Does anyone else get rude comments from people in the street about your disability or things relating to it? I’ve had multiple rude comments about the way I walk now. One time I had a group of people drive past in a car and one stuck her head out of the window and yelled at me “Hop, two, three, four!” Then they all started laughing. I assume it was a reference to the fact that my walk is quite stiff as I try to compensate for a limp, and looks a bit like an army march. I had one man look at me then say to his girlfriend - quietly but still clearly intending that I should hear, “God, I hate people who limp. I get so angry when I see them. I just want to yell, Pick up your leg properly and stop dragging it, you look like a fucking idiot.”

Today I had a medical appointment, and I had to go wearing blue plastic shoe-cover bags on my feet instead of shoes, due to the fact I had foot surgery recently. A 50/60ish year old couple were getting out of their car, saw my feet and started laughing and saying to each other, “Will you look at that? Imagine going out looking that ridiculous,” and similar comments. Can’t remember everything they said now.

I’ve had people who haven’t seen me in a while, see me and comment on how rough/ill/swollen/puffy/etc I look now. Just, why? Why do people feel the need to say anything? I’m not harming or bothering them in any way. It would cost them nothing to keep their comments to themselves.