Question about other cultures.

[MidwestGirl]

I hope this is not taken as a rude question, I am generally curious. Just back from having my daughter in a wheelchair for 11 days in the parks. (last minute injury). More often than not the ones who tended to be clueless and rude about wheelchairs tended to not be ummm... English speaking. This started an honest discussion about culutural differences. I am wondering about the handicapped and the use of wheelchairs in non-western countries. I do not mean this in any way derogatory or to mean all foreigners were rude or that no American was. Just started a discussion and am curious. We just seemed to be treated with disdain from many non-western culture visitors, enough to make me curious.

 

[rsoxguy]

I think that you will eventually find this thread in a degraded state because of replies given by good old English speaking Americans. It is best to walk away from this can of worms.

 

[donaldtoo]

My apologies in advance OP, but we ALL know where this is gonna' go.
Let the games begin!

 

[MidwestGirl]

I'm just curious if they use wheelchairs in very many others countries. I don't know and it seemed like other cultures didn't seem to know who to act etc.

Just an honest question. My point to my party was it seemed like many hadn't been exposed and it was not such much rude as simple ignorance.

 

[MidwestGirl]

There were plenty of rude Americans also! That wasn't ignorance, plain rude. Like when we were on a standing room only bus and a wife made her husband give up his seat to my daughter and another family looked right at her and sat their children in the vacated seat. If the wife hadn't given hers up for my daughter I was going to say something. Especially, since they were sitting in reserved seating.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Oh, I think Americans are much more considerate towards handicapped than even West Europeans. Both in legislation and in personal contact.

There is no as of yet undiscovered mechanism whereby all cultures as by magic all have the exact same considerateness towards people in wheelchairs.

I am a non-American, Western, non-English speaker. Where does that place me?

 

[MidwestGirl]

LOL! I don't know where it places you. I was trying to not be too specific as I don't want to point at one specific area if that makes sense. Again, wasn't trying to be rude and by no means meant everyone non-western etc was rude. I just think that for many reasons we and probably European countries seem more used to chairs and how to act. Just a discussion as we were knew to all of this and so of course making observations.

There is a difference between being rude and just being ignorant (non-educated)

 

[MidwestGirl]

I do admit my daughter had problems twice with translating. Once someone was letting their toddler sit on her broken foot, walking boot. After trying to ask mom nicely to get them off she gave a no translation needed kick off her foot. Glare from mom didn't need translation either. Second time was when a mom was letting her toddle use my daughters foot/walking boot for kicking practice in a line for the bathroom. She asked nicely to get them to stop. Was told 'so sorry' but nothing said to the kid. Another no-translation needed swift little kick back which again gained her a nasty look from
Mom. Normally I am against violence for violence but she was in enough pain without that and asked to them to stop. Both times they were lucky momma bear wasn't there!

 

[Rasvar]

I will try my best to avoid crossing a line. There can be cultural differences in concepts of personal space (we tend to have one of the largest personal space areas of most cultures) and there are some countries were disabilities are just not given any respect or just have little exposure. It is hard to say a definitive about any particular one.

I like to use my time working in Yellowstone as an example. You could tell that some people had very little concept of being in a wild environment. But most people understood that the animals were not tame. However, there were two examples where I came across non-English speaking families from Asia who had no conception at all of the danger. I saw two girls run up to a bison and do a face-to-face photo with a it in the middle (the kind of photo where they lean their head on its head). I was too far away to yell and was amazed that the bison just didn't head butt them instead of backing away quickly. The other was seeing another family trying to place their child on the back of a bison for a photo. A Park Ranger managed to stop them from that disaster.

You just never really know.

 

[MidwestGirl]

OMG!!! Wow, would think that would fall under common sense, then again you would think not sitting on a cast type thing would be common sense. They were both very lucky!!!

 

[MidwestGirl]

Also noticed the personal space thing, that is certainly a cultural thing. The only time that got on my nerves was when I was washing my hands and another girl stuck her hands in the same sink. I shook my head and walked away.

 

[FettFan]

I hope this is not taken as a rude question, I am generally curious. Just back from having my daughter in a wheelchair for 11 days in the parks. (last minute injury). More often than not the ones who tended to be clueless and rude about wheelchairs tended to not be ummm... English speaking. This started an honest discussion about culutural differences. I am wondering about the handicapped and the use of wheelchairs in non-western countries. I do not mean this in any way derogatory or to mean all foreigners were rude or that no American was. Just started a discussion and am curious. We just seemed to be treated with disdain from many non-western culture visitors, enough to make me curious.

It was a Brazilian Tour Group wasn't it?

 

[flynnibus]

Not all societies have the 'handicap deserve equal access' mentality that has been legislated in the US. They don't make the same type of efforts to 'include' everyone.

