The Dos and Don'ts of Disability

A Fixers campaign led by Michelle Middleton: www.fixers.org.uk/news/13906-1...
In this film, Michelle Middleton takes a humorous look at people's reactions to her cerebral palsy.
The 26-year-old has created the piece, with the help of Fixers, to encourage others not to treat her, or anyone else with a disability, differently.

[@HighTen_Melanie]

I’m in a chair and I hate “Awwwwwwwwww” especially when said after every sentence!

[@evanhalsey1844]

It dumbfounds me what people without disabilities think they can do to us who have disabilities.

[@grodjigoli9509]

Bof.

[@jaydeepaquette1264]

Lmao When the redhead girl moves the blonde guy like he's a bloody featherweight. hahahaha!

[@vincentvangoghaway7778]

It would also be nice if students and teachers wouldn't constantly say that your condition is annoying or say that you are faking it.

[@xjasmineliax]

Immortal Conscience Me and my best mate get bullied at school people say we fake our disabilities when we don’t

[@carasachs4004]

And family too. Many people like me with complex, rare, and invisible disabilities (that can be incredibly debilitating) have to fight to have our illness/disability recognized, even by family and friends.

[@EaglemaskJayfeather]

I have been told by a new girl that my doctor is joking about my disability. They said it phrased like this “You do know your doctor is joking about that don’t you?” No I don’t because they aren’t. I have been diagnosed for the past 9 years. If my doctor was joking I would not have told you about it and I wouldn’t be going to that doctor, but I still go to that doctor to this day. By the way my disability is an allergy to the cold. I also have other disabilities but almost no one knows about them. (Chronic pain and dizziness) another reason almost no one knows about them is because those two are undiagnosed and it causes me enough anxiety when doctors get close to saying that I am faking those two so I just don’t tell kids about them.

[@TheMazinoz]

​@@carasachs4004And even GPs. Im in same. situation with Ehlers Danlos Hypermobility type

[@user-jp4tl9zd8n]

I agree very much due to bullies at ames lake green prison apartment in Minnesota st.paul.

[@CofyjunkyPNW]

LOL!! I love #2! I use a wheelchair, and another student I was acquainted with at college grabbed the handles on my chair to pull me backwards up a ramp, when I was doing just fine on my own. I nearly slid right out of the seat and could've crushed my knees. Last 'Don't': one guy at work actually patted me on the head as he walked by me. (My head was at his waist-level) I wasn't cool about it at all, as we worked in a loud manufacturing plant. I yelled: "Hey! Don't ever do that again!" Guess what? The supervisor was nearby, (I didn't know--too noisy) and he asked me what upset me. I looked him in the eye and told him sitting in a wheelchair didn't give the co-worker the right to pat my head. Supervisor looked mortified and asked if I wanted to file a complaint. I said no, but that if the co-worker did it again, I was at a perfect level to throw a fist into his jewels. Supervisor decided not to touch that one. He could've 'warned' me that that'd be inappropriate, but instead he looked at the co-worker and told him to report to his office. I quit the company two days later.

[@sanjuktaganguly4561]

I'm extremely sorry for your experience. Some people's problem is they can't understand others. If they experience something which they don't usually they started to behave awkwardly. They could ask questions before they do something.

[@TheMazinoz]

You shouldn't jave left unless you had a better job. Id have grabbed his hand and bent his fingers backwards.

[@susanwilliams2392]

"You don't look disabled" And you don't look like the most annoying person on the planet, but here we are

[@ColoredMud]

Susan Williams XD

[@captainjollyrogersailingso6809]

This one is common...

[@ghostlylover99123]

I died laughing when I read that! I'm disabled, and I get the same shit!

[@EaglemaskJayfeather]

Or to a chronically ill person “You don’t look sick” Me:”You don’t look stupid so why don’t you shut up”

[@mst-pierrem5729]

@@EaglemaskJayfeather 😂😂😂 Good one!!! 😊

[@livingatypicallyactuallyau5514]

I hate “you don’t look disabled”. Like “looking disabled” is a crime or something. It is okay to openly have a disability!

[@mikedavidz6161]

It’s also worth remembering that aging in particular overlaps a lot with disability. Disability becomes much more prevalent as people age, and the percentage of the population that is elderly is huge. 2 in 5 people 65 and over have a disability. The large aging population is part of what makes the disability community much larger than people tend to assume.

[@jenniferwong1765]

Great video and so true. People can be very ignorant and rude.

