Revelations in a Wheelchair

In late 2001, I heard Daniel Gottlieb, a psychologist and best selling author, talk about an experience he had while waiting in the hallway to give a keynote lecture at a prestigious conference. Gottlieb had been in a serious accident years before and was left quadriplegic. He was sitting in his chair outside of the lecture hall, a coffee cup resting on briefcase on his lap, looking down at his notes. A woman walked by, eyes averted and thinking that he was begging, put a dollar in his mug.
 

Nolan Ryan Trowe tells a similar story in an Op-Ed piece in the Sunday, November 25, New York Times entitled: “Revelations in a Wheelchair: A recently disabled New York City photographer gets an education in the discrimination that people like him must face.”  You may find it worth reading.