The ideas of personal space, queuing, etc of course are there as well. It's much more acceptable in many societies to be pushy vs waiting in turn, etc.

But I can't say I've seen broad examples where it's acceptable to kick/hang on the handicap. That's just individual stupidity more than anything I think

 

[Gabe1]

Having an injured DD in a wheelchair for one trip, I know where you are coming from. We went from real nice folk to some rude idiots. A few from our own country more from S. America and some of Europe and Asia.

I am old enough to remember us as an inconsiderate country, before ramps, parking spots, elevators, restrooms. We as a nation have evolved a great deal over the last 25 years and the other modern countries are in a catch-up phase.

My same DD is now attends one of the best Universities for the disabled and it amazes me what can be done for the temporarily and permanently special needs individuals. Approximately 20% of her University is foreign and they too are amazed by the accommodation that are made for special needs.

Does make me wonder how long it will take for some of these developed nations to catch up and not be rude.
But if they are generally rude tourists I can't imagine them flipping personalities to be pleasant to the special needs tourists. Even Disney this year after loosing in court has made some different accommodations for the visually and hearing impaired, so we are not quite there yet either but moving in the right direction.

 

[Marco226]

It was a Brazilian Tour Group wasn't it?

I almost spit out my coffee when I read this.

In regards to the OP's question: Yes, there are non-western cultures in the world that treat handicapped people differently than Americans and western Europeans. In the US, we treat our mentally and physically disabled very well when compared to the rest of the world. Our treatment is not perfect, but it's still the best.

Some cultures just don't care about the disabled. I know it sounds harsh, but that's just the way it is. For example, in Malaysia, where my mother is from, people tend to treat the disabled very harshly by calling them names and laughing at them. To Americans, it would seem like they are being cruel, but they're not. Everyone is just focused on taking care of themselves, and making fun of the disabled is their way of showing tough love. That is the culture over there.

That being said, I grew up in the US, so I don't agree with parents letting their children kick the broken foot of others as described in the previous posts. People need to abide by the rules of the culture that they are visiting, so if someone is causing you physical or mental pain, don't be afraid to speak up and educate those people about how to behave in our culture.

 

[FettFan]

I almost spit out my coffee when I read this.

Well, I'm just saying. It's not really a cultural thing for them...more of a herd mentality, stemming from the fact that the folks in charge of the BTG's try to keep them all together at any and all cost, and as a result they tend to seem more pushy than the average guest.

If the BTG leaders would simply break down the massive herds of people into smaller groups of 8-10, I'm certain that the number of complaints would drastically decrease.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I grow mine in a Petri dish.

 

[MidwestGirl]

Having worked with special needs adults and children I have seen some of their struggles but until now had never had to deal with the struggles more personally. Certainly even more understanding now. We thanked God everyday this was temporary and she could get up and hobble a few feet if needed. Had never thought about the treatment of the disabled in other cultures before.



Oh and FYI for anyone who thinks we got a true advantage for skipping lines etc if anything it just even things out. We spent so much time and energy just getting anywhere we ended up doing less per day than when she was able to walk. Besides the fact I would trade that guest assistance card for a child who didn't end the day in tears of pain and frustration with an ice pack on her leg. (her break was where tendons and calf muscles attached so when healing they hurt) So next time you glare at them passing your line, stop and think for a moment what they are struggling with just to be there.

 

[s&k'smom]

Rude is rude, the fact that that mom wouldn't stop her kid just another sign of entitlement. I see it all the time in my work.

 

[dopeylover]

I hope this is not taken as a rude question, I am generally curious. Just back from having my daughter in a wheelchair for 11 days in the parks. (last minute injury). More often than not the ones who tended to be clueless and rude about wheelchairs tended to not be ummm... English speaking. This started an honest discussion about culutural differences. I am wondering about the handicapped and the use of wheelchairs in non-western countries. I do not mean this in any way derogatory or to mean all foreigners were rude or that no American was. Just started a discussion and am curious. We just seemed to be treated with disdain from many non-western culture visitors, enough to make me curious.

On another note, I was just curious as to how the Cast Members treated your daughter. I have to ask b/c when I was 15, we went to WDW and I suffered a knee injury which caused me to be in a wheelchair for half of our trip. I have to say, the CMs were wonderful, but I couldn't help but laugh b/c they would all come rushing to me and speak to me like I was 5. They were making me feel very special and gave us priority seats and Mickey gave me an extra special hug. We did not take the priority seats or any of the front of the line things b/c I was fine doing some mild walking and standing in line, and I didn't want to take advantage and take someone elses spot who truly needed it. And, although it cracked me up b/c I was just a 15 yr. w/ a bum knee, looking back now as a parent, I get teary eyed b/c if that is how they treat people with special needs, they are truly wonderful. I hope your daughter is well, and I hope you had a great trip despite some rudeness from others.