Beyond Entitlement: Taking Charge of Personal Mobility

"What exactly are you entitled to & who exactly is responsible for giving you this?" - Kain Ramsay

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These questions were how I realized that 'mobility access' is a human dignity, not an entitlement...

A few weeks back, I found myself exploring Vancouver, celebrated as Canada's most wheelchair-accessible city. Navigating its wintery rainy streets on my Mobility Scooter, I began to play with the idea that I am entitled to nothing, and I am 100% responsible for my mobility access.

This was not an easy ego-battle to overcome. However, the endeavor was worthy, as I realized:

• I can advocate for myself through humble requests for change.

• Directing blame toward others for my unmet needs is unhelpful in meeting my actual needs.

• I'd rather focus on solutions!!!

• People really are impressively decent & dignified! Vancouver has provided tremendous effort towards mobility access.

Was the journey free of obstacles? No. There were more than a few doors I couldn't open along the way.

Despite frustrations at being denied access due to MY disability, I:

• owned my needs,

• sought assistance,

• educated others who were open to it.

• daydreamed solutions!

• realized my disability is mine & no one else's.

I like subscribing to the notion that a better life isn't owed to me. This framing grants me liberation from victimization and allows 'creative freedom' while emphasizing personal responsibility as the first step.

A majority of us will experience an unmet human dignity along the way!

Qu1) How do we want to experience ourselves amongst the indignity, and how might we improve things?

Qu2) How might we evolve?