The Experience of a Handicapped Person

My broken foot is giving me a glimpse of the perspective of life, for a short period of time, from a handicapped person.  

I encounter many very kind persons. Dr. K, the general practitioner who saw me one day after I broke my foot, was very kind, and very good in diagnosing my problem.  The orthopedic specialist doctor who examined my foot half a day later, was the same.  The 4 taxi drivers who drove me and my wife that day were all very kind and considerate. The waitresses at our favourite restaurant, the people who open doors for me, my colleagues, my friends, my family, my wife, above all, are all very kind.  

On the other hand, I was hurting in the MTR between Austin and Hung Hom stations, on my way home after I broke my foot, but nobody paid me any attention.  It was not surprising, since I was still in my running shorts and shoes, sweating profusely - I hardly looked like someone handicapped, even though my right foot was hurting badly and I couldn’t put any weight on it.  Hence I was basically standing and trying to keep my balance in a moving, stop-and-go train, and feeling weak from the shock, but no one noticed it.  

Once I had my air-cast on my foot, everybody treats me kindly. People hold the door for me, hold the elevator for me, or give me room, let me go first. 

Well, almost everybody.  Last Friday, four days after I acquired my air-cast, I was on campus.  After I got in to an elevator, two young female students walked in.  They must have seen me with my air-cast-encased foot and walking stick.  Yet when the elevator stopped, they walked out immediately, as if I did not exist. No letting me get out first. No holding of doors. 

Early this morning, a Monday, as I walked out of our building (in my air-cast, with my walking stick), I held the door open for the young, well-dressed, lady walking out behind me.  I noticed that she was manipulating her smart phone.  She did not extend her hand to hold the door, which would have closed on her automatically if I did not hold it open for her.  Apparently, she was expecting this handicapped person to hold the door for her.  

Just a matter of fact.  No generalisation intended.