Strange question.

I saw something the other day that I'd never seen before in my whole life.

And after I saw this, I thought, 'Why haven't I seen this before? And why haven't I noticed that I haven't seen this before?'

In a shop, buying gadgets, and the sales assistant next to me, helping a customer spend money, was in a motorised wheelchair. I have never seen a disabled shop assistant before. Is this a rare thing? 

I've seen plenty of rude ones though.

I've seen plenty of rude ones though.

I have never seen a rude one. What country do you live in, U.S.S.R.?

Don't know about rude, but I've seen plenty of useless ones; I am not blind or dyslexic, I can read the details from the label myself, I don't need someone to read them out to me, I want someone who can tell me something that's not on the label.

The OP has a good point though, there's no reason why a shop assistant shouldn't be in a wheelchair, but I don't recall ever seeing one. In fact I would have though it would quite a convenient job for someone in a wheelchair, with what should be a wheelchair friendly environment.

Herbie

EDIT : Wife has just pointed out that a lot of shops expect assistants to work in the stock rooms too, which might not be such a wheelchair friendly job (high shelves, etc).  However, she says she has seen wheelchair users working in banks, which don't have stockrooms.

We have a developer on our team who's paralyzed from the waist down and is in a motorized chair. To be honest, I don't even really notice wheelchairs anymore, so I can't say if I've seen a shop assistant in one.

Sure why not? It's not like a professional swimmer or something.

I think I've seen disabled shopkeepers at cashier counter of convienent store in my university. They have policy to hire disabled candidates first at long as they seems to be capable of the job.

@Dr Herbie: I think your wife has hit the nail on the head. This shop has plenty of room between the aisles and I don't think it has a stockroom

Yes, it's the Apple shop.

@Ray7: My wife is much smarter than I am, she's also more attractive and smells nicer.

Herbie

@Proton2: Ever worked in a shop?

Never seen one either.

In Holland we have special projects for people with disabilities.

They can work in a second hand shops and such.

Otherwise, I don't see them or I don't notice (in a good way).

ReMaddus:what if they're disabled such that they don't have any hands?

@W3bbo: dunno m8

They become a manager? Or a telemarketer?

Somehow, they manage,. We have all kinds of special government programs for that,.

Yesterday's episode of Top Gear had a piece about a group of soldiers that were severely injured in Afghanistan (all had lost at least one arm or leg, some more than one) aiming to enter the Dakar rally this year.

@spivonious: I've tried not noticing people's differences, and just treating everyone the same. It always comes back to bite me in the *.

I was raised to be polite to others. Part of that is holding doors, giving up my chair to others, etc. 95% of the time that works fine. Most people are appreciative and cool with it. Recently, however, there have been people who actually get upset. It's women and the handicapped to be specific. It has nothing to do with race, gender, or capability. If you are close enough that it won't be an akward wait, then I hold the door.

That doesn't bug me as much as when people use their electric wheelchairs to ram their way through crowds. I got my legs bruised up once because I stood my ground.

3 hours ago,Maddus Mattus wrote

@W3bbo: dunno m8

They become a manager? Or a telemarketer?

Somehow, they manage,. We have all kinds of special government programs for that,.

I think you missed the subtle joke I was making...

...about second hands.

Not at all, In a shopping mall close to my home they employ disabled people as security guards.

@raptor3676: That's not really a problem since security guards are impotent anyway. Basically all they can do is tresspass somebody and/or call the cops.

@W3bbo: roflmao