Bumped into people making fun of a disability. How to react?
I bumped into a few random people in the elevator who were making fun of the disability I suffer from. They didn't know I suffer from it. They said it isn't a real disability and only an incompetent person's escape. I stopped for a moment thinking about educating them, but didn't. It would get weird preaching random people. People debate whether challenges like depression, speech impediments, cognitive impairments, migranes etc can actually be classified as disability or not. But that doesn't matter. One can call it a challenge or idiosyncrasy or whatever, but we all need to be empathetic, try not to be judgemental, and learn to look beyond them. Thoughts? Anyone been in such a situation before? How would you have reacted? Posting in metoo for complete anonymity.
The brain sits in a very delicate broth of chemicals that makes it what we classify as neurotypical. I have used these moments as a teaching moment in the past to educate people on this, and how stigmatising brain related disorders makes it harder for those who are not nuerotypical to participate. People need to learn. Let's not forget till only a few decades ago chaining, eltrocuting and lobotmy were accepted treatment for these chemical disorders.
So.... what is the disability?
How does that matter?
So we can decide if we think it's real or just something attention seeker's claim to annoy us
Ignore
As someone with a disability - you just have to have a thick skin and try to be compassionate. At least these people aren't being outwardly malicious towards you. Imagine if they made those comments knowing full well you suffer from your disability. Without disclosing your disability to them - there's not much you can do. You just have to suck it up and deal with it. Don't go to HR or above their heads - it's unfair to them and to the company that there's no chance for corrective action at the personal level - between you and them.
This is the worst advice and with that type of thinking "suck it up" is exactly why companies are getting reported to the EECO and being sued. What the person should have did was tell the two people that they were being inappropriate. By just saying that doesn't mean they are disclosing their disability.
You have to accept that if you confront or educate them, you will only silence them in front of you. If that matters feel free to do it. The more important thing you should do is, accept that people will always be mean for the wrong reasons, and if you get upset about it you will have a miserable life. Grow a thicker skin and just don't give a fuck about other people, unless they are intentionally being mean to you. If they are pushy then report to HR.
If it's real, you have a strong case to report this. It could be a fir able offense, depending on how severe.
Don't, they may be only put in training and you burn all their bridges. Take the high road and try to educate them.
You should have told them what they were saying was inappropriate, and if they continued even after you spoke up you would be able to report it to the company. People need to understand that making inappropriate comments about people with disabilities is wrong and in the workplace warrants an EECO charge, which NO COMPANY wants or wants to deal with.
Sometimes in life you have to accept ignorance. You can practice by driving on any Bay Area freeway. ππΌ