Piper, I love that cover! It's brilliantly done!!
I think even the most ignorant people would have a hard job ignoring you with that!
Ctsplaysinrain, I'm so sorry you had such a rough experience. Unfortunately, having a disability does not seem to teach everyone the virtues of patience and compassion. I hope it didn't spoil the holiday for you and your family.
To all who need to use chairs or
ECVs, I have a tip for you: learn to scream! OK, hear me out on this one! I know a lot of us here use assistances for conditions that are aggravated by being knocked, bumped or shoved. However I know, in my case at least, that it is sometimes hard to find your voice immediately, or that it can take a moment between being bumped and the pain fully kicking in. Therefore, I have learnt to scream, very loudly, as soon as anyone bumps or kicks me, even if the pain hasn't yet reached full level, because I know for a fact that it will in a second. I've used this a number of times, and it usually makes people around you a lot more careful. Now don't get me wrong, I don't expect you to all go and cuss at anyone who comes within ten feet of you, but if someone has caused you pain through their own carelessness, I see nothing wrong with letting them know. Also, I know that accidents happen, and people are unlikely to hit you intentionally. However, almost every time I've been hit, it has been because the person has got far too close to me (even though there's usually enough room to get around me without hitting me) or, in some cases, has literally climbed across my footplates!
You may feel a little embarrassed about screaming at first, but trust me, it makes more of an impact than a gentle "excuse me, you just hit me about the head with your bag. It was jolly painful and I'd be most obliged if you refrain from doing so again"!