When you are disabled, sometimes it can be difficult to find activities to do with your friends because we live in an inaccessible world, and you have limitations that a non-disabled person would not have. Non-disabled people often want to include their disabled friends, but sometimes they don’t know how because non-disabled people aren’t accessibility experts, even though sometimes, they think they are. There are some activities that I will not be able to do because of my disability, but it does not limit me from everything, and there are a lot of things I would be able to do if it was accessible. Disabled people sometimes have to change the activity to be able to participate, but we can have fun with our disabled peers. When we hang out with our friends, we sometimes have to modify activities to make them possible, but we don’t do completely different things as non-disabled people. Many of the things disabled and non-disabled people enjoy are the same because we sometimes have similar interests. What can you do with your disabled friends? In this post, I am going to give you a few ideas of things you can do with your disabled friends.
Go shopping– Some disabled and chronically ill people will not feel comfortable going to crowded places like the mall because they have a compromised immune system and don’t feel safe doing that activity. I have not seen my friends since before COVID, but before all this happened, my friends and I would go to the mall to catch up. My friends and I have different abilities because our disabilities are completely different, and I struggle a little less than my disabled friends. Shopping is not accessible, and sometimes we are not able to access a store due to the lack of accessibility, but a lot of the time, we just wanted to see each other and didn’t do any shopping. If we hung out around Christmas time, we might do some shopping, but most times we sat in the food court the whole time and caught up on each other’s lives. Shopping is not something that all disabled people are going to want to do, but it can be a good option for some people.
FaceTime with your friends– I would rather see my friends in person, but sometimes they are not comfortable going out, and that is okay because I never try to persuade my friends to do things they don’t want to do. These days, it is easy to talk with your friends without leaving your home because there are so many ways you can do it virtually. Virtual hangouts, in my opinion, are not the same as seeing someone in real life, but sometimes it’s the only way you can talk with your friends. I have not seen my friends in years, and I have no idea when or if that is ever going to change, but I still try to stay connected with them. If you can’t see your friends in person, FaceTime is a great solution because it allows you to stay connected with your friends. I don’t video chat with my friends that often, but we do talk with each other through text from time to time, and sometimes that is what you have to do to stay connected.
Sit in have coffee- Disabled people are not going to feel comfortable going shopping because it’s too crowded, and they don’t want to be in a place where there are a lot of people. Some people may feel comfortable going to a coffee shop and sitting outside with their friends because you can always find a table and sit across from each other. Find a coffee shop and sit and have coffee or lunch for a few hours, because sometimes you don’t need to be doing a lot, and all you want to do is chat with your friends.
Invite your friends over- When you’re disabled or chronically ill, sometimes it can be difficult to go out because some people may not be able to drive or have unpredictable pain that prevents them from leaving the house. If you feel comfortable, inviting your friends over to your house to go swimming is a great option because it allows disabled people to see you without having to leave their home, which makes it easier for them. I have never invited my friends to my house because although my house is accessible to me, it’s not accessible to my disabled friends who are full-time wheelchair users, but I have gone to their house. Inviting your friends over to your house is a great option for disabled people who want to see their friends but aren’t able to drive.
Go to a park– Shopping is not accessible, and sometimes it can be difficult for disabled people to navigate a shopping mall, and some people may not want to because inaccessibility is stressful for disabled people. Some parks may have a lot of grass and are not accessible, but most of the time they are more accessible than a shopping mall. It is getting to that time of year in Florida when being outside is not completely unbearable, and going to a park and sitting on a bench while enjoying the weather is a great activity to do with your friends on most days of the week.
Go to a movie– Disabled people often enjoy the same types of movies and TV shows as non-disabled people because a lot of the time our interests are the same. Theaters sometimes are not accessible, and depending on your friend’s ability, you may have to sit closer to the screen than you normally would because not everyone is going to be able to navigate steps. I used to go to a lot of movies with my disabled friends because it was one of those few activities that are disabilities didn’t prevent us from being able to do well. If I want popcorn, sometimes I may struggle to carry it and may require help, but for the most part, it’s an accessible activity to do with your disabled friends.
Disabled people are sometimes limited on the activities that we can do with our friends because it’s not accessible to us, and you always have to take someone’s disability into account when planning events. You don’t have to do completely different things with your disabled friends, and a lot of the time, we can enjoy the same things as non-disabled people. I can’t play volleyball with my non-disabled friends, but if I have my wheelchair, I am able to go shopping and have just as good of a time. Everyone has different abilities, and not all disabled people will enjoy the same types of things, which is why it’s so important you ask disabled people before assuming we can’t do something. It doesn’t matter how well you know someone; you will never understand someone’s abilities better than they do. Some disabled people may not feel comfortable doing some of the things that I have suggested, and that is okay, because even though I enjoy going to the mall with my friends, that doesn’t mean you have to. Please include your disabled friends in activities and change the activity if you have to, because there is no worse feeling than not being included. What activities do you do with your disabled friends?
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