Free Disability Rights Stickers + Free Shipping
As a hearing-impaired person and a caregiver to my dad who is in a power wheelchair, I’m no stranger to the challenges faced by disabled people.
It might seem like an eye-roll topic for some people who don’t have to face challenges like nowhere to park, having to travel a long way to find a curb cutout, or parking lots that aren’t designed for wheelchair vans to let the occupant out via ramp which requires 8′ on the passenger side. That might seem oddly specific, but that was my challenge just yesterday afternoon trying to take my dad to one doctor’s appointment. All that in about 10 minutes.
That’s not to mention, me. I have three siblings. My brother, sister and I are all hearing impaired. Actually, they have cochlear implants; I don’t – yet. I wear hearing aids but I am borderline qualified for a cochlear. I’ve had hearing aids since I was 17. At the risk of aging myself, when I went to college the Americans Disability Act was newly passed. And, let’s just say it did not hit the ground running. It was years before they figured out how to meet the needs of people with disabilities. For me, in college at a big university with huge classes in giant auditoriums, it was an absolute nightmare. I couldn’t hear the professor. I couldn’t make it better. Their “solution” was to give me a cassette tape recorder to record the lectures. But, of course, I could hear the recording even less than I could hear the in-person lecture. No translator was offered. No help was given. Nothing. I was on my own and it was impossible.
For those who know me, I’m extremely conscientious about doing a good job. If I know I can’t do something, I will go the extra mile and then some to make up for it and I WILL make it. At my job, I would often work 12-18 hours a day just to be the stellar employee that I knew I could be. And, I was. I’m proud of the work I did in my mainstream career. I’m willing to work hard, but I can’t make up for what I can’t do if the playing field isn’t somewhat level. When I was in college, I could not physically do it. No matter what I did, I could not hear. It was so demoralizing. So humiliating. So absolutely horrible. I quit.
I had worked so hard to get there, and I couldn’t do it with my physical limitations and no adaptations or accessibility.
When I returned to a different college a few years later, things were completely different! With accessibility, I got great grades and even learned that I’m secretly really good at math! What a huge difference it made to be allowed some provisions to have the same chance to succeed as someone who could hear.
And, that’s why I’m sharing this free sticker that is near and dear to my heart. I hope you’ll consider joining the movement to help spread awareness on how important this is.
Tips
Due to the large volume of requests, please allow a few weeks (sometimes months) to receive your stickers. Don’t miss all of the Free Preppy Stickers by Mail!
About Scope
With the current U.S. administration’s rollbacks on DEI, some are concerned about disabled people’s rights. Having a group who ensures people’s rights are honored is vital.
We’re Scope, creating equal futures with disabled people. We campaign to transform attitudes to disability. We tackle injustice and inspire action. Together, we dare the world to think differently about disability.
About these free stickers
You can request your free disability rights stickers in this Facebook post by Scope: