Shopper accuses wheelchair user of faking her disability — learns her lesson in no time

The values we’re taught during our formative school years often emphasize kindness and respect for others, especially when it comes to interacting with people with disabilities. Unfortunately, a woman with an ambulatory disability recently faced insensitivity from a fellow shopper, forcing her to take an extreme step to make her point. Sharing her story on Reddit as u/fruitywitch13, she described the upsetting experience at a local Costco.

“I have an ambulatory disability, so some days I look completely able-bodied and can function normally, while on other days, especially during flare-ups, I need a wheelchair,” she explained in her post. She shared that using a wheelchair on such days is essential for her safety, as it prevents fainting episodes that could put her in harm's way. “To be clear, I’m not paralyzed, and I can use my legs,” she added, explaining the complexity of her condition. On this particular day, she was using her wheelchair after a severe flare-up made moving independently almost impossible.

Her story sheds light on the challenges people with non-visible disabilities face and the misunderstandings they often encounter from those who don’t grasp the complexities of ambulatory disabilities.

She wanted to get some shopping done and was accompanied by her partner to Costco. Once they arrived, she started browsing a rack of swimsuits. While searching for a suitable outfit, she realized she was a few feet behind a couple of couches. “I lifted myself a few inches off my wheelchair and uncrossed my legs. I was getting sore from being in the same position for hours,” she explained, noting that everything was going as usual until a middle-aged woman approached. “She was staring at me and immediately began yelling at me about how I was faking my disability and being lazy, and so on and so forth,” the post continued.

The woman tried to explain her disability to the angry shopper, but the shopper refused to listen. “She went on about how she saw me move my legs,” the post continued. Despite reiterating that she used the wheelchair because standing would make her faint, the shopper remained unconvinced. “She just went on, now saying I was backpedaling and trying to cover my a**. At this point, I felt my heart rate begin rising, which is the first sign that I may faint. Even though it could’ve been because she was really f****** annoying,” the woman wrote. As the shopper continued to cause a scene, the woman maneuvered her wheelchair back far enough to be next to a couch. She then stood up to make a point, leaning her body weight toward the couch. She almost immediately fainted, crashing onto the plush cushions.

Once she regained consciousness, the woman saw that her partner had arrived at the scene. “I don’t remember the minute after waking up, but apparently, the second I somewhat sat up, this woman speed-walked away, leaving her entire cart, full of stuff, in the middle of the Costco, and just left. Payback is fun, but I honestly hope I taught that lily-livered b**** a lesson,” she concluded, adding a message urging people never to accuse others of faking disabilities.

The post has garnered massive support for women with walking difficulties, with many expressing solidarity and praising her for standing up for herself. u/Contrainer remarked, “People falsely insisting you're being abused when you aren't, that is abuse right there.” u/allfilthandloveless recalled, “I know this isn't the same, but I have bags under my eyes that are genetic. No amount of sleep or cream is going to remove the fat under my eyes. They get a little darker when I'm not feeling well. I had a girl yell loudly during our work muster, 'Omg! Who hit you!' and I had to be all, 'This is just my face.’”