Gabby Sadej
WGSS
Op-Ed Blog #2
Working
as a barista at Starbucks has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in a
long time. The job is entertaining, my coworkers are some of my best friends,
and the partner benefits are even better. The one thing about my job that
always makes me feel good is the ability to help and serve my customers, and
not just making them their lattes and flat whites. Three of our regulars are
disabled in some way, two of which are blind and one in a wheelchair (our store
is wheelchair accessible with a ramp and low-level tables). One of my favorite
regulars often comes in, wide smiles and apologizing as he accidentally taps
customers with his white cane which signifies that he is blind. He orders the
same thing every time, a large earl gray or royal English breakfast tea, double
cupped and sleeved so he doesn’t burn his hands, no lid. No matter how busy or
not we are, anytime I am on register, I always offer to walk him to a table,
reassuring him that nothing has been left on the counter and asking him about
this day. He always tells me how excited he is to come in and talk to us, asks
how Luke (our old shift manager is doing), etc. I’ve never noticed, but even
during my training period when I met him, I always assisted him, it was never
something I was told to do, I just did it. When I visit other stores, I offer
to help people, even if I don’t know them. I also notice that when I do this,
I’m typically one of the few who do. As an abled bodied person, I find myself
often asking why aren’t there others doing this? I mean sure the nice guy on
the Port Authority bus offered his seat to an elderly woman, but why didn’t
anyone help the gentleman in a wheelchair lift the seats so he wouldn’t take up
the aisle? I find myself examining these situations and how people of abled
bodies could be helping people who don’t have the same abilities that we have.
In my
WGSS class, Bodies in American Culture, we have been examining disabled vs
abled bodies in our society. One of the readings is Beast of Burden by Sunaura
Taylor talks about her experience being disabled and how it has impacted her
daily life. In her book, she often talks about her experiences doing things,
like times she goes into coffee shops and uses her mouth to pick up a cup to
take it back to her table or how she moves. She says that she can do things,
like pick up her drink and move around, however, it is just a little different
than the way an abled bodied would. She states that because she is doing it a
little bit differently, people often stare or watch her. I have multiple
questions regarding those situations, like why doesn’t anyone think to offer
her a hand, or why don’t the barista’s offer to bring her the drink once it’s
done? Do some people feel as though they are over-stepping when they offer or
do they just decide that they don’t or can’t help?
One of
the other questions I’ve thought about is how to rethink what it means to be
disabled. In class we’ve talked about this, our readings have also talked about
it but what does “disable” truly mean? In my experiences, I don’t think anyone
is truly disabled, I believe they just do things a little differently than what
most people are used to seeing which can be off putting. In my lifetime, I’ve
broken and sprained bones, just like many people have, but during that time I
had to do things differently or needed assistance from my peers, who were more
than overjoyed to help me out. So why don’t more people just help those that are
in that position? I’ve witnessed it first hand all throughout my life but
anytime a classmate was injured or in need of assistance, my peers jumped at
the chance to help them out, however, for the few students who were disabled,
assistance was often not given.
These
situations are so similar, yet many treat them like they are so different. If more
people thought of disability the way they do other injuries or the way they’d
want to be helped, I think it could make the difference for many people – abled
bodied and disabled.
Some links to check out:
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