[@iamthegame09]

I work in the disability sector and I just couldn't stop laughing at this!...and it wasn't because I found it funny (I certainly did not!) but because I've not only heard but also seen these things unfold in real life and they annoy the s**t out of me!...one that really gets to me is when someone says to a person with an intellectual disability who's over 18 years of age "good boy" or "good girl"...as a carer I find that so disrespectful, because what I always say is "good woman" or "good man"...or another one that gets me is when people hear of a child with a disability and they good "aw" and I usually respond with "he/she is a person, not a puppy!"...and I'm not saying that I always get it right because I certainly don't but my God, don't treat and adult with a disability like a child and NEVER treat a child with a disability like an animal!..

[@ghostlylover99123]

Maybe cause she was being sarcastic

[@ranitagadling4312]

As someone who was born with both cerebral palsy & hydrocephalus I'm so extremely glad that I just so happened to type dating with disabilities in the search engine and came across these videos because the topics are all things that I can relate to and now I don't feel so alone anymore.😊

[@evanhalsey1844]

I've got another big one that always gets me that definitely belongs under the do's and don'ts of dealing with disabilities. Don't act on your own perceptions of me. I don't want to know what you think of me and it's embarrassing to hear what that is. Many people assume that because I have a disability that I'm not supposed to cuss, drink, or do anything else that adults around my age do. They assume I always need help and can't take care of myself. All I'm supposed to do according to most of the people I know or meet is to please everyone, satisfy their good deeds, and set the perfect example of what it means to take life very seriously. Everyone thinks of me an innocent person whose behavior is close to religious purity. That's bullshit. What do you expect? I'm an adult and I've got to discover my true self. Life is too short to just attend to my disability, sit on the sidelines, and be the perfect person for everyone to follow. I'm going to participate in activities that all my adult friends do at parties or gatherings. Why, if they drink beer, so will I. If I just sit on the sidelines and don't participate in the main activity everyone else is doing then I'm going to be like "what am I doing not participating?" I want to blend in with everyone I meet, which means I'm going to drink and cuss because I want all my future friends to see me as the man that I've become and nothing less or stereotypical of my disability. Do: learn that none of the stereotypes of disability or perceptions of me are true and it hurts me when you express them to me.

[@RobinHood-tc4ln]

here's another one do not speak to us as if we are children

[@PrincessMeganElsaBoo]

Exactly!!

[@sharonjensen3016]

Exactly! It's so degrading.

[@ryobaaishi9968]

My doctors did that( but I'm a child but they were talking babyish) but I don't mind

[@JennIfer0Williams]

I love this video and it is all so true! I think Michelle has been able to perfectly demonstrate the range of weird and wonderful situations that happen everyday to people with disabilities and in such a clever, funny way. I am a wheelchair user and the list is endless of people’s reactions to me everyday. It is amazing to see a strong disabled women have a powerful voice that challenging peoples perceptions. It is so important and needed to chance the stereotyping of disabled people.

[@adamwebbartistwriterwebb7760]

Jenn I have C.P. Once I was told I did something wrong in a previous life and this is my punishment!

[@davidharrison6615]

i have never understood why anyone would assume that anyone is faking a disability . why the hell would anyone do that unless they had something seriously wrong with their brain !

[@teaartist6455]

You know, equating psychological and/or neurological disabilities with being a prick is also pretty fucking ableist.

[@tribblebooth1224]

The scene in this brilliant short film, that had me in hysterics, was when the girl picked the guy up! Absolutely priceless!!!!!!!!

[@alvaroalas2450]

you forgot to mention one thing,if you're in a wheelchair people talk down to you like you're a kid or something

[@sirvolatile6775]

Alvaro Alas not really people do it to be eye to eye level and much more comfortable

[@alvaroalas2450]

what the hell do you mean because talking to someone who is 37 years old like he's a fucking 5 year old doesn't have anything to do with being eye to eye

[@sirvolatile6775]

Alvaro Alas im talking about the stance of a person. i don't think it comfortable to have your head all straight up and there nothing wrong with it. it better than having a uncomfortable position when looking up. beside who want to too someone nose 😅

[@alvaroalas2450]

well i'm talking about people use the same damn voice you use for babies to be used on people in wheelchairs,which annoys me

[@sirvolatile6775]

Alvaro Alas well im not talking about those people im talking about how they stand :/. but yes using babies voices is so disrespectful

[@brendabrown5996]

I love your accent. Beautiful!

[@KoolKinchishKat]

I was not expecting that accent and I am deeply pleased!

[@emmawalker4814]

This made me smile. I have seen these things happening to people with disabilities. I used to be Chair Person for a group of adults in the disability sector. What are you up to now, Michelle Middleton?

[@venomusdrake2888]

I laughed so much. i just love how you represented this! almost all of these happened to me, so, yeha.

