hearing device batteries from me bc I didn't "hear her" say put it away for take off (No people we do not have to put away or turn off a hearing device or any accommodation). I was shocked and everyone just watched. Didn't say a word. She later apologize and gave me an extra snack. I guess she realized my name and seat is documented as DEAF on my ticket 🙄😒. Even being yelled at at work, not a soul spoke up to do the right thing. As a disabled person AND minority, some people are just uneducated and others witnesses are cowards.

[@heatherkirchhoffwritesya]

You should do an episode with Sam Matthews from Dan and Sam on being a surrogate. 🧡

[@robinyodathelilacbunny7419]

As a mom I encouraged my kid to ask. They would ask me and I would give a general that person needs that support if we want to know more maybe we should ask if they would be comfortable talking to us about it. Then again my family had direct contact with multiple people experiencing disabilities.

[@sdmcdaniel2255]

I have a child who is on the autism spectrum. You wouldn't know from talking to him, unless you KNOW what you are looking for. So, while he has a disability, he's not disabled. However, when my sons were growing up, I NEVER shied away from an attempt to teach them about the world. The first time we encountered a service dog team, I made a point of asking the handler if she would be willing to spare a moment so I could teach my children something. I pointed out the vest, showed the words where it said 'do not pet', I explained WHY they couldn't pet the dog, what type of service the dog MIGHT provide (such as guide dog for the blind, or deaf, PTSD dogs, medical alert dogs, any disability I could think of). My kids and I have talked about different disabilities, what they are, what they mean, how the disability affects people, how two people can have the SAME disability but have DIFFERENT experiences with that disability... This was all before my son was diagnosed with autism. They've lived with me having a few severe food allergies, and a fatal allergy to stinging insects, which isn't the same, of course, but we've had to live a very careful lifestyle because of it. Growing up, I had a friend that was almost completely blind, and one who was legally blind and was also mentally challenged, what we used to call mental retardation. She was 16 and I was 7 or 8 at the time, but her mind would never develop past 8 or 9 years old. I was her friend until we moved away when I was 12. People would bully her, and I would stand up for her, and I continued to hang out with her even when my mental and social skills outgrew hers. She helped me keep my childhood innocence a little longer, and I was always grateful to her for that. The problem is Disabilities have always been sort of taboo. It's rude to talk about, it's rude to stare, it's rude to ask questions. But how do we learn anything if we don't talk about it and ask questions. I've NEVER been afraid to ask questions, to talk about disabilities when I have the opportunity. That's how I learn, and that's also how we, socially, learn to care.

[@waterbucketfarms6276]

Thus made me think. I had a classmate in highschool who was disabled, I don't know the details, but his limbs don't work the typical way, so he required a wheelchair. I said hi when I saw him, and in the class we had together we ended up talking a lot because we sat next to each other. After graduation I ran into an aide at the store. I don't know his exact job title, but he did help the classmate. He told me he remembered me because I was always really nice to the student. I remember thinking when I was told this that I didn't do much. The special ed teacher told my mom something similar, saying I was one of the reasons his kids could take asl. I think it's sad that treating people like humans with feelings is enough to stand out. While I'll never fully be able to understand what everyone is going through, I will always try to treat everyone well, and encourage others to do the same.

[@anniewallace3601]

It is so important not to interrupt the job a service dog is performing. I have epilepsy and as a child I was taught why distracting a serves animal is not good for your fellow epileptic friends who qualify for one. That dog is set on a timer based. If the dog reacts, it usually indicates to that individual I have 10 minutes to situate myself in a safe environment. If that dog is distracted and they indicate that reaction late then that person's life is in danger.

[@epictoast4260]

Omg I can't believe I'm watching it 6 seconds in🙀. I love you Rebecca 💗

[@110311DONTWANTCHANNE]

6 is old enough to know not to approach any strange dog-pet or SD.

[@majesticmeerkat921]

My cousin is the best at assuming responsibility to ensure things are accessible for me. When I visited her last month, while I was on the way, she sent me a text that she had changed her air filter, put an air purifier in her guest room, and moved her car to a visitor spot so I could have the spot right next to her front door. Every event we planned was optional depending on my pain and energy level. When we went to a craft fair, certain things were on sidewalks and others weren't, so I would sometimes have to go to the end of the street to turn around because I needed to use my scooter that day. I told her to go on ahead and I would catch up, but she still walked with me on my dumb roundabout route. She is the best person I know and I am so lucky she is family.

[@byusaranicole]

A BREAKFAST VOUCHER?? I am BEYOND pissed for her. How DARE.

