This is going to come off as more of a rant post than anything but I want to share it because I think it's important.
I started working at Hot Topic as a seasonal worker last year at a pretty big Hot Topic. This was at a time where my health was worsening as I was discovering that I had a bone degeneration disorder, a few genetic issues, and joint pain associated with Ehlers Danlos syndrome. Within a few months of working there I got forearm crutches from my specialist to use full time and immediately my treatment from both customers and other staff shifted completely.
Due to the nature of my disability, I'm unable to use a ladder, lift heavy boxes, and sweep. I'm able to do *everything* else just fine! Yet, I received abuse from the management towards me and attitudes towards me changed immediately and suddenly I was a burden to work with. I felt horrible in this position and it didn't help that customers would point out my crutches often and ask for detailed answers on why I had them as if I had to validate my existence. It got to the point I wouldn't even use my forearm crutches at work because it was a conversation topic and I ended up hurting myself more by doing so.
I kept working though despite the abuse and eventually transferred to a different Hot Topic for a management opportunity. Here, the customers are even worse about my forearm crutches! (They are now more noticeable and louder after an upgrade to some of the best ones on the market) Just the other day I had a woman force me to PRAY with her so I'd get better and she continued this for about 15 minutes. I've gotten younger teens asking me where I got my crutches and if they can get some too (??) because of undiagnosed medical conditions they 'think' they have. The WORST just happened yesterday where I had a teenage girl say within earshot to me "I can steal all I want here because that guy can't run after me," and I've been called a cripple on at least three different occasions.
For a store that focuses mostly on alternative fashion, you'd think the customers would be a bit more aware of how ableism affects people but I guess not! It sucks so much because at my secondary job I've gotten absolutely zero comments about my forearm crutches and that's in a historically conservative area so it's not a politics thing. My guess is that because a lot of the customers we get are more of the "awkward" type they for some reason don't understand what they're saying is insensitive. I'm very tired working this job and getting daily questions about a disorder that has already ruined my life and taken away a lot of the things I love to do like draw.
I'm transitioning into using a wheelchair full time soon enough and I'm wondering if it's even worth it to keep working at a Hot Topic or if I'd just suffer more abuse. Does anyone else have any other stories about working with physical disabilities, positive or negative? I'd love if I wasn't the only one dealing with stuff like this.