If a visually impaired person and a wheelchair user join forces, maybe they can 'live normally'
The other day, on my way home from training at a sports center accessible to people with disabilities, I met an acquaintance who is a wheelchair user.
We decided to head to the nearest bus stop together.
I have a visual impairment and have almost no vision.
So, while I pushed the wheelchair from behind, the person in the wheelchair told me which way to go, saying things like 'turn right' or 'turn left'.
Then, on the way, there was a curb.
'There's a curb here.'
Because they told me that, I was able to lift the wheelchair normally and get over the curb.
At that moment, it suddenly occurred to me.
'Wait...'
'Aren't there quite a few situations where a visually impaired person and a wheelchair user could live normally if they joined forces?'
I thought.
Of course, the situation varies depending on the type and degree of disability.
But at that moment, my eyes were drawn more to what we could 'complement each other on' rather than what we 'couldn't do'.
And I felt that this wasn't just about disabilities.
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Table of Contents
① Visually impaired people and wheelchair users can 'complement each other'
② I feel that today's society demands too much of people who can 'do everything'
③ I myself am supported by many people
④ 'Helping each other' might not be a weakness, but a division of roles
⑤ Summary
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① Visually impaired people and wheelchair users can 'complement each other'
What I found interesting about this experience was that we were naturally able to compensate for each other's weaknesses.
I can barely see.
Therefore, I don't know the direction of travel or the surrounding situation.
On the other hand, the wheelchair user can see their surroundings.
So,
'Turn right'
'Turn left'
'There is a curb ahead'
they told me the situation.
Conversely, I can walk and use my strength.
So, I was able to push the wheelchair and get over the curb.
In other words,
they compensated for the parts I couldn't see
and I compensated for the parts they couldn't move
which was the relationship we had.
I thought this was a very interesting structure.
Things that are difficult alone can be done normally if there are two of you.
There might be surprisingly many such situations.
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② I feel that today's society demands too much of people who can 'do everything'
There is something I have been feeling very strongly lately.
Isn't there an atmosphere in today's world where the ideal is a person who can 'do everything'?
・Can do their job well
・Good at communication
・Doesn't make mistakes
・Doesn't rely on others
・Can solve things alone
Such people are treated as 'amazing people'.
But is that really the case?
People always have:
・Things they are good at
・Things they are bad at
・Things they can do
・Things they cannot do
Yet, just because they can't do one thing,
・It becomes a complex
・They get scolded
・They feel it's hard to live
I feel there are many such situations.
But aren't humans originally creatures 'premised on complementing each other'?
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③ I myself am supported by many people
Actually, I feel this in my own work as well.
I go to schools and companies to teach classes and provide technical guidance.
However, because I have a visual impairment,
・Checking documents
・Procedures
・Reading materials
There are situations where it is difficult to do things alone.
At those times,
・Teachers read materials aloud for me
・The staff in charge handle procedures for me
・They write things down for me
I am truly helped by so many people.
But, it might sound a bit strange to say this in return, but I, for my part,
・Teach classes
・Convey techniques
・Share field experience
I provide the role I can fulfill.
The schools and companies also need me in terms of manpower and expertise.
And I am supported by those around me for the parts I cannot see.
This feels closer to 'sharing roles with each other' than 'the side that helps' and 'the side that is helped'.
I think this relationship is very natural and good.
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④ 'Helping each other' might not be a weakness, but a division of roles
The phrase 'being helped' has an image of 'weakness' somewhere.
But is that really so?
This time, I thought,
'By helping each other, overall performance improves'
is also a way of looking at it.
There are phrases like 'the right person for the right job' and 'give and take', and it's exactly like that.
It's stronger to bring together what we are good at than to blame each other for what we are bad at.
Moreover, I think this applies to everyone, regardless of whether they have a disability or not.
That is why I thought,
'A society where we can naturally complement each other'
would surely be easier to live in than 'a society where one person can do everything'.
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⑤ Summary
This realization was born from the very short time I spent going home with the wheelchair user.
But I felt that it contained something very important.
People each have:
・Things they can do
・Things they cannot do
・Things they are good at
・Things they are bad at
And that might be a 'difference in roles' rather than 'lacking something'.
Things that are difficult alone can be done if there are two of you.
You don't have to carry everything by yourself.
I felt that if we became a society where we could naturally complement each other like that, it would be easier to live than it is now.
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#VisualImpairment #Wheelchair #Welfare #BarrierFree #InclusiveSociety #Diversity #HelpingEachOther #RightPersonRightJob #WayOfLife #HumanRelationships