I'm blind. This morning I was walking through my local park with my pram & my white cane. A man shouted "Woah!" in my face & grabbed my cane & my pram. I pushed back in shock & demanded he let me go. He refused. Why? Because I was going to "walk over some dirt & grass". 1/

I had to push & pull my pram & cane away from this person's hands so that I could leave. He had his hands on the pram with my baby in it & wouldn't let go until I started physically trying to get him off. All because I *might* walk over some dirt & grass on a path. In a park 2/

I cannot emphasise this enough. It is completely unacceptable to touch a disabled person, their mobility aids & THEIR CHILDREN without permission. If you think there is a hazard, communicate first. Because personally, I don't find "dirt & grass" particularly hazardous. 3/

And before the reply guys turn up, no there really wasnt a valid hazard or reason for this behaviour. Eventually I ascertained from the person who grabbed me that there were some grass cuttings on the edge of the path. My pram wheels just rolled over it, no problem. 4/

And again, before the reply guys come in with "well I guess you can't grab a blind person if they're going to walk into a fire / road / tornado" Disabled people have the right to choose who touches us & why. Even paramedics tell unconscious people when they start CPR 5/

Also what may seem *dangerous* to you as a non disabled person might be completely safe & routine for a disabled person. For example, the person who without warning pulled me by my hair away from a set of stairs. The set of stairs I used every day on my commute. So ask first 6/

It's really not difficult to ask if assistance is needed. After leaving the park I was waiting to cross a road. Passerby: Hey do you need help? The cars have stopped for you. Me: Oh great thanks for letting me know. Passerby: No problem. You ok now? Me: Yup, thanks again. 7/

Honestly I'm still processing that a grown man took hold of my pram (stroller) with my baby in it & thought that it was an appropriate thing to do. And I was already really struggling with my confidence getting out with my baby & my white cane without @GuideDogAva 8/

Thank you for all of the support. I won’t be reporting the incident because I’ve found the police simply don’t care about disabled women’s safety. I recently spoke about this issue of forced “help” & consent for disabled people. Podcast / transcript ⬇️

@BlondeHistorian Would she bark at ppl or get them away from u or is it just that ppl assume you're fine bc u have the dog "taking care of u"

@midsydHQ No she wouldn’t. Guide Dogs are specifically trained not to be aggressive. I think it’s the combo of 1. They think she’s looking after me (she is) 2. She MIGHT be aggressive

@BlondeHistorian Having a guide dog reduces those incidents because the dog also fights back when the person it’s helping is being harassed and the aggressors know it won’t pull its bites either.

@DarkRedshift This is completely false. Guide Dogs are specifically trained not to be aggressive. Do not spread this kind of misinformation

@BlondeHistorian That's an assault! I am so sorry and hope you're okay. All he needed to do was say, "exciluse me, there's some uneven ground ahead" or something. This is so vile. 😩

@BlondeHistorian Even shouting “M’dm, stop! Dirt and grass in front of you!” would have more than suffice if he thought you were in danger. No reason to grab. Sorry you experienced that.

@BlondeHistorian Goodness me! I'm sorry this happened to you, and can't understand anyone thinking it's appropriate to grab someone, period. Let alone a pram. Politely warn of a danger yes, but not this. Honestly 🙄

@BlondeHistorian That's completely terrifying, I'm so sorry.

@BlondeHistorian That’s so scary! Does that count as assault? I can’t imagine being in that situation where a person won’t let go after being asked to after not asking to touch in the first place.

@BlondeHistorian I genuinely don't understand this. Every time I've seen a blind person approach something I thought might be hazardous or tricksy, a quick shout and check if they'd like help has been plenty. And the reply is almost always "Thanks, I'm good" and we all go our merry way. Easy.

@BlondeHistorian Amy, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that, and that you experience this sort of behaviour regularly. I wish I could help, or do something. Just know that if I saw someone doing this sort of thing, I'd instantly jump to the defence of the blind person!

@BlondeHistorian Poor you but where was Ava?

@BlondeHistorian So sorry you had to go through that x

@BlondeHistorian I'm sorry that happened to you

@BlondeHistorian I work in special education & I’m always appalled at the way ppl treat anyone with a disability. PSA: do not touch ppl w/o their consent. A visible disability is not consent

@BlondeHistorian The whole world has to conform to the most uptight individuals on every issue. Don’t dis this reply, I’ll get offended!!

@BlondeHistorian What happened to @GuideDogAva ??

@BlondeHistorian Don’t grab *anybody* is still hard to understand

@BlondeHistorian These incidents blow my freaking mind. It's good that you post about them because I would never in a million years imagine something like that happening. I just do not understand the behaviour of these people.