Hear a funny story about how Joni got pulled over by the cops.
SHAUNA: Hi there, I’m Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada Sharing Hope with a few tips on wheelchair etiquette from Joni.
JONI: Actually, it starts with a really funny story. Because I will never forget the time, I was pulled over in my wheelchair by a police officer who gave me a ticket. Now that image right there has got to make you laugh. Of course, for me, it was no laughing matter. My husband and I were in downtown Burbank at one of those intersections of, not just two streets, but four main streets. We were trying to make our way across this complicated intersection to NBC studios on the other side. Now the crosswalk I should have used was on California Street and West Olive. But I was on West Alameda Street and the entrance to the studios was right there, right across from me. Now at any other time, I would not have dared wheel across that intersection, but there was absolutely no traffic in sight. Even though Ken said, “No, don’t do it,” I went ahead and powered my wheelchair and scooted across. When I reached the other side, I heard a police car siren. I was being pulled over to the curb.
And that day I got quite a lecture, and as the officer wrote up my ticket, [picture this] he put his booted foot up on the wheel of my wheelchair. He totally broke etiquette; I mean, that’s something you just don’t do. But given that I was in the wrong, I was in no position to correct the officer. Looking back, it really did make for a funny picture, and I wish we’d had a camera to capture the officer with his foot up on my wheelchair as he wrote me up. Suffice to say, ever since then, I always use the crosswalk. And I even thanked the police officer for correcting me and I added, “Sir, you can feel free to take your foot off my wheelchair now,” and he laughed.
I share this little story not only to confess my sins, but to bring up the subject of wheelchair etiquette. Like, if you’re a wheelchair user, always use the crosswalk, right? And note that I said wheelchair user. That’s a good way to describe your disabled friend in a wheelchair, he’s not confined to it; he’s using it. Confinement has nothing to do with it. I mean, come on, a wheelchair provides freedom and mobility. It’s the next best thing to having legs when you are paralyzed like me. Another little tip on wheelchair etiquette is to ask before you push someone in a wheelchair. Remember, that’s his personal space and so it’s always good to ask first. And always look someone in a wheelchair in the eye; certainly, that’s what the police officer did with me, as he gave me that lecture, he had great eye contact! Another thing he did was that he talked with me, not at me. And even though I had been irresponsible, he treated me like a responsible adult, which is a very good thing to remember when you are conversing with someone in a wheelchair.
You know, simple dos and don’ts like the ones I just mentioned are a great foundation for any church that wishes to reach out to people with disabilities. And our Church Relations Department at Joni and Friends has some great resources for you. It’s all in a little 70-page book we’ve put together called “Start with Hello: Introducing Your Church to Special Needs Ministry.”
SHAUNA: And the great news is that you can download a free PDF of “Start with Hello” when you go to joniradio.org today. Just click on the button that says “shop” and search for “Start with Hello.” It’s free and it’s the perfect crosswalk for you to take to building relationships with people living with disability. Remember, that’s joniradio.org!
© Joni and Friends