[@meaganlafromboise9599]

I love molly!!!!! Watch all her videos 😊

[@lararafalco2156]

Thanks for having Molly Burke on your podcast 😊

[@annebowen1794]

I am really am surprised how rude people are to service animals and people with disabilities I have seen service animals and also those in training and have always respected that boundary

[@auntsarah16]

Molly you are FANTASTIC at bringing awareness to society about disabilities & blind community, guide and service dogs, society making so exhausting difficult to the point it was literally killing me... ! Don't worry about us if you & Elton John 2.0 need to take a break! We all need a break. Listen to your body. You have done so much amazing work over the years. It your work is paying off. I commend and applaud you. All honestly I want ppl to reconsider their thought process... if you got one single bad grade in school. If you broke a bone or sprain a ankle (because now or will develop an imperfect gait. I think everyone has some type of disability even if its 0.01%. If not now but will become disabled at some point to some degree.. especially considering elderly people are considered to have disabilities. Able-Body people don't know is we are having to work harder. Like that ramp or sidewalk has to go around Pluto to get to that location instead of where a abled body would simply cut through the grass/gravel. I wish I could just get paid to fill out applications/resumes in the past 22 years. I could fill a big binder or make a book of all the places that failed to hire me because of my disability, inability to drive but rely on public transportation, and etc. Even public transportation (Bus stops, routes, and I now noticed yesterday lacked some ADA training and accessories on the bus) here is made by able bodies without consideration of a ppl with with disabilities. Yes, It is REALY ****ing exhausting educating and sheding light and awareness on this stuff. I tried but my support system and society has made me really shutdown. Especially when you have to tend to a love one's day to day disability/medical issues AND their medical SD. I now have gone from just planning a outing, to the exhausting general anxiety about who's gonna distract the SD next... to having to let another family member care for them, to now I have FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) which mimics strokes, paralysis, and seizures.. and more. Their medical issues were very taxing. Especially after 15 episodes in a day. I was so grateful that the SD was able to alert me 45minutes + before an episode. We would work together when this love one would have medical episodes. Because a SD sometimes can't do everything a human or they need to learn a new training skills. It just got to be so much sometimes that I could command for SD to take a break. Or command for him to take over when I needed a break. But insuring that the love one lived independently and etc was so important for me. I didn't have support from family. The love one lacked the abilities to know what they needed (because episodes they would lose awareness) and voice their needs/wants. Family thought I was risking this love ones job when I was shedding light on this problem with discrimination w/ disabilities, SDs, and etc. They thought it was immature. Or he is just a dog! However, their workplace was so supportive and loved that I was around to finally mitigate their life so they could live life to their fullest and secretly independently. HOWEVER - I was SO burnt out, then we had a incidence where a pet/fake growled and lunged at their SD. I started having PTSD after this incidence and society CONSTANTLY trying to break that medically essential bond. I never could walk and hold hands with love one because I had to constantly walk behind watch and give everyone the stare who remotely wanting to talk/touch or the passively distract SD. Now I have to use a walker for the rest of my life. Can't get a job because I can't drive and have to have a walker. I thought I could do medical massage therapy again. Found a absolutely perfect location. Well the owner saw my walker as a liability issue and denied me to rent this clinic space. I was pretty upset. It was accessible too. I was attending a networking meeting. Unfortunately had to take the bus. It was about 1/4 a mile walk from the stop. 5 cars or so passed me AND my walker. NO ONE stopped to offered me a ride. I knew these ppl too. So I get in. Did you sign up online...? No. Well we can't let you attend because I didn't sign up and pay. I was having a episode because I was going to have to walk back again by myself. Luckily someone was like take my spot and another finally offered me a ride. I had a interview and well I couldn't afford lyft/uber but we have paratransit buses. My interview was set for 11:00am. Called this paratransit and they were fully booked. I was like what is the latest you could take me that day? He was give me a second to see if we can figure something out. Managed to figure out that he could get me there at 11:30am instead. Cool! quickly called and left a message to this manager to see if they could see me at 11:30. No reply back until the next morning at 9:22am. Kept calling/leaving messages every day. Then finally message was basically explaining my situation with transportation, financial status, disability, and my interview from knowing about their business, vision, and a growth plan in 5 years. Paratranist requires 24 Hrs notice. That finally got a quicker reply "we found someone already". Even though it sounds like your too complicated because of this disability and inability to drive. This new disability has left me quite frustrated, finically broke, and isolated. I am very ADHD/PSTD fighter/Flight mode doesn't help. I am Miss social butterfly. Before this FND happened I was working 3 jobs before landing back in my very busy career as a medical massage therapist. Going back to school. Always doing something. Sorry so long.

[@Scarletlight525]

I literally don't know a single blind perso, and I know quite a few, who didn't experience any bullying in school. Some of us had it worse than others, some had siblings, cousins or a few friends who stood up for them (who were their friends before the vision loss started) but most of at had a couple of friends at best.

[@Brizasaur]

My dog that passed away would notify me if i was going to have seizure but i never brought her out i didnt want to make it harder for the dogs who are way more needed than mine that i can feel a seizure coming on just a lot later than my dog. People are so horrible and disrespectful to people to those who actually really need the dogs help

[@aaliyhafennimore9942]

Aaahhhhh!!!!! The collab i didnt know i needed!!!!!! ❤