fellow wheelchair users,, how do you guys feel about people opening doors for you?
Saw something earlier just got me thinking because I personally do not appreciate when people go out of their way to open doors for me unless I am visibly struggling to open it. With friends it's different because we're walking together and they're people I know, but when strangers notice a wheelchair user opening a door or even approaching a door and rush over to try to help it's really awkward and weird and honestly kind of patronizing after a while
I understand that these people are usually well intentioned! But 90% of the time they just make getting through the door more difficult and just get in the way. Wheelchairs need more clearance and cannot typically fit through a door frame at the same time as a person standing in the doorway. Sometimes people will open doors I don't even intend to go through just because I'm approaching. Once I had somebody hold the door open with their arm over my head apparently expecting me to roll under their arm?? I just want to do it myself!! but then people get upset if you don't want their help