[@keepthefaith2923]

hate that. when people pretend ur not there n ask ur mate 😠😠😠😠 shoving me out of the way like I'm a obstacle 😠😠

[@MrFossil367ab45gfyth]

I've seen one of my friends who is Autistic sit with some regular-ed students at lunch "this is before I became close to him" . They just stared and looked like they didn't carer about him. They just talked and I just saw him eating. I'm not sure if they did interact with him or not, but most of them time I saw them, they didn't. People need to be more accepting to people like him. We're all human!

[@alexanderfletcher7973]

I'm multiply disabled (developmental and physical) and it's surprising the amount of ableism there is in society

[@MrFossil367ab45gfyth]

Yeah, it makes me sick! We should include people who have disabilities. I have ADHD, and I know quite a few people who have disabilities. I see nothing wrong with them at all! People need to be less ignorant and grow up!

[@handicappednothelpless360]

I laughed as I watch your video because all of those things have happened to me. I know what my next video will be about. I love your attitude.God bless you!

[@MReichman3]

Hey Michelle -- I hope you've been working on a stand-up routine or film or a book (since you made this video). If you aren't, you might consider. Thanks for the brilliance and laughs.

[@eccentricman87]

HA! A well toned piece.

[@billymccaughey3741]

Brilliantly done.

[@susieepstein2726]

Love this!

[@scotscub76]

Excellent x

[@leeanne1703]

Yep you said it all..thanks :)

[@tatten8266]

Great job on the video!

[@JackieLuv1981]

nice one

[@loicg163]

I felt the same way about everything you said (or most) I wish I knew other people felt the same as I was growing up

[@cristiana8044]

I love the way the captions have to clarify she's being sarcastic .

[@wheelieblind]

It would be really funny if she was filming this but not everyone was in on it. So he is really talking to her friend instead of her asking if their friend is ok LOL. Oh I am so bad. Also you know this is from the UK when the guy says "Sorry love." LOL.

[@MatthewFordVictoria]

When sitting at a Bus Stop, I get people using my wheelchair as something to lean against, or grab the handles for balance while the put their weight on one leg.

[@TheMazinoz]

Tell them to stop doing it

[@fatdad9361]

Fantastic video... you had me in stitches lol... lmao.

[@muhammadaimanhakimbinismai9397]

This video is very good for me because this video taught me how to respect disabilities people .

[@janr.1077]

Thankyou so much for being willing to learn! We appreciate those who are willing to learn in relating to us😃 every1 makes mistakes in relating in to others, but a teachable attitude goes a long way, n it's beneficial for everyone, whether disabled or not.

[@xjasmineliax]

Hi Michelle I have CP too! You’re so pretty!

[@weldinpadilla]

The way the other girl dragged the guy trying to push your wheelchair is so funny to me because I'm a wheelchair user myself and trying help me

[@ryobaaishi9968]

Please if you don't know anything; it's ok to ask if we need help but don't be like a doctor(give tips) if you are not one, and even then, unless you are a disabled person coming off from experience, or people give you permission to do so.. (Unless you are a doctor and giving us health advice then go on to me about it I'm always fascinated by what doctors have anything positive to say ).

[@user-vk4fu5ds3b]

loved the accent

[@michaelthornton7596]

Great video… But there is one problem with assessability. If someone who is blind or visually impaired… They cannot read the descriptions of each segment… And there needs to be an audio description for it. Unless you have a different version… This could probably be redone.

[@TheMazinoz]

Yes in Australia it is legally required now. Rules about web pages

[@MrHaggisPie]

Could you add those websites as links in the description box please?

[@nirmaljitkaur2460]

The only thing i could focus on was their accents because there're beautiful♡

[@ambersdisabillitypointofview]

I have cerebral palsy too

[@MrFossil367ab45gfyth]

Good advice! This woman I would respect! I think people need to accept those who have disabilities. People who have autism, down syndrome, ADHD "like myself", prosthetics, people who are blind, people who are depth, people who are paralyzed, etc. People should respect them and not push them away. We're all human and we're all different. People need to be less ignorant and need to grow up! Accept and include others! I have many friends who have disabilities, and I see nothing wrong with them as people.

[@xenny8396]

I have a friend with autism and she get a lot "you don't look.disabled" like read a book before people say that too her. I myself having a learning disabilities, so there I'm slow at understand basic things. My maths isn't great so if something I brought over £100 I won't be able to count it out but yeah something's I'm good at some I'm not it depends on the topic.

[@onelegvideos]

Ihave an speech impairment so people assume I’m either deaf/ hard of hearing, and or talks slow to me

[@sharonjensen3016]

The medical profession certainly needs to lift its game when it comes to how they treat the disabled. That condescending tone is one that is unnecessary and unwanted.

[@thefandomsassemble3361]

She's 26, but I thougght you had to be from 16-25 years old to take part in a Fixers project. How was she able to? I'm just curious? Are you allowed to do it if you'er over 25 now?I don't mind. I'm just really curious as to how it works?

