I’m sure everyone has an ideal world that they would love to live in, myself included. Not only would I want small things to change, such as wishing that I didn’t have a phone curfew, but I also have things that I would want as a sibling of someone with a disability.

The first main thing would to have less fuss overall, especially on things like planes, trains, and boats. I would make all the spaces between seats and aisle spaces bigger, because they are often too small for a wheelchair to fit through. Also, a safe wheelchair space on an airplane would be really useful, because then there wouldn’t be any confusion on how to transfer my sister into the plane, and any panic when her wheelchair is not waiting on the other side.

In all restaurants and cafes, there would be more spaces between each table. People that can walk find it difficult to squeeze between tables anyway, so it’s even more difficult for my sister to be moved through all those tightly packed tables.

Another thing would be access for people in wheelchairs. It’s irritating when my sister in unable to do something purely because she cannot get up a flight of stairs. In my ideal world, ramps would be pretty much everywhere. Stairs are not only a problem for people in wheelchairs, but also for prams, small children and the elderly. Also, if ramps were everywhere, people who struggle to use stairs wouldn’t have to use those really slow, small lifts that are used for the three useless stairs that just make no sense.

Also, when we go to theatres, cinemas or stadiums, it’s very likely that we will have to split up. One of my parents will sit with my sister, and the other will sit with me and my other sister. This isn’t ideal, as obviously we would prefer to all sit together. Adaptable seating and more wheelchair places would make everything inculsive, as we would all be able to enjoy whatever we are seeing together as a family.

The final thing would be that people would be a little more discreet. Of course, I’m not mad at anyone who looks, but it’s when he or she isn’t very polite or discreet or when he or she very openly double takes. Sometimes it can get a little annoying that every other person stares, which can make the rest of us a little embarrassed.

(On a side note, I would make Monday part of the weekend, and I would make Latin a voluntary subject)

Until next time…

Leah