Rock 'N Roll: An Uber Perspective

Yes. Roll, not ride as in wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

I was not working today and went to the airport to pick up my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. While I had to wait, I thought I'd hang at the Sky Train station, where Uber (and Lyft) drivers wait because they have clean, nice restrooms!

I exited the Men's room and was faced with a guy in a wheelchair and he was an Uber driver. I smiled and he went into the lav-and I waited for him. I had questions.

Carl is about 57 and retired from an aerospace manufacturer here, where he was a senior level exec. When he was 16, he fell off the back of a pickup and was paralyzed from the waist down. That didn't keep him from graduating near the top of his class and getting an engineering degree and raising a family. It did, however, keep him from surfing.
I had stupid questions and went to look at his lift-enabled van. Basically, a tricked out SUV with special features for those who need it. We got into a talk.

I have been fortunate to have full mobility in my lifetime and reasonably free from life debilitating illnesses. And that is not lost on me for a moment.

When I was doing pr in the beginning of my career, my biggest client was an SVP who had MS. My maternal grandmother, who died when I was two, had a leg amputated and I remember being freaked out at the prosthetic leg my mom kept in the basement for many years. I have a cousin who had polio and still walks with an exaggerated gait these days.

And while there are those who achieve great success, average success or hardships, people still look on the population with fear or pity and neither of those reflect respect. And it should. Why? 'cause we who don't have this added burden don't always get it until it affects us personally.

How many people bitch and moan that 'all the good parking spots are for handicapped?' Personally, I hate that word. I wish someone would give me a better term.

And what about the businesses who complain about the ADA compliance rules that they have to spend extra money to accommodate people who need assistance?

Or worse, those that see the population as anything less than whole? These people are the ones I despise the most.

 I'll be honest. I don't see color.I don't see faith. I don't see physical issues. I DO see hate, narrow mindedness, exclusion.

I learned from Carl a few things. He has had a full and whole life..on his terms and the 'hand he was dealt."He has no regrets. He has no anger. He said he has missed some things, like skiing but he did try an adaptive program at a ski resort in Colorado.

He said he's doing Uber for about another month, then moving to the Carolinas. He hates the heat. But he's trading it for humidity. But that's the only thing he's giving up, he says. I looked at him roll over to his van and knew for every person who was jolted by the appearance of a driver with challenges, hopefully there was a majority that just saw him as their Uber pickup, with a heightened sense of self-worth and pride.