[@FixersUK]

+The Fandoms Assemble Thank you for your comment. Michelle began her project with us when she was in the 16-25 age range. As long as the Fixer is 16-25 when they begin their project, it doesn't matter if they finish it when they are older.

[@thefandomsassemble3361]

I see!

[@AR-df1ps]

I am a dseblid man from NL i am looking for some nice woman, if I intesting, look my Facebook, Berwa Ka

[@user-jp4tl9zd8n]

Most organizetions hate all types of disability due to my specific learning disorders. My IQ is 94%Above average intelligent 🧠🤓🧠🤓 smart personality to this many years ago.

[@deutscherbadboy120]

Funny

[@isanarditama]

How to stand up person from a bed?

[@eisforellotheremate8005]

I have cp as well

[@ghostlylover99123]

Tbf, it's disrespectful to touch anyone

[@MrFossil367ab45gfyth]

Yeah I agree. But tapping someone on the shoulder is ok to talk or get someone's attention. But that would also be rude.

[@ghostlylover99123]

@@MrFossil367ab45gfyth don't touch people, period

[@Eltondickens91]

I got cp

[@RobertMartinez-ng1ts]

Hell there Michael, my name is Robert,,, I'm from California, i really like to get to know you... on my last holiday in was in the United kingdom ,, I love it over here the people are nice and the food it's very lovely,

[@JJC013]

We need subtitles

[@FixersUK]

+Jemma Clarke Thank you for your comment. We are looking into getting subtitled copies of our films.

[@shaneluke346]

Fixers UK "SOME " able bodied DONT STOP to think that " SOME" disabled people CAN SPEAK for themselves

[@Roadent1241]

Fixers UK Thank you for putting subtitles on. They're much better than the generated ones.

[@AbiyBattleSpell]

Ya I hate when people touch me to help. Was on the train I regularly take lady says the door will open ull fall and I know I won’t cause I know my route. Touches me and I’m like hiss don’t touch me I know what I’m doing 😾

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

Video about disability... Does not provide captions for people with hearing disability. Literally dislike just for that.

[@kentondickerson]

on KZbin, you can turn on closed captioning. It's often not the best but it does help.

[@Roadent1241]

It does have subtitles though? The captions option? I just turned them on. (I don't have my 'aid in yet so I make sure they're available or even existent.)

[@TheMazinoz]

Yes, there are.

[@karenrussell7338]

I'm sorry that we non disabled people always seem to get it wrong when we interact with you. Most of us mean well. A little less criticism would go a long way towards building trust between everybody.

[@janr.1077]

I know you mean well n experiencing something can give a total different perspective on it. Receiving personal care myself completely changed my perspective on caregiving... after a major brain surgery n needing to regain my walking skills, it totally made some of the things that had looked disturbing as a caregiver before, important to note n make sure that the clients are safe and comfortable.

[@ronjaj.addams-ramstedt1023]

Karen Russell, meaning well does not help if one does not know what to do & what not to. It is surprisingly easy to harm us and/or our equipment. And accidental manslaughter leaves as dead a body as murder. Secondly, I am not convinced that anyone, disabled or not, would be wise to trust someone who takes) _this_ video as _too_ _much_ criticism.

[@sashawhite7491]

You are beautiful I have cerebral palsy too just talk to me

[@tonywalker8703]

54 lol

[@bamabarbiegurl02]

I love having my hair played with, but the tapping would be super annoying.

[@lynndeatherage3792]

Never call people who has a hidden disability and physical condition you can. Never discrimination against us disabled adults and children who have rights under the circumstances of fedreal and their own personal care provider for their actions in this matter.

[@user-jp4tl9zd8n]

Disabled people do date others no disabled people.

[@JonathanChaseHypnotist]

On the other hand most people mean well. It doesn’t cause harm.

[@TheMazinoz]

But it is very disrespectful

[@RobertMartinez-ng1ts]

I also have a have a Disability it's celebrate palsy only mild I love your accent ,, I also have a KZbin channel

[@tym8250]

I didnt pay attention to anything but your accent

[@ucjaromanczyk5623]

Hi ,Michell my name is Ania but I so much prefer my second name Łucja(Lucy) and hate my surname, Anyways I from Poland I live in Gdynia and have cerebral palsy too.Also peolple considering me exsactly the same way as you show in that video! Especially in my age ,middle in my age(16-19) or olders! It's so annoying and stuopid right!? Thanks so much fir you trying to change this!!!! I'm so apperciate you for that!!! Do you want to became my online friend?Catch you next time.Peace! Bye-bye ! 🧡💌😃👏👏👏👏👏👏👌👍💪✌🤝🙏

[@rkrony4131]

Hello I am a Bangladeshi I want to make a disabled girl my life partner If you know any disabled girl please let me know