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So on July 1, 2018, an article I wrote, titled “Knock, Knock, Who’s There? The Do’s and Don’ts of Being Employed in Someone’s Home” was published in that month’s edition of The International Journal for Direct Support Professionals and was being read by Direct Support Professionals in 130 countries, in at least 3 languages: English, French and Spanish.
48 hours later, I go to get blood work done and I take my attendant Kris with me for physical assistance. All is seemingly going well until we get into the cubical with the lab tech.
He first chooses THE SMALLEST cubical in the joint. (I’ve been there many times. I KNOW they have bigger ones. But ok, sure, what the hell. Why not.) Inside Kris and I give each other “What the fuck?” glances.
The tech asks: “Name?”
I answer: “Gerianne Hull.”
He looks over to Kris for conformation. He didn’t clue in, but Kris gives him this “Are you deaf?” look and says” “Yeh…. That’s Gerianne Hull.”
He looks back to me and says in a sickeningly patronizing voice: “Very good!!!!!”
Kris and I exchange more glances of disgust.
Then he asks: “Birth date?
I give him my date of birth.
Then in an even more sickeningly patronizing voice he says: “That’s very good!!!!!”
By this time, I know Kris just wants to at least metaphorically punch his lights out.
I quietly say to her: “Don’t mind him. He’s obviously clueless. Lets just do this and get it done.”
After we leave, Kris lets out her feelings: “Annie, I just hate it when anyone thinks you’re stupid! When people assume you’re mentally disabled just because you have a physical disability. It makes me so mad Annie! I wanted to smack him!”
I gave her a reassuring smile: “I know that kid, I know. But YOU know, and I know, what I am, right? HE doesn’t matter. He’s gone, dealt with, over and done with. Ok kid? Lets get breakfast.” And I gave her another reassuring smile.
