A shameful wheelchair.

Though mum isn't allowed to work because of her broken hip, she keeps having several professional appointments and activities. That's the reason why i have to do my best to bring her anywhere she wants to go. Going from home to anywhere in town means that we must take the wheelchair with us: she still isn't allowed to walk on her feet.

This temporary experience has helped us to notice a few things about handicap.
Most of the infrastructures in Nantes aren't adapted to handicapped persons. The height of pavements isn't adapted to wheelchairs, neither the width of doors. Sometimes we face stairs because there is no lift to take us to higher floors.
I know it requires a lot of money and time to make a change in this city. Still, handicap isn't a new problem.

But the most great disappointment is...people. Many of those we saw during our "trips" in town looked at us curiously.
Being handicaped, being in a wheelchair seems to be a curiousity. Some of them didn't even move to let us go on our way.
They make us feel like we should be ashamed of being in such a situation, or even feel guilty.
Actually, i can't say i really was surprised. But being confronted to the real situation makes me feel different. It touches me more. There is so much to do to change people's mind.

On a brighter side, i noticed a kind of solidarity between persons in wheelchair...like when a motorcyclist meets another one: you say hello, you smile back...
Anyway, that's a good experience.