A simple task like getting on a bus- for the majority of the population, it is just the case of walking out the front door, heading to the bus stop and then walking straight onto the bus. 

For others, sadly, a task like that could be a struggle.

For those in wheelchairs, there is a reoccurring issue of drivers across the country refusing them entry as they don’t want to lower the ramp. They may stop the bus but refuse to let them board or they may not stop at all. The bus being too crowded may be a daily occurrence where they may have to wait excessively long to get on the bus. 

For those in crutches who have to walk down two flights of stairs before getting to the front door, that can exhaust them before they’re half way to the front door. 

The issue is, not all struggles are visible.

For those with anxiety, the stress of just walking out the front door might cause a panic attack.

For those with social anxiety, they me fine getting to the bus stop but as soon as they see how crowded it is, the fear makes them freeze. 

Despite doing a 345 mile walk, I am somebody who struggles to stand up in public transport. Whenever I get on busy public transport, I am always thinking at the back of my mind- 

1- Will I get on the bus, due to the certain bus routes often being overcrowded where the bus driver won’t allow anybody else on the bus

2- Will I get a seat? 

A memory that will always stick with me is how I was once travelling on a rush hour London train. I had a 30 minute train and then change for a 15 minute train. When standing, especially in situations where I can’t move around, I get bad leg pains. Within 10-15 minutes, the pain was severe enough that I was on the verge of getting off the train, sitting down and then boarding a train 5 minutes later. Thankfully, at the 20 minute mark, I managed to grab a seat. Whilst I’ve never  received a conclusive reason to this, one physio thinks it’s linked to lower back problems. 

Since that incident, I have a ‘please offer me a seat’ badge however, it is not without it’s stigmas. On instances I have taken rush hour trains or buses, I always fear judgement if somebody was to see me wearing one. Whilst this shouldn’t be the case, all too often we hear about people who are judged or stigmatised by those around them.

The thing to bare in mind is that health conditions and disabilities aren’t a one size fits all and that not all of them are visible. Too often, people with hidden disabilities get judged; whether it’s because they don’t work, they use a wheelchair, they have a blue badge or they need additional support. I can think of 2 celebrities who use wheelchairs but are able to walk short distances who have been wrongfully called out on social media, stating they’re faking they’re disability. They’re to faking it, it’s simply that people don’t understand how their conditions effect their day to day lives. When they receive criticism or judgement, such as when celebrities are wrongfully called out as ‘faking’ their disability because of their ability to do certain tasks, it is not only criticising and stigmatising them; it criticises all with the same health conditions. 

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