Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - would right wingers repeal this, if they could ?

[SheilaT]

8. Of course they would.

In their world people with disabilities only need to man up and overcome their problems. Don't need special accommodations. No sir, not at all. What's wrong with you?

In the real world, there are disabilities and there are disabilities. I myself am a fully abled person, so I know I really have no clue what it is like for people who need help negotiating the real world. Here's the bottom line. It does not hurt me at all if there are various accommodations for others, such as cuts in the sidewalk, special busses, and I don't even know what others actually need.

Several years ago I had a friend who was a multiple amputee, and she told me that at restaurants she never had problems getting the help she needed. We'd get together for lunch about once a month, sometimes at a buffet of some kind. She'd ask politely for the help she needed, and always got it. Of course, servers in restaurants are used to dealing with special requests on a regular basis. In other settings it's different.

I work the information desk at a hospital. Thanks to a fellow employee, I've learned to ask, "Would you be more comfortable in a wheelchair?" to people who seem to have mobility issues. The question (I hope) makes no assumptions, but makes the offer of assistance if they want it.

To repeat, I myself am in annoyingly good health, and need no extra assistance. I do try to be sensitive to others, but I suppose sometimes I'm not. I also suppose that someone familiar with one kind of disability may not especially notice some other kind.

I also believe that we are here to help each other out. I'm not always the best or kindest person out there, but I actually do try.