"Today, I’m frustrated and saddened by the ignorance of people who can’t imagine what it is like to live with a disabling condition. For the past week and a half I have had to use my walking stick because my leg and spine do this weird “I’m not gonna work thing” when the seasons change. The first day I could barely stand the 2nd day I have difficulty walking more than a few steps and every day after I’m using the stick. So at work, I got some compliments on my stick and one person says that’s different where did you get that? I shared the story about how shortly after my diagnosis it was important to stay mobile and I went hiking, the response was, you can barely walk how are you going hiking? I said it is always important to keep trying. The next person says, what’s going on with that stick? You’re to young for that, it doesn’t suit you. The next person says after I offered to be supportive on a project, says “no, I don’t need your help you will just slow me down”. All of these occurrences were in my workplace, with a supervisor, colleague and a subordinate. I’m going do a training on how to work with people in special needs categories because I work in the social services field and not of that was acceptable treatment. So, I’m reflecting and licking my wounds until the next round. Hopefully by the beginning of the week I will be back to my old self. "