'You can just leave your wheelchair there': Wheelchair User Schools Theme Park Employee on Casual Ableism With Malicious Compliance

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
May 3, 2023 6:00 PM EDT

It's easy to take for granted just how much of the world is geared around those of us who have full use of our legs. There are accessibility issues all over the place, and sadly there are many out there who keep on creating more all of the time. 

It makes being a wheelchair user even harder than it has to be, and it means that those with this kind of disability have to have a lot of grace for the many clueless people they come into contact with. However, that doesn't mean that they have to put up with unfair treatment.

An example of this kind of situation being elegantly dealt with comes from u/chroniccomplexcase, when they came face to face with a theme park worker who incorrectly assumed they could get out of their wheelchair to get on a ride. With the help of a little malicious compliance, it didn't take long for them to realize the mistake. It shouldn't have happened in the first place, though.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Human body - r/ r/MaliciousCompliance u/chroniccomplexcase • 21h Not all wheelchair users can walk M
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 02
    Smile - So I'm at a theme park and I'm a full time wheelchair user who cannot walk or stand. I won't name the park as as soon as management found out, they were angry and more than rectified the situation, but the story is funny imo. It happened a few years ago.
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 03
    Font - So one of the rides is in a building and has an area outside the entrance for pushchairs and those strollers people bring to theme parks that pull all their stuff and older kids etc about to be left there as they aren't allowed in the building. My friend and I head to the entrance and this young employee comes to me and says "you just leave your wheelchair there" I look at him and my friend is about to say something and I catch their eye and wink. I wheel over to the area and sit there wi
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 04
    Font - Another worker, older who has like 'team leader'/ 'supervisor' type phasing on his badge comes over. The guy who has told me to sit there is still talking to another guest and the older worker comes over and asks if I'm ok? I explain that the guy had told me to sit here in my chair and so I did and then he told me to head into the ride but leaving my chair here and how I'm confused as I can't walk or stand... This worker is mortified and tells me this is obviously not the park rules and h
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 05
    Font - The first worker comes over and the supervisor/ team leader asks him what he is on about and how he can't tell wheelchair users to do this etc. The younger guy said he was told to tell people they could leave their wheelchairs there and we work out he has gotten him wires crossed and that some people will ask if they can leave their wheelchairs there who are ambulatory and use them for when they get tired and that's fine but not to tell everyone in a wheelchair to leave their chairs there
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 06
    Font - snewton_8 +1 21h I explain how they didn't need to do this and how I'm just glad the new guy found out his misunderstanding with me who found it funny and had a bit a of fun over someone else (could have been me on a different day) who took offence and got angry etc, which I guess is why I got the free stuff. This is exactly why they went above and beyond for you. Those that get angry and throw a fit might get a few vouchers and an apology. Those who understand people make mistakes they g
    via snewton_8
  • 07
    Rectangle - chroniccomplexcase OP. 19h As long as they haven't been rude or nasty to me, I will always try and remain civil and polite. Things are more likely to be changed that way and when people are calm they listen more I find too.
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 08
    Font - JosephineCK • 20h Years and years ago I was on a hospital elevator when the doors opened and a young man in a wheelchair rolled in. His shoes were perfectly polished and the soles had obviously never touched the floor. A medical student on the elevator, in an innocent attempt to make light conversation, said, "Looks like someone just got a new pair of shoes." The whole elevator paused in awkward silence.
    via JosephineCK
  • 09
    Font - chroniccomplexcase OP • 19h Haha I get this all the time. Had a pair of trainers that I had had for a few years and in the store they're from and a worker goes "wow those look almost new but we haven't sold them for years, did you lose them or something?" I say no and I wear them quite often and he asks "but they look like they've never touched the floor before" I say they haven't and kind of look at my wheelchair and I see the cogs turning and him slowly realising. Guess it's something p
    via chroniccomplexcase
  • 10
    Font - firedmyass +1 21h 1 Award Making a clear point without undue escalation. Very graceful approach on your part. : Reply Vote ↓ Crawdaddy1911 +1.20h Handling a misunderstanding by a new employee with civility, humor, and generosity? WHAT A CONCEPT!!! Too bad something like this stands almost no chance of ever catching on.
    via firedmyss
  • 11
    Font - OTWI snotwimp 19h Love it. I went out to dinner with my wife once and we were told that they couldn't seat us at the only available table because her chair would be blocking the fire exit. I looked at them and explained that she would be just as motivated to leave in the case of a fire as everyone else and wouldn't be doing so without her chair. ⠀ Reply 4 Vote chroniccomplexcase OP • 19h That's awesome! Love that they just thought she would sit there in a burning building! Hope they let y
    via snotwimp
  • 12
    Font - turingthecat 19h I use a wheelchair on a bad day (getting more and more unfortunately) or crutches on a good. But I can stand. My friend and I always do are supermarket shopping. together, she'll be pushing me in my basic chair, as that's just easier for everyone (it fits in her car, it's easier for me to transfer, it's just easier). The amount of times I've stood to reach something, or she's been helping me to transfer, and some idiot has pointed and shouted how I'm a lazy faker really m
    via turingthecat
  • 13
    Font - JustALizzyLife +1 19h • I have had the exact opposite happen. While I can walk short distances, I can't stand or walk for long periods of time so when we go on vacation, cons, amusement parks etc. I use my wheelchair. I've had multiple people, guests and employees, get flat out pissed off when I stand up. I've been accused of "cheating" and "abusing the system". You handled that with grace and humor. Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity, for at least a few minutes any way!
    via JustALizzyLife

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

customer service lesson malicious compliance disability customers theme park ableism wheelchair Reddit
Scroll Down For The Next Article