Ableism and the Victim Mentality

Since I took a medical retirement I've been busy either volunteering or doing glamorous housewife duties such as grocery shopping or taking the dog to the vet.  In between this, I like to be a lady who lunches.
Yesterday I met a friend for lunch.  When asked the perfunctory "for how many" the hostess looked at me for the answer.  Today I took the dog to the vet.  As I was waiting for my assistant to gather up my dog Anderson Cooper, a woman left the warmth of her vehicle to open the door to the vet clinic for me.  While in the clinic, the receptionist complimented my hair and a woman brought her puppy over to me to meet.  These occurrences are common in my life.  Although I use a wheelchair I do not find that people ignore me or are condescending toward me.
I am very active on social media.  I first heard the term ableism on Facebook.  There are many people with disabilities that feel society is out to get them.

These are the people that protested the movie Me Before You.  In case you haven't seen it it's about a young, handsome rich man who becomes a quadriplegic from an accident.  He decided that he did not want to live his life in a wheelchair so he sought out assisted suicide.  His parents wanted him to wait six months before he did the deed, he agrees.  In comes beautiful assistant and as things happen, they fall in love.  Her love was not enough to keep him from offing himself.  He ends up leaving her a rich woman.  

The protesters thought that a piece of fiction would lead to a disabled holocaust.  They feared that instead of receiving medical treatment when they need it, they would be offered euthanasia.  A movie, which was pretty boring, would lead to an epic number of suicides by people with disabilities.  
Even more puzzling than the notion that a movie will cause a disabled genocide is the anti-cure movement.  Apparently the desire to cure conditions like muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury is ableist.  The inclination to rid people of said conditions is telling them that there is something intrinsically wrong with them.  It is telling them that they are not good enough.  I have a disease called spinal muscular atrophy.  Recently a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy has been found.  Instead of being offended, I am thrilled.  This may mean that I might regain some upper body strength.  Along with that a simple cold may no longer be life threatening for me.  Sign me up!
I don't identify with my disability.  I identify myself as a wife, fashion maven, dog mom and a friend. In my opinion those who protest a movie or are resistant to a cure are victims.  They are so deeply rooted in their disability that they become a victim to it.  I firmly believe that the way we are treated is influenced by how we present ourself.  If someone is protesting a movie because they fear a piece of fiction will lead to their demise they appear to be a victim.  Before I leave my home I have my hair done, my make-up on and my outfit is well put together.  I receive compliments almost every day.  I think by taking pride in my appearance my wheelchair is less obvious and who I am is more apparent.  The smile on my face and my open demeanour makes me approachable.  I can't deny that I have a disability but I can be certain that a movie won't lead to my extinction and a treatment for SMA will only make my life richer